The following letter was written by Joseph William Alcorn (1836-1918), the son of John Gaylor Alcorn (1811-1877) and Rachel Mann (1807-1890) of Scott county, Indiana. His obituary informs us that “he was born in Hamilton, Ohio, December 15, 1836, and spent the early days of his childhood along the Ohio river. At the time of the Civil war he was a resident of New Albany, Ind., from which place he enlisted soon after the outbreak of the war. For three years he served in Co. C, 38th Indiana volunteers, stationed in Kentucky for the greater part of the time. After receiving his discharge he went to Indianapolis, and after came to Homer, Champaign county, Illinois where he had since resided.”

Mr. Alcorn came to Homer as a farmer, but soon afterward concluded to retire. He had since made his home with his brother, John Alcorn, who survives him, as does a sister residing in Indiana. The deceased was never married.

Muster records that he mustered into the regiment on 18 September 1861 adn that he was discharged for disability on 3 May 1863.

Transcription

Hospital No. 1
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
May 7, 1862

Dear Mother,

It is with the greatest pleasure that I take my pen in hand to answer your kind letter that came to hand day before yesterday. I was glad to hear from you and to learn that all of the family is as well as they are. It found me very unwell. I am now in Hospital No. 1 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I came here the 14th day of April. I am tryin’ for a discharge but new orders came in this morning that there is to be no more discharges nor furloughs given here but all that is able to be moved is to be sent North as soon as possible—everyone to their own state—and every state is to discharge their own policies. If they do that, I will be apt to be sent to New Albany and maybe in a few days.

I hope so for we have very poor boarding here. Plenty of bread and coffee, tea, some potatoes, [ ] for dinner some of the time. Salt enough to bear up an iron wedge. Some pickles, some can tomatoes, a taste of can peaches about every third day. You need not answer this letter till you hear from me again in a few days again. I may be moved in a few days. If so, I shall let you know where I am.

Tell Old Mr. Bishop the last I heard of Thaddeus Bishop, ¹ he was in Nashville but I can’t tell whether he is dead or alive for it has been some time since I heard from him.

Mother, I wish you has as good market for your butter and eggs, chickens, as there is here. Butter [is] seventy-five cents per pound & eggs sixty cents per dozen. Chickens I think would sell from seventy-five cents to one dollar and a half apiece. Garden truck will sell for most any price that one is a might to ask for it.

I must close for this time hoping that this will find you in good health. — Joseph W. Alcorn

to Rachel M[ann] Alcorn, John G[aylor] Alcorn, John M[ann] Alcorn, Almeda A. Alcorn

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¹ Charles Thaddeus Bishop 9b. 1843) was the son of Thomas Wesley Bishop and Caroline Harback of New Frankfort, Scott county, Indiana. Thaddeus also served in Co. C, 38th Indiana Infantry with Joseph. He was transferred out of the regiment on 1 January 1864.