The following letter was written by Samuel Williston (“Will”) Ludden (1841-1889), the son of Nathaniel Thayer Ludden (1808-1846) and Cornelia Johns (1817-1895) of Detroit, Michigan.

Will enlisted as a private in Co. D, 13th Michigan Infantry in January 1862 for three years and mustered out as a sergeant. His older brother, Henry D. Ludden (1837-1891), served as a corporal in Chadwick’s Company Michigan Engineers.

There is no date on this letter but the regimental history informs us that the 13th Michigan was one of the first regiments to march into Chattanooga on the morning of the 13th of September. It then proceeded almost at once to Chickamauga, where it was engaged the 19th and 20th of September, coming in contact with the Confederate forces near the Lee and Gordon’s Mills, where before the close of the battle, it lost 107 killed, wounded and missing out of a total of 217 men, the numbers of officers and men the Regiment carried into the action. Since the envelope appears to bear a Nashville, TN, postmark of 25 September, it is presumed this letter was penned just prior to the Battle of Chickamauga, the battlefield being approximately 20 miles from Chattanooga.

Transcription

Camp in the field, 14 miles in advance of Chattanooga
September 1863

Dear Mother,

I have but a few minutes to let you know of my welfare as we expect to move camp in a few minutes & the mail is about going out. Well, I suppose you have heard of the downfall of Chattanooga. We marched in there three days ago, Wood’s Division being the first troops to enter the town, our Brigade in advance. I am now at Headquarters as Sergt. of Provost Guard. I have 18 men to see to. I took my squad & by a short cut was the first in Chattanooga. I wish you could of seen the Butternuts flew when we got within a mile of them. There was two or three regiments of cavalry left as rear guards & such a dust as they kicked up when they left you never saw. We took but a few prisoners but those that were captured seemed glad to get out of the service & were willing to take the Oath of Allegiance & become peaceable citizens.

We are moving toward Atlanta at which place we shall probably have a big fight. When you think of me, you may place me in the rear of the whole Division during a fight as it will probably be my business to take charge of prisoners so do not fret about us boys. Only 14 months longer & then for a happy time at home. Henry is well. He has at last picked up a horse so that walking & his has had a falling out. We are all well. I will write you a long letter as soon as I can find time. I will close with much love to all. Tell them all to write [and] not wait for me. With much love, I remain affectionately, your son, — Will Ludden