The following brief letter was written by Hiram Rober (1842-1863) of Stark county, Ohio. Hiram mustered into Co. A, 2nd Ohio Cavalry in mid-August 1861 to serve three years. According to the State Records of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry, Hiram was shot in the chest in a skirmish two miles from Lick Creek Bridge on the road to Blue Springs (now Mosheim) in Greene county, Tennessee in October 1863 just a few weeks after this letter was written in late July 1863. He was originally buried at Blue Springs but later reinterred in the Knoxville National Cemetery, grave no. 1686.

Hiram wrote the letter to Henry Shanafelt, Jr. of Greentown, Stark county, Ohio, asking his friend, “What do the folks up there think of Morgan’s raid?”

Transcription

Hen,

What do the folks up there think of Morgan’s raid? Those Copperheads would better come down and join him if they like Jeff’s style so well. But the poor miserable low life pups are too much of cowards to go into either army unless they are forced into it.

War prospects look pretty favorable at present, do they not? But we have some work to do yet and I hope it will be prosecuted vigorously. I should like very much to have peace restored at least till my three have expired as I would like to see the thing through before I come home again. An immediate answer will be be acceptable. Yours as ever, — H. Raber

P. S. Please direct to Co. A. 2nd O. V. C., via Lexington, Kentucky

How are the girls getting along?