The following letter was written by James C. Magee who, at the age of 23, enlisted on 16 July 1861 to serve three years in Co. D, 47th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He was appointed a corporal on 1 September 1863 and made sergeant on 4 August 1864. In July 1865 he was promoted to Hospital Steward.

James was the son of Robert Magee (1808-1885) and Catharine Campbell (1806-1853) of Somers, Preble county, Ohio. After the war, James married Caroline Brown (1841-1924) and moved to Andrew County, Missouri, where he farmed and raised his family. Later in life he moved to Scott City, Kansas.

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Louisville, Kentucky
June 7th 1865

Friend Sallie,

I received your ever welcome & interesting letter some time ago & should have answered sooner but when I received it, I was busy writing for the Lieutenant & when I got through with that we commenced moving & opportunities for writing were very rare. Ever since Capt. [Joseph L.] Pinkerton has not been in command of the company, we have not had an officer capable of doing the business belonging to the company & this has thrown things in rather confused condition. But I am now in hopes they will be settled up in a few days as there is a prospect of our being paid before long. I expect to fill out the Payrolls tomorrow if there be no preventing Providence.

Captain Pinkerton returned to the regiment a few days before we left Washington. I think he returned one week ago last Saturday, though he has not taken command of the company yet as we have but one field officer present. He is acting in the capacity of Major. He is the only line officer in the regiment that came out with us as an officer.

We left Washington on the 1st inst. and came by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to Parkersburg, Va. We arrived there last Saturday night about midnight (I was too sound asleep to know just the hour). We embarked on the Steamer Express on Sabbath morning at 9 a.m. bound for Louisville. We had quite a fine trip. Stopped at Cincinnati on Monday evening between sunset and dark & the Colonel gave us liberty to run around through the city until eight o’clock Tuesday morning when we were to report back to the boat. As a general thing, the boys were punctual, but as you know there are more or less of the black sheep in every flock. There is one of the numbers of Co. D that I presume you will see or at least hear of before this reaches you.

We arrived at the City of Louisville about 9 o’clock last night & marched some two or three miles south of east from the town. We have a very nicely situated camp. There is more or less talk every day as to where we are going & what we are going for. Some think we will be mustered out while the greater portion think we will be sent to Texas & I don’t profess to know anything about it & I believe I know nearly as much about it as any of them. That is as much to say, there is none of the, knows anything about it. Be these things as they may, I think I have fulfilled my contract. I agreed to serve three years if the war lasted so long & if it didn’t, I was to quit sooner. So if they want to go to Texas or to Mexico to fight Maximilian, they may go but I think I’ll go to Preble county, Ohio. That is hte feeling at present. I think four years of actual service is enough at one time, don’t you?

Well Sallie, you rather set me to thinking pretty seriously over my being elected. I must confess the subject is too serious for joking, yet I fear there is too much truth in the statement. You asked me to excuse all mistakes & whatever I was not pleased with. I had no occasion for either mistakes I did not find & I had no occasion for any displeasure. You seem to think that my market is made & I hear hints to the same effect from some others though that’s what I am utterly unable to see. Why you don’t suppose she would stoop so low as even dream of such a worm as I.

The weather is quite warm and sultry & makes me so lazy I can hardly see. The boys are all in their usual health, I believe, except W[illiam] T. Ramsey. He came near getting his left leg broke. Just as we were leaving Cincinnati, he got it caught between the fenders of the boat we were on & another one though I think he will be able to go about in a few days.

I suppose there is quite a number of young ladies wondering what they’ll do when their soldier comes home but there are some of hem won’t be left in doubt long. How I wish I could be some young lady’s soldier! Wouldn’t I cut a swell though?

You seem to think it a pity that Old Jeff disgraced skirts. So do I, but he has disgraced the masculine gender so much worse that I would like to be classed with the feminine if I could. I guess I have written about all the nonsense I can think of & perhaps more than you will care to read so for fear of wearying your patience, I will close hoping to hear from you in due time.

Ever your friend, — James C. Magee

To Sallie