This letter penned by Toston S. Hollique (1841-1862) offers a poignant glimpse into the life of a young soldier from Leland, Lasalle county, Illinois. After the Bull Run debacle, Toston stepped forward to enlist for a duration of three years, beginning his service with Co. K, 12th Illinois Infantry on 1 August 1861. Records from the time portray him as a 5’9″ tall, blue-eyed, and blond-haired student, shedding light on his physical attributes and academic pursuits prior to joining the military ranks. Beyond these details, the fervent patriotism that coursed through Toston’s veins is evident, along with his abhorrence of the institution of slavery, which he vehemently denounced as “hellish.”

Toston did not survive the war. He was among the regiment’s casualties in the Battle of Shiloh. His older brother, Thomas S. Hollique, also served in the same company, entering as a corporal and rising in rank to 2nd Lieutenant. Thomas mustered out of the regiment on 8 September 1864.

Toston’s 8-page letter speaks of a journey up the Mississippi river from Cairo to Cape Giradeau in early August. That same trip was described by Norton Campbell of Co. G in a letter I transcribed in December 2022 which read: “A few days ago we were ordered to go to Cape Girardeau in Missouri as soon as possible. We heard that the town was attacked and was in danger and we started with one thousand men and got there that evening at 4 o’clock and was all disappointed for everything was quiet. There is three thousand of our troops stationed at that place now and it is considered safe. We stayed till the next day at 11 o’clock when we got on the boat and returned to Cairo again. We all enjoyed our trip very much and would of felt better if we had of had chance of a fight, but I think we will have one before long and I hope I shall be able to be with them.” See–1861-62: Norton William Campbell to Sarah Ann Rinehart.

Toston wrote the letter to Henry Verbeck (1822-1870) of Mission, LaSalle county, Illinois. Henry relocated from Pennsylvania to LaSalle county, Illinois, in 1837. He was a mason by trade though he did try his luck in the gold field of California for three years. He was a Democrat until his party favored the repeal of the Missouri Compromise—a move that disgusted him and caused him to turn to the Republican Party.

Transcription

Camp McArthur
Birds Point, [Missouri]
August 28, 1861

Mr Verbeck, Honored Sir,

Well I must say it is a shame; here it is nearly half a year since I shared in your kind letters, and perhaps over that time since I sent one to you. The fault is my own but hope you will overlook it as I can assure you it is no more than seeming neglect and hope I need no further apology except now to be more punctual.

Brother Thomas received a letter from you this morning as we were comfortably seated in our tent, I writing a letter to sister R[achel] who is at Leland, while brother was sewing an extra pocket in his new uniform coat which Uncle Sam presented to him yesterday; for what purpose I know not except to preserve a secret and sure place for his “sweetheart’s” portrait. While brother was reading your welcome and interesting epistle and I not less eagerly listening; hearing the enquiry made of my name, and of course, why not writing, &c., Thomas proposed that I write first and answer this to him written, and subsequently change about in answering your welcome notes and interesting items about home.

We are much pleased in hearing your activeness in preparing men for the field, now before and against our noble and free Republic. May your labors at home be blest as honored as well as ours, and may many proceed forward gallantly looking forward to that blessed day when our now distracted country shall once more be free, when discord and party strife shall cease, the hellish institution of slavery shall forever be ushered out of our Land, and the realms of peace and harmony prevail; and once more breathe the pure air of liberty from the cold forest of the Britons possessions in the north to the sunny shores of the South and on from sea to sea.

Grieved in hearing of your illness, hope it will soon cease. Mrs. Verbeck desired to know where Rachel resides. She is at Leland; was working for E. M. Kinnie—a merchant at that place. She would like to hear from Eva though she is a rather poor correspondent herself.

There are nearly all, or at least the majority of the young men of Mission [Illinois], and I suppose of all Fox River, enlisted as you write for the war, I suppose most of them in the Fox River Regiment. As concerning my whereabouts since I wrote you last, while teaching last winter, I left for Cedarville March 21st, went to school 11 weeks, returned June 29th, worked in harvest 3 days, and then about the 22nd of July, heard of and invigorated by the terrible disaster at Manassas. I then proceeded to the nearest recruiting office that I could find and enlisted immediately.

Next day after I had enlisted, I received letter from brother from Chicago that he also had prepared for the war. I left via Chicago the 29th July. Well then, I have “joined the Army” and I’m now at Birds Point, MO, opposite Cairo, where we were for 2 weeks or more, and from which place we started the 15th inst., crossed the great stream of the West at its confluence with Ohio River—that clear stream separating those 3 gallant and loyal states of the North from the neutral, doubtful, but finally brave and true State Kentucky.

Thomas, as you know, has been in the hospital on account of his leg being hurt, true, but he is almost all right now. He was there 2 weeks. It is now nearly healed and well. As for me, I had no idea about the disadvantages of camp life before I came here and experienced it myself. Though it seemed rather hard at first, yet I soon yielded to the advantages which it afforded and made myself as comfortable as I could for the occasion. And though at first hard and rather tough and rough, yet now it seems as pleasant, and I enjoy it as much as if I were at home almost; and it is certain that if the Officers do their duty and we preserve our health, nothing can discourage us or make us sad—that is, if we have the right patriotic fire burning in our breast.

Let me say here that we made, before leaving Cairo, an expedition up the river toward St. Louis, to a place named Cape Girardeau on the Missouri side where the report was that the Rebels forced themselves into. We was taken away from camp by surprise in the morning before tasting anything which could tend to nourish our bodies by a double quick onto the steamer Iatan, the steamer W. W. Brown also accompanying us full of troops. We had four pieces of brass cannon which we left at that place. After coming on the boat, we got some bread and filled our canteens with water and then filled our haversacks with bread and then we stood it till night. When within one mile of the town, W. W. B. commenced firing, being ahead of us. Then we prepared for a fight. Co. I and K forming in a line on the boat, ready for what might then instantly occur.

When we came nearer, we ceased firing and here saw all Union flags streaming all over. We were welcomed there and remained till the next day when we started home without having an attack with the slavers.

Everything has been comparatively quiet here except a few small fights at and about Charleston, a town some 14 miles from here—especially a week ago when six companies went in the night and only two of them in the fight. There were reported 1500 Rebels at that place and two of our companies fighting 1500. After fighting about three-quarters of an hour, our men killed 40 of rebels, took 13 prisoners and a number of horses. We losing one man, three being wounded. Our cavalry also taking a number of both men and horses so that the amount by us taken was 52 prisoners and 50 horses. At one place, two of our cavalry captured 15 rebels. They walked up and told the rebels to lay down their arms or die and they submitted at once.

I remain as ever your true friend, — Toston S. Hollique

Co. K, 12th Illinois Vols.

P. S. Please address to Cairo, Illinois. Write soon as convenient.