The poignant letter was penned by Robert Wilson Sherrod (1827-1887), a native of Virginia, but a physician practicing in Raleigh, Saline county, Illinois prior to the Civil War. As stated by himself in this letter, Robert volunteered and was offered a commission as surgeon on the US Gunboat Tyler—a “timber-clad”—which saw lots of action in the western waters early in the Civil War. By early 1864 he had resigned his commission in the Navy and volunteers as a hospital steward in Co. D, 29th Illinois Infantry. Later that same year he was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in his company.

The letters bears intelligence of the death of Sherrod’s first-born child, Susan Anneliza Sherrod (1853-1862), who was born in Medora, Macoupin county, Illinois, but died at the age of 9 in Rockbridge county, Virginia in July 1862—two and a half years before this letter was received. Sherrod’s wife—the mother of Anneliza—was the former Susannah P. Hileman, the daughter of Daniel & Clerinda (Trevey) Hileman of Centreville, Rockbridge county. Susannah died in December 1853 when Anneliza was but 9 months old and Sherrod returned her body to Virginia to be buried, at the same time delivering Anneliza to be raised by her grandparents (a customary practice in those days).

The Hileman family were avid supporters of the rebellion and two of Susannah’s brothers—Daniel J. Hileman and Phillip C. Hileman served in the “Bloody” 27th Virginia Infantry of Stonewall Jackson’s Brigade. As might be expected, the stoppage of the mails between family members who were on opposite sides of the war made communication difficult, if not impossible, particularly if one was not inclined to correspond with in-laws who held political views that were diametrically opposed. [See A House Divided: The Civil War Letters of a Virginia Family, by W. G. Bean published in 1951, The Virginia Magazine of History & Biography, pp 397-422]

Sherrod wrote the letter from Kennerville, Louisiana, where the regiment remained a few days before marching off to New Orleans and then on to Mobile Bay.

Transcription

Kennerville, Louisiana—18 miles Above New Orleans
January 30th 1865

Dear Brother,

I have just received a letter from Mrs. Housh enclosing one from you, in which was the painful and heart-rending intelligence of the death of my child. This blow falls heavily upon me and breaks one of the strongest ties that bound me to this world. But it becomes us as intelligent beings to submit to the Devine will of our Maker without a murmur, however hard it may seem. And I can do so the better feeling confident as I do that she has gone to join her sainted Mother in that abode of peace and happiness prepared for the righteous from the foundation.

I have not heard from any of you before in some three years and upwards. I have been in the U.S. Navy and Army ever since the rebellion began. I was surgeon of the U.S. Gunboat Tyler for a long time. I have been in several hard-fought battles—viz: Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Haines Bluff, Vicksburg, & Helena—and so far it has pleased God to let me escape unhurt. At this time I am 1st Lieutenant of Co. D, 29th Reg. Illinois Vols. If I live, I will likely remain in the service until the close of the war.

I am sorry that you and I do not see this wicked rebellion in the same light, but be that as it may, I hope the time is not far distant when the sweet harbinger of Peace will spread his golden wings over our entire country. I want you to remember me kindly to your Father and family. Also to your brother Phillip. Tell him to write to me. And I wish you to write as soon as you receive this, Please let me know what is the date of Anneliza’s death and if she had a protracted illness and all the particulars of the sad occurrence.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I subscribe myself your brother, — R. W. Sherrod