The following letter was written by Lewis Francis Beers (1843-1910), the son of Andrew Beers (1797-1875) and Lucy B. West (1796-1861) of Leavenworth, Crawford county, Indiana. Lewis had several siblings but only two of them lived to be adults—Caroline (“Carrie”) Beers (1834-1914) who married Josiah Shaw (1829-1913) in 1855, and Edward M. Beers (18??-1891). Both are mentioned in this letter.

In spite of the 23 October 1862 date of this letter, previous owners have claimed it as describing Hines’ Raid, an exploratory mission led by Thomas Hines, on orders from Gen. John Hunt Morgan, into the state of Indiana in June 1863, laying the groundwork for Morgan’s Raid across the Ohio River into Indiana and Ohio. Reading Lewis’s letter carefully, however, it’s clear that the Confederates did not cross the river in October 1862 though they posed such a threat and caused considerable excitement among the Hoosier population in Crawford county. The rebels would return in June 1863 to make good on this threat.

Lewis enlisted on 28 January 1864 in Co. H, 13th Indiana Cavalry. He was discharged on 15 October 1864.

It should be noted that the original town that Lewis describes in this letter was virtually destroyed by the flood of 1937 and was subsequently relocated to higher ground. A few of the remaining abandoned buildings of the original town still stand. See Header (photo by Dan Davis).

Transcription

Leavenworth, [Crawford county] Indiana
October 23, 1862

Mr. Oliver Beers,

Dear cousin, I take the present hours in answering your kind & welcome letter of the 9th of October. I was glad to hear from you all & to hear that you were all well. Our little town has been considerable excited for several days. The rebels were about 50,000 in number at Elizabeth, Kentucky, which was about 40 miles from here and also 250 rebels had taken the town of Brandenburg, Kentucky, which is only 18 miles from here. But as luck have it they would not come down and try Col. Morgan’s Home Guards. The Guards were eager for a fight. There was about 300 soldiers here and one piece of artillery and plenty of shot and shell. All they had to do was to come on and we would help them to plenty of Lincoln’s powder & pills. That is all the war news I believe, except there is no draft in little Crawford. She is the banner county so far.

The weather is very cool for this time of year. It sleeted this morning the 23rd. The [Ohio] river is lower at the present time than it has been since 1852. There is no boats running except small ones. Father and Edward is to work on a house. You would hardly know our little town now. It has improved very fast for a one-horse town. It contains two churches, six stores and one drugstore, which is seven, two blacksmith’s shops, one carpenter’s shop. one wagon shop, one hotel, and a boarding house and two whiskey shops & two wharfs, two steam mills, three cooper shops, one skiff shop. I believe that is all. No, there is one saddler shop.

Father and Edward has got their house ready to raise and I will close a while till the raising is over and then fill up these few lines.

Carrie and her man sends their best love to one and all. They are well & hearty. Edward and his folks are well and send their love to you all. They are waiting on me and I will go.

Well, we have got the house up and I must come to a close. Excuse this short letter for I have two more to write this evening to the seat of war in Arkansas and this is only a half sheet but that is no harm in these hard times. Father sends his love to all. Ed sends his love to all. Carrie sends her love to all. Ed & Carrie says to write and they will. Give my love to all of my friends and relatives and a share for yourself. Write soon. No more at present and remain your affectionate cousin, — from Lewis F. Beers

To Mr. Oliver Beers