The following letter was written by Rev. Elmore Yocum Warner (1833-1886), the son of Jesse Warner (180201872) and Jane Goodfellow (1811-1843) of Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio. Elmore was married to Alice Maria Lee (1843-1915) in 1859 at North Fairfield, Huron county, Ohio.

Elmore accepted a commission as Chaplain of the 3rd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry on 11 December 1861 and remained with the regiment until 1 August 1862 when he resigned and returned to his home in North Fairfield, Huron county, Ohio. [Note: the regimental roster erroneously recorded his name as “Edward” rather than “Elmore.”]

See also—1862: Elmore Yocum Warner to the Sandusky Register.

Transcription

Headquarters 3rd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry (OVC)
Camp Dennison, Ohio
January 21st 1862

Very Dear Wife,

Here it is Tuesday night and I have not written to you get. It is too bad. But O dear, how I have worked. You would forgive me if you only knew how I feel. I did intend to write yesterday. Tonight I have a severe pain in my stomach. Don’t know how much or how well I can write. I must tell you part now and the rest another time or when I see you which I wish may be soon.

Well with more sadness than I showed to you, I left you last Saturday night, thus leaving behind me all of earth that I would live for. We made your way to Shelby by half past eight. I stopped at a Hotel. Did not see Jason until next morning. I then went to church to hear Bro. Hartley but he was not there so I had to preach. I then took dinner at Beverstock’s brothers. At about four o’clock Sunday afternoon, we left Shelby [and] reached Camp D[ennison] at about eight. Found the awfullest mud hole you ever saw or heard tell of. But we got over to our quarters here a perfect sea of mud. I finally found a shanty for myself—new, but very dirty. I had to wait until nearly night for my boxes when I commenced “fixing up.”

We are now somewhat comfortably situated. The barracks are very nice when finished. Mine is a frame building with two rooms—a front room and bedroom. The men of each company occupy one building. Well, Mrs. Bliven is boarding about a mile from the camp and Mrs. Howland as far the other way. If you were here in camp, you could not leave the tent at all as it is now with[out] going half knee deep in the mud at every step, and yet how I wish you were here.

I am lonesome—very. It seems I cannot wait to see you. I never knew before how much I prize you What a comfort you are to me. I think you had better come as soon next week as you can. Capt. Skinner says he will write to his wife to stay where she is so you cannot wait for her. I was so sleepy last night that I could not write and now I will finish this morning.

We have just had breakfast. Dr. Selby & his son took breakfast with us. They want to board with us—perhaps will for the present. I slept cold last night on a hard board. But I shall try to do better hereafter. It seems that I left a good many things behind that I intended to bring such as letter paper, looking glass, saw, &c. I bought me a looking glass.

Then I forgot to say a great many things to you that I did not say. I wanted to say take care of your health. you know you are inclined to be a little careless in that respect. Do be careful. I wish you would put away my coats & vests that I left behind. Get things in the drawers and put away in various places all snug and safe so that they will not be scattered nor lost that we may have them when we want to go to housekeeping again. And I pledge you now that when I get through with this, I will never—unless in the strictest sense of duty—take a position that will separate us or tear us up in the world as we now are. You may write this down in your memorandum.

There is much talk and a strong probability of our being disbanded. Our officers fear it greatly—some of them, and some I guess don’t care much. I don’t, for one. If the regiment is not needed in war, I hope it will be disbanded. Keep for the present the money you have. Bring with you when you come one or two felt comforts after you get your trunk filled. Then have Hosford tie the comforts on the top. Bring your coarsest clothing and warmest, perhaps one nice dress, plenty of calico, and such as will bear the dirt and rub. Better get you a new calico frock. Get your shoes fixed, &c. &c. And come on.

You had better start from Monroeville on the morning train at 7 o’clock. Get you a ticket and get your baggage checked to Shelby Junction, not Shelby town. When at the junction, buy your ticket and get baggage checked to Camp Dennison. You will then come through safe without changing cars and I will meet you at the Depot here. By starting in the morning, you save the night travel and can see the country as you come.

You will have to wait a while at Shelby. Be sure and tell me what day you will come so that I can meet you. If I should not meet you, you would not know where to go. The Railroad runs directly through the camp. I have just been to see Capt. Skinner. He says he will send for his wife probably next week so that she can come the last of the week. Perhaps you had better wait until the last of the week. He is waiting for pay day. You had better come as soon as Friday of next week.

Well, you see my sheet is full and I must close. Keep good spirits and hope to meet soon. Sarah lives some 8 or 9 miles from Jason. Says tell you he is well and likes it first rate. I think though that he will get tired. Give my love to Mother and write soon as you receive this. Let us meet at the throne of grace often.

From your unworthy but faithful husband, — Elmore