The following letters were written by William Y. Joslin (1836-1923), the son of Jonas Joslin (1807-1886) and Lucy Butterfield (1807-1886) of Liberty, Delaware county, Ohio. William was married to Rachel S. Case (1837-1905) in 1855 and they had two children, Jenette (“Netty”) and Irvin by the time William enlisted in August 1862 as a private in Co. C, 121st Ohio Volunteers (OVI). In the 1860 US Census, the Joslin’s were enumerated in Dublin, Delaware county, Ohio.

The 121st OVI participated in the battle of Perryville in October 1862. Then, in January, 1863, it moved into Tennessee, joined Rosecrans, and was actively employed until September, when it participated in the hard fought battle of Chickamauga, with a loss of 87 men. The Regiment took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, and in May, started on Sherman’s Atlanta campaign, taking part in all of the battles along the way. In the fall of 1864, it operated against Hood in Alabama and then joined Sherman’s march to the Sea and through the Carolinas. After Johnston’s surrender it marched via Richmond to Washington, participated in the Grand Review, and was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, June 12, 1865. William mustered out with his company as a corporal at war’s end.

Letter 1

Nashville, Tennessee
Hospital No. 12, Ward No. 6
Monday, June 22, 1863

My dear beloved wife and children,

I once more seat myself to answer a kind letter that I received from your precious hand. It finds me improving in health very much. I don’t have any diarrhea now nor have had for over a week and my breast is getting better but I have a very lame back yet and that is most that is the trouble with me now so you needn’t feel alarmed about me for that is not dangerous.

Well, Rachel, as for getting a discharge is almost a thing impossible or a furlough the same. A man has got to be pretty badly afflicted before he can get either. I spoke to the old doctor this morning after I got the letter about examining me and he said that I better wait a while yet. I suppose he thinks that he can doctor me up so that I will be able to do duty in the hospital, if not in the field. But as for soldiering and field duty, I don’t much expect to do much more of it unless I feel better than I have this spring. But maybe I may be able to do hospital duty again. If I do, you must try and do the best you can and make the time pass off as fast as possible and think that you have got a beloved husband that thinks enough of his country to go in peril of his life to fight the battles for the country that our forefathers fought for us, although it was the hardest thing that ever came over me to leave my dearest little family and go. But I make as much calculations on getting home as I do on going to bed at night. So you may think that I hain’t give up ever getting home again.

You wanted to know what I wanted you to do with the 20 dollars that I sent you. Use what you want of it and keep some by you for you may need it occasionally. Did you get you a tea kettle and stove boiler when you was in Delaware? Tell me when you write again. You asked me how much it cost me to send my overcoat. It cost 25 cents. It was rolled up in a round roll and had two leather straps around it and a paper pinned onit directed to Mrs. William Joslin in care of Mr. Hastings, Richwood, Union county, Ohio. And W. Joslin worked in letters on the lining in the back of it if I remember right. Did you see the letters of my name on my overcoat that you remember of when I was home?

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Letter 2

Camp of the 121st OVI near the Chattahoochie river
July the 14th, 1864

My dear wife & children.

I seat myself this morning to write a few lines in answer to yours of the 5th of July. It came to hand last evening and found me quite unwell. I have had the headache and a lame back and the diarrhea for the last two days but I have been taking some medicine and feel some better this morning. I have received that letter that Lucretia sent to me but I haven’t answered it yet. But I think I must today. You spoke about sending me some envelopes. I would be very glad if you would send about two or three packages of envelopes and a whole ream of the best kind of letter paper and let me hear what it cost you there so if I want to sell any of it that I will know what to ask a quire for it. You can send it by mail and it won’t cost more than ten or fifteen cents.

Well, Rachel, we have been in this camp about three days but I don’t know how long we will stay here—maybe a week or two and maybe not longer than today. We drawed some new clothes yesterday and there is some talk of getting our pay before we leave here but there ain’t nothing certain about it. If we do, I don’t expect to get more than four months pay this time.

Well, Rachel, you said that you wanted to know what I thought about you taking in some boarders. I don’t know anything about the folks in Lewisburg but I expect they are like they are in all other little towns. There would be some that would have something to say about it so I would not advise you to keep any for I don’t want anyone to have a chance to start any of their lies on you. But as for renting a part of the house, I have no objections to that if you think the family would be company for you and if he is good for the rent. You can do what you think best about it. What can you rent a part of it for? Let me know when you write to me again.

You asked me if I was with my cousin when he was shot. I was not. I was about a half a mile from him. He only lived about 5 or 6 minutes after he was shot and his messmate was with him and he said that he was sensible and talked as rational as a well person and he said that he wanted to be buried decent and where his folks could find him.

Well, I believe I have wrote all the news for the present and as for the news of the fight, you can see that in the papers plainer than I can tell you. So now, I will close hoping to hear from you once a week anyhow. Direct as before to Co. C, 121st OVI, Chattanooga, Tenn.  Goodbye for now, — William Joslin

to Rachel S. Joslin

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Letter 3

[Before Atlanta]
August 16th 1864
Mrs. Rachel S. Joslin

My kind and affectionate wife,

I seat myself this afternoon to inform you that I am well and hoping this may find you and the dear little children enjoying the same blessing—good health. Well, you spoke in your letter about Mr. William Hunter in the 17th Ohio Vols. I went and saw him this forenoon and found him well and hearty. He is a very genteel appearing young man and a good-looking fellow. I think that he will be over to see me in a day or two and if we stay close together, I shall go and see him often. He told me that he received a letter from his sister last evening.

Well, Mrs. Joslin, I would be very happy to get home & get acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Hunter for I have no doubt but they are good neighbors to live with and I think by the description of your little house and the situation of it, that it is a nice, pleasant piece of property and I would advise you to keep it until I return home, if I am so lucky as to get there, which I expect to.

Well, Rachel, I have no doubt but you see very sad, lonesome houses but to think of the way that our women in the North are situated and how much better they are provided for than the women here in the South—the principal part of the women and children here goes half naked and I think about half starved by the looks of them. There is four families living right here in our camp close to the line of breastworks where the musket balls are flying around the house and their little children running around the yard where there is as much danger as [where] we are and it seems rather hard. But they have a cave to go into at night and in the daytime when the Rebels [are] throwing their shells. But they are [mostly] in their house daytimes. It seems hard. But let them quit this fighting and go to their homes and we will do the same.

Well, I think we will have a shower this afternoon from the appearances at the present. Well now, I think I have written all that would interest you at the present so I will close by asking to write soon and oblige your affectionate husband, — William Y. Joslin

Give my best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Hunter and tell them their son is well. Please direct to Co. C, 121st OVI via Chattanooga, Tennessee

Well, Netty, can you and Irvin get your likenesses taken and send them to your good pa if he will send the money to you?  — Wm. Y. Joslin