The following letter was written by a soldier I believe was named “Theodore M. H.” and written to a woman in called “Bine” which may have been short for Sabina. It was datelined from Camp Dennison on 8 September 1861. Camp Dennison was a Federal Army training camp located in the town of Germany, Ohio, sixteen miles northeast of Cincinnati. George B. McClellan, a major general in the Ohio militia, chose Germany as the site for a camp. The camp was named for Ohio Governor William Dennison.
Camp Dennison was strategically located near Cincinnati, the Ohio and Little Miami Rivers, and the Little Miami Railroad. The rivers and railroad provided quick transportation from various parts of Ohio and surrounding states. The presence of troops at Camp Dennison also provided Cincinnati with soldiers to protect this important manufacturing city from Confederate attack. Camp Dennison encompassed more than seven hundred acres of land.
The camp hosted 75,000 to 100,000 soldiers traveling to and from the war. Since the soldiers only stayed for a short time, my only chance of identifying them was to look for regiments stationed at the camp in early September 1861, particularly those composed of German-Americans from Cincinnati. However, I couldn’t find anyone who fit that description by that name.
Transcription
Camp Dennison,
September 8th 1861
Dearest Bine Mine,
I have been looking very strong for a letter from you last week but now it is Sunday and I feel very lonesome and disappointed because I did not get the letter you ought to [have] sent me. Now Bine, I want you to answer my letters the same day you receive them hereafter for they are the only thing that gives me any pleasure. And if you knew how anxious I am to get a letter from you, I know that you would not disappoint me. Now, if I do not get two letters at the very least from you this week, I shall in the future take the same time to answer yours that you do mine. Next to yourself, and your letters, that old pipe is my most loved friend and consequently I could not think of locking it up. But I think it would be policy to lock Bine up to keep her from running away. Why what would I do if you were to? If such a thing happens, I hope the first secessionist I meet will shoot me, for when I loose you, I will have lost all incentives to live. But this can never happen and I will not dwell on it for it gives me the blues to even think of it.
There was one of two things that I wanted to receive as a present from you but have got them from a different source. One was a needle case, the other a testament. The needle case was presented to me by a young lady from the country, the other case by some of the girls of our town. The testament was given to me here at the camp. I am afraid I do not study it enough to do much good—not one-eighth so much as I would read it if Bine had given it to me for then I would have studied it for the sake of the giver.
Will Hopkins was down yesterday to the mill with the wagon and came up to the camp and wanted Julius and I to go out home with him. As Julius wanted to go so bad to see Emaline Combs, I consented provided the Lieutenant would let us off and I went and asked him if he would let us off. He said that if we went, he could not let us go home for some time and as I wanted to see you worse than the folks in the country, I would not go (much against Julius’ will).
We had preaching today by Mr. [Samuel] Yourtree. 1 There was about three thousand there. It was the poorest sermon I ever heard but he made up for his lack of preaching by the prayer which was the most eloquent and patriotic I ever heard. There will be prayer meeting this afternoon at four o’clock and if I do not go down to Milford this afternoon, I think I will go.
Will Hopkins said the folks were coming down this week when I will get some more of the good things to eat. I will write the rest when I get yours.
Yours, Theo. M. H.
1 Samuel Livingston Yourtree (1817-1880) was a Cincinnati pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Spared & Shared 23 