The following letter was written by Henry Six (b. 1808), a 55 year-old farmer in Waterloo township, Athens county, Ohio. Henry and his wife Rachel Dowler (b. 1812) had at least four children, one of them being Theron Harvey Six (1843-1863) who enlisted on 23 December 1861 to serve in Co. H, 75th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He was taken prisoner on 2 July 1863 at Gettysburg and he died at General Hospital No. 21 in Richmond, Virginia, on 1 December 1863 suffering from chronic dysentery. He was buried in the Richmond National Cemetery.

Henry wrote the letter to the Annapolis hospital that treated paroled soldiers released from Confederate prisons hoping that they might have received his son, not knowing that he was yet barely hanging onto life in a Richmond hospital.

Transcription

Waterloo Township, Athens county, [Ohio]
November 28th 1863

Hospital Steward,

Dear sir, I have a son named Harper Six belonging to the 75th Regt., Company H, OVI, who was taken prisoner on the 2nd day of July at Gettysburg, Pa., and sent to Richmond, Va., to Belle Island, and learning that two squads has been sent from Richmond to Annapolis and wishing to hear from him, as I understand that my son was sick, he may be in hospital at parole camp in Annapolis.

[If] you will have the goodness, dear sir, to inform me whether any such man has been in your hospital and [if] so, whether he is living or dead by answering immediately, you will confer a great favor on a much afflicted family.

I remain yours respectfully, — Henry Six

P. S. Direct your letter to me, Marshfield, Athens county, Ohio