This letter was written by Samuel Welch (1837-1918), the son of Robert Walsh and Elizabeth Maxwell of Uhrichsville, Tuscarawas county, Ohio. Samuel enlisted on 3 October 1861 as a private in Co. E, 51st Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI), was promoted to corporal in April 1862, and mustered out of the regiment on 17 October 1864. Samuel’s younger brother, Josiah Welch (1841-1877), also served in the Civil War as a 2nd Lieutenant in Co. E, 161st OHVI, mustering out on 2 September 1864.

Much of Samuel’s brother described the ill-fated attempt by General Stoneman to liberate the Union prisoners at Andersonville prison in Americus, Georgia. The plan was proposed by Stoneman to Sherman who finally consented because he thought “the execution was within the bounds of probable success.” In responding to Stoneman, Sherman was quoted as saying, “if you can bring back to the army any or all of those prisoners of war, it will be an achievement that will entitle you, and your command, to the love and admiration of the whole country.” For a good article describing the expedition, see “Sherman Inability to Liberate the South’s Most Notorious Prison” by Jerry Staub.

Transcription

Camp of the 51st Ohio
Near Atlanta, Georgia
Wednesday morning, August 17th 1864

Dear Brother,

We are still camped where we were when I wrote last. There has been no move made for several days. Nothing going on except skirmish firing and cannonading along the lines and we have got so used to that that we seldom take any notice of it.

Stoneman’s Expedition to the rear of Atlanta was a failure and Wheeler is now trying his hand on our rear. They captured a thousand head of cattle near Marietta a few days ago and the report come in last night that they were in the vicinity of Dalton & Tunnel Hill, I don’t think they can do much damage as there are but two bridges between here and Dalton and it seems as though they have passed both of them.

Stoneman’s Expedition was a complete failure. His main object was to liberate our prisoners at Andersonville & Americus and a good many of his men left here with two sets of arms and accoutrements—one for their own use and one for the prisoners. The plan was a very good one but instead of putting arms into the hands of the prisoners, they got their arms taken from them and were taken prisoners themselves. However, only a small portion of the command was taken and Stoneman with them and the general opinion among speculating men now is that it was a good thing that Stoneman was taken. But this is always the case when a general fails. No one ever heard tell of any good that he had ever done before. But if reports are true, he certainly got justice. It is said that he suffered his men to scatter in all directions, to forage and pillage, and while his men were out every fellow for himself, he was attacked.

It is hard to tell what the program is for taking Atlanta. The rebels are fortified along the Macon Railroad for several miles so that our lines will have to be very long to reach it. Our right wing is within shelling distance of the railroad and the cars have not come in for ten or twelve days. Our spies say that the women and children are all removed from the city and that every man that stays there carries a musket. The dwelling houses are all empty and the lost valuable furniture removed. There are some reports in circulation since yesterday evening that our corps is to be taken to the extreme right but they are only reports and it is hard to tell whether there is any truth in them or not. There is no doubt that a corps is needed on the right if Sherman expects to cut the Macon road, but if our corps is withdrawn from its position, our railroad will be exposed to raids as there will be but few troops left on the east side of the road.

I have not received a letter from Josiah for nearly two weeks. I suppose he will be at home in a few days if he gets his discharge when his time is up. An order came to the Colonel yesterday that all officers that had received promotions during their service and were re-mustered in were to serve three years from the date of their re-muster or promotion. This order will keep up the organization of the 51st Ohio Vet. Volunteers Infantry but it is very much to the dissatisfaction of the officers that expected to go home this fall. They swear that it is a conscript order, &c. &c. but I think a few days will reconcile them. The veterans had begin to complain that the officers were all going to leave and that they would be consolidated and transferred &c., &c., &c. and the order just suits the enlisted men. For my part, I have nothing to say, only that there were but few of the officers but what influenced the veteran cause last winter and it is nothing more than right that they should stay with them during their second term.

[Sister] Martha’s letter of the 4th came to hand since I wrote last. I don’t wish you to quit writing for fear that the letter will not get here before I start home. If I keep my health, I will be with the regiment & company six or eight weeks yet and you can make your calculations accordingly. It takes a letter about a week to come from home to this place.

Very respectfully your brother, — Samuel Welch