This letter was written by Adelbert V Stevens (1839-1919), the son of Alonzo and Mary (Judkins) Stevens.  “Del” came to Wisconsin with his family from Phillips, Franklin Co, Maine. He served in Co. K, 12th Wisconsin Infantry, Co K, rising in rank to 1st Sergeant.

Del datelined his letter from Natchez, Mississippi on December 17th, 1863. It includes a lengthy description of the arrest of his cousin Gustavus Stevens who was arrested for robbery and sentenced to confinement for ten months. “Gus” did not survive the war, however. He died of disease in Vicksburg in 1864.

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Craig Albrechtson and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.] 

Transcription

Natchez, Mississippi
December 17th 1863

Dear Brother,

I take this opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am alive and well with the exception of rather a bad cold. I received a letter from you dated November 11th directed to Gustavus. I read it according to his directions and will send it to him as soon as I find out where he is. I suppose you have heard about his trouble here. I will give you a slight description of it. He went out into the country with three other men and searched a house for arms and when they came back, they were arrested by the pickets and taken to the Provost Marshal. He had charges preferred against him and was put into the jail to await trial. This was about the 14th of September. In about a month, he had his trial but was still kept in jail to await his sentence and thus it went until [he] left here and went to Vicksburg. The night that we left here, he got out and stayed around here about a week and when the 33rd Regiment came up to Vicksburg, he came with them and as soon as he got to our camp, he was put under arrest again.

The next morning we was ordered to march and they took him in to Vicksburg and turned him over to the Provost Marshal and I have not seen him since. He promised to write to me as soon as he found out where he was going to and as soon as I find out where to direct, I shall send all his letters to him. I forgot to mention that while Gus was with the regiment, his sentence came. He is to remain in confinement till the expiration of his term of enlistment and a stoppage of pay of ten dollars a month for ten months. I think that is rather rough.

I received a letter from Mother a few days ago. The folks were all well at home. She said she expected you was coming home on a furlough until she heard that you was gone. I understand that Jeff Thompson was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga. Perhaps you will get a chance to see him. He belongs to the 11th Battery Indiana Volunteers. If you see him, tell him to write to me.

Garfield Sylvester was married a few weeks ago to Miss Osbern. I believe that is the way with the most of these brave stay-at-homes. They are a little afraid to go to the war so they get up a small company of their own and then they can drill when they please. But enough of this nonsense for his time. So goodbye. Write often. Direct to Natchez, Miss. — Del Stevens

[to] E. B. S.