The following letter was written by 19 year-old Asa W. Gillet (1842-1891) who enlisted at White Rock, Illinois, as a private in Co. A, 2nd Illinois Cavalry on 4 September 1861. Asa reenlisted after three years and on 25 June 1865 he was transferred to Co. E as a corporal. He mustered out of the regiment at San Antonio, Texas, on 22 November 1865.

In the 1850 Us Census, 10 year-old Asa was enumerated in his parents home in Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, with his older sister Savilla and three younger siblings. His parents were John Gillet (b. 1812) and Lucy Wheeler (1819-1851). In 1860, the family was still living in Chagrin Falls but Asa’s father had remarried and there were additional younger siblings.

After the war, Asa returned to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he found employment as a canal boatman. He was married to Minerva C. Hawkins (1845-1908) in 1869. In 1890, the Gillett’s were living in Tuscarawas county Ohio.

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[Duquoin, Perry county, Illinois]
September 14, 1860 [should be 1861]

Dear Sister,

It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am a soldier—that I have enlisted for 3 years or the war. I get $28 per month and 160 acres of land and $100 in gold at the end of the war. ¹ I have just as good a horse as there is in the company. I paid $150 for him. I bought him off A. Bell.

I wrote to you [before] but have received no answer. I started from Bell’s the 2nd of September. We went from Lane [Ogle county] to Camp Butler. You may not know where that is. It is 20 miles west of Springfield. We left Camp Butler the 10th and arrived here the 12th. We are now in Camp Nelson. I like it very well. We have enough to eat and to drink. We have nothing stronger that cold water and coffee. I am glad of it,

I am 750 miles from home now but I can look back on Chagrin [Falls] ever with pleasure when I think of the good times I have had there [when] I was a boy but that time is all over. I am not sorry in the least that I am a soldier. Let the cowards stay to home. We want none of them along that is afraid to fight. We don’t know the moment we shall be ordered to march and we don’t know but we shall stay here for three months.

I belong to the 2nd Regiment of Ogle County Dragoons. I like the company very well. They are all good boys and a good Captain. ² I am well and hope that these few lines will find you all the same. I would like to see you all once more but it will be a good while before I shall see you, if I do at all. But don’t give up hope. I shall die in a good cause if I die at all but I don’t intend to die. But if it comes my turn, I am willing. Don’t forget to write and write all the news and tell all from home to write and do not forget to write as soon as you get this. This is from your friend, —Asa Gillet

To Saville Gillet

Be sure and direct your letter to Duquoin, Perry Co., Company A, 2nd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry

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¹ These promises of pay and land seem inflated to me. The 1862 Homestead Act allowed for anyone to get 160 acres of government land and gave priority to Civil War veterans. Veterans were also allowed additional land, up to another 160 acres, but one had to live on the land for 5 years and make improvements. Since this letter pre-dated the passage of the Homestead Act, it isn’t clear to me how this promise was made to Asa. The $29 per month included the government allowance for the feeding and care of the horses.

² The Captain of Co. A, 2nd Illinois Cavalry was John R. Hotaling of Lane (now Rochelle), Illinois.