The following short letter was written by Ross Coyle (1844-1863) who enlisted as a private on 9 October 1862 in Co. B, 122nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He was wounded in the fighting at Mine Run, Virginia, on 27 November 1863 and died of his wounds on 4 December 1863 at Locust Grove, Virginia. The U.S. Register of Deaths of Volunteers informs us that he died was “wounded in the right side, penetrating chest.” A Family History informs us that he was “wounded at the Battle of Mine Run, Va., and taken back to Brandy Station, Culpepper county, Va., where he died, and was buried under a cedar tree, beside the railroad.”

Ross was the son of William W. Coyle (1816-1911) and Mary Ann Walker (1824-1908) of Ross, Jefferson county, Ohio. In the 1860 US Census, 16 year-old Ross was enumerated in his parent’s household learning the carpenter’s trade from his father.

Transcription

Dear Mother,

I thought I would write you a few lines as all the rest of the boys [are] writing and I thought I would too. I wrote a letter the day before yesterday and I wrote one yesterday and one today. I got your letter. I was glad to get it. I want you to write one. It makes me so glad to get a letter. My eyes has got well. My leg is pretty near well.

You must not come here to see me. It is too far away from home. I have not been sick yet. I am well and hearty and I hope that you’re all the same. The war will soon be over.

I did not get to go to Louisville. I had to stop here. I did not hire as a substitute. They would not accept of me and I volunteered then. I want you to write every day if you can. I never feel right till I get a letter. I sent my money home yesterday in a letter and I want you tell me whether you got my money or not. This is a hard place. This makes 3 letters that is on the road. I am going to tell you to write. This is the direct:

Campbell, Harrison County Virginia, Company B, 122nd Regiment

— Ross Coyle.