The following letter was written by 19 year-old Charles Robert Benedum (1842-Aft1870), the eldest son of lumberman Phillip Benedum (1801-1885) and Mary Loofborough (1823-1867). Though proclaiming himself a “Union Man” and eligible for service, Charles did not enlist during the Civil War as he considered his health to be too poor to withstand the rigors of a soldier’s life. In the 1863 Draft Registration, Charles was enumerated in Lancaster as a single, “laborer” with no military service. He was still enumerated in his father’s household at the time of the 1870 US Census.

Charles wrote the letter to his cousin, Laura Delilah Hartman (1835-1919), the daughter of John Henry Hartman (1798-1877) and Catherine Maria Benedum (1798-1866) of Findlay, Hancock county, Ohio.

The letter was datelined from Lancaster, Ohio, which was populated by residents who were split roughly 50:50 between those who were from southern-leaning states favoring the Confederacy and those who supported the Union. They came predominantly from three different states—Virginia, Kentucky, and Western Pennsylvania—and they brought their value systems with them. Though street brawls were few, tensions remained high and the two leading newspapers carried on a war of words throughout the war.

Transcription

Lancaster, Ohio
4 September 1861

Dear Cousin,

We are all well and I hope these few lines will find you the same. It has been some time since I heard from you. Are you sick or too much work to do or what is the matter? I would of wrote before this but I have not been well all summer. One of my brothers is not well nor has not been for two weeks. He has the ague and fever. There is a great deal of sickness here.

Dear cousin, secession is very strong here. A Union man dare not open his mouth about the Union or they will land him in the calaboose or jail. But there is one thing here, six companies left here and there is another one to leave from here by Saturday and one from here some time next week. Eight companies gotten up here. Good for Old Fairfield! Beat that in one county if you can. I will not go this time. If I was well and could stand it, I would go, but the doctors tell me I could not stand it two weeks. I am not healthy enough.

A dispatch came here yesterday that Jeff Davis died. If it is true or not, I cannot say. You can’t believe the dispatches that come here—the half of them are not true. War excitement is great here but the secessionists—or the Red Lodge we call them here—they are the head leaders—they must look pretty sharp or the Union men will put them in the Callaboose or Jail. But I am none of your seceshers. I am for the Union—now and forever! Yes, a very Union man. It makes no difference who knows it. If that be true about Jeff Davis, dying was too good for him. They ought to hung him, I tell you.

I am a Union man. I cannot say what you are or your father. I hope you will not get angry at me like some people do here because I tell them this Union cannot be dissolved. They get angry at me when I tell them it won’t be. Or maybe I am going a little too far with you. I am afraid you will get angry. I think I had better stop and not go any farther. If I am wrong in this matter, I want you to correct me in your letter if this don’t make you too angry to write. I have used some very strong words I know but it could not be helped.

I must close by saying goodbye and sending my love to you, one and all. You will think this a hard letter. — Charles R. Bendodum

Lorain and Mary send their love. Write soon if this don’t make you too mad that what I am a Union Man. No more.

To Miss Laura D. Hartman