The author of this letter, written like a newspaper, was Hiram Whitacre. He was presumably from Wood county, Ohio, because he speaks of the 111th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) which is where the regiment was organized. In checking the census records for Wood county in 1860, I can only find one individual by that name and he was the 22 year-old son of Preston Whitacre (1804-1840) and Martha Lucy (1804-Aft1870) of Jersey City, Wood county, Ohio. He was born in 1838 and died in 1915.
An obituary claims that Hiram was born within three hundred feet of where he died, one and a half miles west of Jersey City. He had always ben a resident on his parent’s farm. He never married though he did serve in Co. B, 67th Ohio Infantry from 1 October 1864 to 10 October 1865.
Hiram wrote the letter to an unidentified cousin named Thomas.
Transcription
The Beacon
November the 12th 1862 Vol. 1. No. 3
The War
The war has raged so long that the question is forced upon us what is the cause of so bloody a strife? We answer by saying that virtue and vice are progressive,
The human heart
Never knows a state of rest
bad leads to worse
and better tends to best
Tyranny as well as other vices is progressive. The people of the South at first were content to tyrannize over their slaves but soon took to tyrannizing over the poor white men of the South. Then, not content with that, they wanted to oppress the poor laborers of the North. They have repeatedly said that free society has proved a failure and that the North would adopt the system of master and slave. They have denounced us as small-fisted farmers and greasy mechanics, not fit company for their slaves and they have called the laboring class of the North mudsills. Senator Wigfall of Texas said that poverty was crime but the question will be asked, “Do you really think that the South would enslave the laboring class if they had the power?” We answer by saying that they have done this in New Mexico to a certain extent by passing a law in that Territory by which a debtor may be sold and held as a slave until the debt is paid.
H. V. Johnson of Georgia said that capital should own its labor virtually saying that rich man should own the poor man that labors for him. Governor McGoffin of Kentucky said that it would be a happy day when white men instead of black ones should do the drudgery of slave owners. Besides being more handy, they can be used as voters. Thus you see that this traitor expects to make his slaves elevate him to office. There is something more that geographical lines to be considered in this war. Truth and justice, liberty and free institutions on one side; dishonor, tyranny, injustice on the other. This war has been forced upon us.
Education
We expect to keep school this winter. We got our certificate yesterday and shall commence school next Monday. This will be our first attempt at school teaching. We will in due time publish our experience as a school teacher. We feel that our position is one of honor and responsibility as we have for a time the youth of the land, the pride of the Nation, entrusted to our care. Our greatest anxiety will be to do justice to all.
Emancipation
We see that some opposition is made to the President’s Proclamation and some attempt to make a false issue and say that the war is to free the Negroes. The fact is the emancipation of the Negroes of Rebel masters is intended to shorten the war. Shall the lives of our brave boys be lost in protecting the property of Rebels? We say no. We say emancipate and let Rebels know that it is a grave offense to trample on the Old Flag. We are happy to see [ ] and Stanton stand by the President. Parson Brownlow says that he will stand by Old Abe. This is encouraging. General Cass—a life-long Democrat—supports the President’s measures. He is a tried Patriot. General Halleck says that it is a military necessity and that we can never conquer the South till we take away their labor. It takes a good deal of moral courage to be President now but Old Abe is able for the position and will do his duty.
The 111th
(Marcus McLemore Collection)
We hain’t heard from this regiment for some time. At last accounts, it was at Bowling Green, Kentucky. Most of the men was well. I believe probably they have moved ere this.
Your aunt Emma is getting along very well. Her daughter [ ] is living with her. I was there to a wood chopping not long ago. Charles 1 is in the 111th [Ohio] Regiment. I don’t know where the regiment is now. His company is D. Captain [John E.] McGowan is his captain. Jacob Harvy is in the 8th Ohio Regiment. He is some place in Virginia. Thomas, I was glad to hear that you was well. We are all well. I believe that I have no news to tell you. Nothing of importance is going on now. Once in a while we have a corn husking but that is poor fun. We have a nice fall for work. Excuse my bad writing as I write in haste. I remain, Tom, your affectionate cousin, — Hiram Whitacre
1 There were only two soldiers named Charles in Co. D, 111th OVI; 2nd Lt. Charles H. French and Corporal Charles H. Milburn.
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