The following Illinois home front letter was written by 19 year-old Lucretia Smith (Trickle) Mathews (1843-1910) to her husband Lemuel Fordum Mathews (1840-1889) of West Jersey, Stark county, Illinois. I transcribed four of Lemuel’s letters back in 2014; see—1863: Lemuel Fordum Mathews to Lucretia (Treakle) Mathews.

Lemuel enlisted in Company D, 112th Illinois Infantry in August 1862. Beginning in April 1863, the regiment served as mounted infantry during the Knoxville Campaign, before being dismounted in February 1864.

Lemuel was shot in the upper right arm (or shoulder) at Resaca, Georgia on 14 May 1864. He was sent to a hospital at Chattanooga but gangrene and typhoid fever complicated his recovery and he was subsequently sent to hospitals in Nashville, Tennessee, and New Albany, Indiana. Lemuel survived the war but he lost the complete use of his right arm and, as such, was judged disabled and honorably discharged from Camp Butler, Illinois in August 1864. After  the war, the couple relocated to Elmwood, Peoria County, Illinois and then to Spring Creek, Cowley County, Kansas by 1885.

Mentioned in the letter several times is Lemuel’s brother, Whitfield [“Whit”] D. Mathews (1838-1914), who served in the same company. Whit was married in October 1861 to Mary (“Mollie) Angeline Chaddock (1843-1900).

Transcription

West Jersey [Stark county, Illinois]
November 19th 1862

Dear Husband,

I have received two letters from you since I last wrote though it has not been quite a week—one last Friday and one yesterday. I am still at your Father’s but will return home soon. We have been having rainy weather. It rained all yesterday afternoon. Mollie & I went after the mail & it rained nearly all the time we was gone but I got a letter from you & so felt quite well paid for getting a little wet. Mollie received two from Whit last week. Your folks got one from you. They have received two since you left which is all you said you had written. Mollie wrote that letter for your folks. You must not expect to hear any more directly than that for you know they can’t write. They are getting along very well. It is so muddy now that they can’t do much. I wrote how they were getting along with their work last week; they have got that smokehouse moved. Moved it last Saturday. Major Lewis helped them. Your Mother says that she & Mollie get along very well for it was her intention to get along with her when she came & she calculated to get along with her. She intends to bear all she can & humor her as much as possible—that is, as long as she keeps within bounds, not to give up to much to her, and make her comfortable if they can. They do not think she is satisfied but they can’t tell for she don’t say anything. She seems well enough contented but Whit spoke in his letter as if she was not. You need not show this to him or tell him what I write for I mean this letter to most of it to be confidential. I think I know she tries your Mother & Father very much…

I got that letter with your picture in it & so did they. I thought I told you about it. They have got all you sent them. My ink was so pale I thought I would try some of the red ink. I have got only six from you. You said in your last that that was your 7th. If so, I have missed the one between that and the one with those evergreens in….You may expect a small package after while. I can’t tell just when in the course of a few weeks. I will advise you at the time. We have mush & milk here for supper which just suits me. What made you ask me how your mother treats me? You might know she would treat me well enough, & I will treat her as well as I can. She wishes you would not have anything to do with taking sheep, geese, &c. It is nothing but stealing she thinks & you know that is wrong & eating warm victuals the rebels prepare—don’t do it for they may poison you. I want you to be careful what you do to contract any disease for you are liable enough to be sick anyway. It must have been very sad indeed to have followed the body of a comrade to the grave. I hope it may prove an effectual warning to all.

Your mother thinks you ought to set the example of keeping the Sabbath more strictly. You could take your book & go off & read & perhaps others would follow your example, and you might do a great deal of good & be improving yourself too. You know we must watch & pray that we enter not into temptation & that we may not also lead others into temptation. She wants you and Whit to live together as brothers should now you are in a strange country.

October [November] 31st

I have just received your letter dated October [November] 21st & from Big Eagle & will try and answer it if I can. I wish if you please that you would mention the date of the letters you receive from me so that I can tell whether you get them all or not. I am sorry your feet get sore but I know you never were used to waling much. I expect you will have to get used to it now though. Your Father said that he was anxious to know how you stood walking so much. I think I will go over there next week to stay a while. I have not been able to go till now.

Uncle Charles was up after Grandmother this week since our folks went up to C—- but she was not here so he didn’t take her. I have not heard anything more of your folks since I wrote that other sheet full. Lana Eagon is staying with us while our folks are away. She says Tabitha Garner has had only one letter from Henry since he left Peoria. Do you know anything of him? Write all you know (that is, whether they are well or sick, &c.) of the Jersey boys when you write for all ask, have you heard from the boys lately when they see Lizzie & me. I would have finished this yesterday but I got into bigger business. Sand’s little girl is here with her & you know me—must do something to amuse her. So Angie brought down a great lot of old rags & we (Angie & e) went to work to making a doll. I worked all day on it & its clothes. We made quite a presentable looking article. I know you would say so if you saw it for the first attempt on my part. I wanted to get my hand in you know. Angie is making ginger bread. She says she wouldn’t mind shaking hands with you now. I am of the impression it would be easier to take hold than to let go. You will have to be a pretty good farmer when you get back if you raise potatoes enough for our own use if my appetite keeps increasing as it has done for a week back. Pickles don’t go very bad, or ginger bread.

Our preacher, Rev. Elliot, stayed with us last Sabbath night. He did not discover I was married till morn. Then he said, “good morning, sister Trickle!” when I came out of the room. There was someone else in the dining room so I took the liberty to tell him my name was not Trickle but Mathews. He wanted to know how that happened, it was Trickle on the class book. I told him I was married a short time ago & presumed it had not been changed yet & so they they will get married & be given in marriage says he. I said I supposed so & so it would be as long as the world lasted he said. He then inquired “where you was.” I told him in the army. He wanted to know if you was a good man. I told I thought so. Was you a “Soldier of the Cross?” I said yes sir. He said that was the “kind of soldiers was needed in the army.” He next asked “Where you held your membership.” I said you was a Presbyterian. He looked down a minute & then looked up kind of funny. “Well how do you make it?” says he. He looked so comical I could not help smiling as I told him, “We had not made it at all yet.” He wanted to know which had the “strongest influence.” I told him we had not tried to see yet. He talked a while & said he thought everyone ought to so whatever they thought was right under such circumstances & that it was none of his business how we did—only his being my pastor, he felt some interest of course in my welfare and of course did not want to lose one of his members if he could help it though he did not say so. I thought I should do what I thought was my duty anyhow. I do not think it would be best to do anything until you return. Then I think we will try our luck membership in the same church. I, like Mr. E, like to see families united as much as possible on this subject.

I would like to send you a good apple We had between 6 & 700 bushels this year on our orchard.

I have not been home since I wrote & so Angie has not got her letter yet. I expect they are all well. Mother M. says they are baking some mince pies & if you will call over, you may have some. We would be very glad to receive a call from you indeed.