The following letter was written by Amos B. Ludlow (1839-1863), the son of Frazer Ludlow (1801-1863) and Elizabeth Burgett (1807-1850) of Monroe, Holmes county, Ohio. Amos was studying to be a physician at the time of the 1860 US Census.

Amos enlisted as a private in Co. G, 102nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) in August 1862 and he died in December 1862 of disease in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Records at the Nashville National Cemetery give his date as 23 December 1862.

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Camp Wallace, Kentucky
September 17th [1862]

Miss Liggett, esteemed friend,

Being off duty this afternoon & also mindful of friends at home, I know of no more pleasant pastime than conversing with them, And as I feel quite certain that every person especially in patriotic Holmes is eager to hear war news. I shall without dwelling on preliminaries proceed to give you my experience as a soldier.

I had heard much of the privations, dangers, and horrors of war and I am glad to find that I viewed the dark side of the picture. It is true I have been out but a short time, yet we have seen almost everything except a fight. We left Mansfield expecting to stop at Camp Dennison. But when we arrived there, we found the ferry boats waiting to carry us across the Ohio to the land of Secesh. We arrived at Covington, Kentucky, at 4 a.m., took possession of the public buildings which by order of Gen. Wallace had all been closed. We remained there but three days and since then have been encamped in five different places.

We are now on the top of a high hill 3 miles from the Ohio river and commanding rather a romantic view of the Queen City. There has been great excitement here occasioned by the supposed march of Kirby Smith on to Cincinnati, but I think the people of Ohio need not be alarmed yet, and I know they would not be if they were here. There is 75 thousand troops here beside several thousand at work on the fortifications. Batteries are planted upon every hill for miles in all directions. Yes, I think the people of Ohio are safe so far as an attack here is concerned—especially when we remember that the brave 102nd are among those troops.

The boys here are all in good spirits good health and anxious for a fight. Docor [Hamilton] McClurg is sitting my me as I write. He is Hospital Steward and well pleased with his position. I believe I have given you a general idea of the war here so I close for the present asking for a reply giving the news in general as news from home is quite an item to the soldier.

Recording my best wishes for your happiness & success in life, I remain a friend, — A. B. Ludlow