The following letter was written by James Funston (1833-1864) while serving as a corporal in Co. B, 19th Missouri Infantry. This battalion, Missouri volunteers, was consolidated with the 3rd Missouri Infantry in January 1862 and James’s company was made Co. H. In July 1862, James was placed on duty in the color guard. From August 1862 to January 1863 he was on duty as color bearer of his regiment. The regiment distinguished itself in the battle of Arkansas
Post, was then in practically all the engagements of the
Vicksburg campaign, was engaged in the expedition from Iuka to
Tuscumbia; afterward fought at Missionary Ridge, Ringgold and
Lookout Mountain.

After the battle of Missionary Ridge it was assigned to the
1st division, 15th army corps, and with this command marched
with Gen. Sherman’s army to Atlanta where James received a gunshot would to the left thigh on 29 May 1864 at Dallas, Georgia. He died on 14 June 1864 at Altoona Gap, Georgia.

James was born in Carne, Donegal, Ireland, and came to this country with his parents, David Funston (1805-1853) and Elizabeth S. Virtue (1877-1877) in the mid-1840s, settling on a farm in Irish Hollow, Jo Daviess county, Illinois.

Transcription

St. Louis, [Missouri]
Turner Hall
November 20th 1861

Dear, I was truly glad to hear from you and to know that you are all well. I am enjoying good health at present. So is my companions that came with me, I thank God for all His mercies. I am trying to live Godly in this present world for it is a world full of sin and in this place sin appears in all its forms.

You ask me if I have been to [Sunday school] class. I have not for reason I could not get to it on Sunday. I get a pass until twelve o’clock at which time I have to be in quarters for the remainder of the day and in any of the churches I have been in, no class meets after preaching but these things do not prevent me from praying to my Savior and telling Him my experience in secret and I have many happy seasons of prayer when none but the eye of God doth see me. The friend which I spoke [of] is from Indiana. His name is A[ndrew] J. Wolf. ¹ He is a good man.

Frémont has been superceded by General Halleck who is now in town. One of the sentries was on guard at the Provost Marshall’s Office. His instructions was to let no man lay his hand on the door knob. General Halleck came up to him dressed in citizen’s clothes and wanted to pass. ² The fellow charged bayonet on him and if he had not gave back, would have run him through.

It is thought the whole western division will winter at this city. There is not ant stirring events now that I know of now except what the fleet is doing and we hear very good reports of its operations on the southern coast.

You can tell David Gray I will write to him soon as I can. I would like to write to all my friends and you can [tell] them I will pretty soon. We had a thunder storm last night which is the first since I came here. The weather is very pleasant for this season of the year.

Pray for your unworthy son who shall ever remember you with that affection which only a son can feel for a mother. If I can get to, I will [come] and see [you] soon.

— James Funston

Address

James Funston
Capt. Hequembourg’s ³ Company
19th Lyon Regiment Missouri Vols.
St. Louis, Mo.

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¹ Pvt. Andrew J. Wolf also served with James in the 19th Missouri and later in Co. H, 3rd Missouri Infantry.

² Though it seems incredulous that Gen. Halleck would be wearing civilian clothes, he was also reported to be “dressed in impeccable civilian clothes” when he arrived at Pittsburg Landing to assume command of Grant’s army after the Battle of Shiloh. [See Siege of Corinth by Henry Halleck in 1862 on HistoryNet]

³ Alexander Hequembourg originally enlisted as a Captain in Co. B, 4th U. S. R. C. from May 8 – Aug 19, 1861. He then commanded a company in the 1st Engineer Volunteer Regiment from Sept 9, 1861 – July 2 1862, when he resigned due to health problems. He later served as the Adjutant of the 11th Prov. E. M. M. from Sept. 9-18, 1863 before being commissioned as a Lt. Colonel in the 40th Missouri Volunteers.