The following letter was written by Isaac W. Wiggins (1832-1864), the son of Thomas Wiggins (1805-1881) and Sarah Eleanor Lutz (1808-1853) of Jefferson county, Ohio. Isaac was married in May 1852 to Anna Maria Smith (1830-1904).

In August 1861, Isaac enlisted in Co. G, 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He was wounded on 13 May 1864 in the Battle of Resaca, Georgia, and died in a field hospital on the 25th of May, leaving a wife and four children.

Isaac wrote the letter to his brother-in-law, James G. Smith (1843-1912), the son of Jeremiah Smith (1804-1877) and Hanna A. Haines (1814-1889) of Phillipsburg, Jefferson county, Ohio.

Transcription

Camp Union
Fayetteville, Fayette county, Va
March 29, 1862

My dear brother,

It is with pleasure I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present and I do hope that these few lines may find you all enjoying that great blessing which but God alone can bestow.

Well, dear brother, I received your kind letter today and I was happy to hear from you and that you was all well and hearty. And I also received a letter from home today. Both wrote the 18th of March. I am well pleased to hear that Anna got my likeness and I am happy to hear that Ann Maria and the children are all well.

Well, James, I sent a package home with Charles Young to leave at your house and I hope he has left it there. I want you, if you please, to take it up to Anna and give it to her. I am happy to hear from Noah and Jabez that they are both well and I want you when you write to them to give them my best respects and love. I hope that they will all live to return home in peace and love. I’d like to see you all in it.

Well, tonight we have to drill damn near all day and I can’t get time to say my prayers. All the writing I do is from supper till tattoo. That is at 8 o’clock and 30 minutes, then all is quiet and all the lights put out.

I was on guard last night and it rained and snowed all night but this morning the sun rose beautiful and the songs of the bluebirds and the meadowlark made me think of bygone days and of loving friends at home.

“We have the best company in the 30th Regiment. We have 95 men, well drilled, and full of fight, We have been in some damn hot places since we have been out here.”

— Isaac W. Wiggins, Co. G, 30th OVI, 29 March 1862

Well, dear brother, we brought in fifteen bushwhackers tonight. They will be sent to Columbus tomorrow. We have been looking for a fight here for some time. There is reported to be fifty thousand out at Newbern Depot—that is about 85 miles from where we are camped—but there is a good many secesh within a short distance of here. But we are ready to receive them at any time. We have the best company in the 30th Regiment. We have 95 men, well drilled, and full of fight. We have been in some damn hot places since we have been out here. Twenty-two of us run into one hundred of the devils one morning about daybreak and we fought for over half an hour. We killed and wounded some 8 or 10 and run them like the devil. They shot two of our boys but they got well again.

Well, my dear brother, I want you to correspond with me and let me know how you are all getting along and the news. Go and see Anna Maria when you can for I expect she gets lonesome. James, be a good boy and stay at home. Never think of going a soldiering. There is no pleasure in it. Write soon and let me know if Charles Young left that package at your house. No more at present but remain your brother until death.

— Isaac Wiggins

to James G. Smith

Give my love to your mother and all the children. This is a beautiful morning. All the boys is well in our company at present. When you write to father and the boys give them my best love and respects.

Co. G, 30th Ohio Regiment