These letters were written by George Washington Martin (1843-1864), the son of John Martin (1792-1861) and Frances (“Fanny”) Horton (1818-1899) of Craig township, Switzerland county, Indiana.
George enlisted on 22 August 1861 as a private in Co. C, 3rd Indiana Cavalry. According to his pension record, George was taken prisoner while on a scout 29 January 1864 near James City, Virginia. He was initially confined at Richmond and then sent to Andersonville, Georgia, on 4 March 1864. He was admitted to the hospital at Andersonville on 29 May and died two days later on 31 May 1864.
In the affidavits filed by acquaintances of the Martin family, Ostrum Bowright, a neighbor and comrade of George’s in the 3rd Indiana Cavalry, attested under oath that George’s father, John Martin, was poor, was an inebriate, and finally became insane and died at the poor house in the fall of 1861, leaving his family no property whatsoever ever and apparently a lot of debt. Fanny lived, according to Ostrum, in a run down 4-room shack that she rented from Jonathan Fromand on the outskirts of Mount Sterling.
In George’s letters, there are frequent reference to his younger brother, Edward M. Martin (1843-1926). Ed enlisted as a private in Co. H, 6th Indiana Infantry. He mustered into the regiment in September 1861 and mustered out in September 1864. He survived the war, married Ella Corns (1852-1915) and settled in Vevay, Indiana. Another brother, Joseph H. Martin (1845-1911) later served in Co. H, 10th Indiana Cavalry.
[Note: These letters were found in the Pension Records in Washington D. C. and made available to me for transcription and publication of Spared & Shared by Bradley Quinlin of Suwanee, Georgia. It’s rather unusual to find this many letters in the pension files.]
Letter 1
August 6th 1861
My dear Mother and sisters,
I received your letter this morning and was glad to hear from you. I was glad to hear that you was well and I hope those few lines will find you in the same health when you get this letter…This has been three letters that I have wrote to you and only got one. I think you ought to write me a letter every week. I want you to send me my brass pen holder and a good pen in your next letter for I can’t get one when I want it to write you a letter when I want to. Now be sure to send it to me if you please and write to me how you all are and how you are doing at home.
I am Police of the Guard today. I feel pretty big to day. I am well and hearty. I weigh 185 pounds and I feel like fighting. You needn’t feel bad about me for t’other night when I was laying down, I said to myself, if I ever got home, I wanted to dream of you and I dreamed that I come home and you all was so glad to see me and Mother, you know that my dreams always come to pass. You know that I always believe in dreams.
When you get this letter, write when you got it.
We get plenty to eat here now but no whiskey to drink. We are all out of money here now but we expect to get some next week and when I get some, I will send it home to you all as soon as I get it. We are all well here except a few and they ain’t very well. Thomas Smelly is getting about well.
Here is my best respects to you all at present time and I hope those few lines will find you all in the same health. Here is a few lines to Miss Corit. We heard that Mary was very sick and he wanted them to write how they all were and write soon. Ossie [Ostrum Bowright] is well and hearty and full of fun. Tell them as soon as you get it. — G. W. Martin
Letter 2
September 26th 1861
My dear Sister and Mother,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at the present time and I hope these few lines will find you in the same health. I received your first letter on the 19th of September. Was glad to hear from you all and I received your last letter on the 15th and I was glad to hear that you was getting along so well at this time. Tell Andy he must not cry when you call my name. Tell him to be a soldier and not cry about me for when I get some money, I will send him a present and I will send you all a present.
My best friend is P[aul] Clark here but all are good to me. There is no sickness here now nor hain’t been. We are a brave set of boys. We care for nothing. We are the boys that fear no noise when we are far from home.
“We hain’t got our arms yet but we can kill a regiment of Rebels with clubs. We are men here. I can kill six secession men and not half try.”
— George W. Martin, Co. C, 3rd Indiana Cavalry, 26 September 1861
You may sell my scythe and cradle to Cotton Bonty [Bonta?] but he aught to give you three dollars and a half for it. Mother, you are just as [ ] to me as Mary Ann, but you know id she didn’t get my ring, she would cry all the time about it. We don’t know when we will be paid. You know just as much about it as we do. I thought I would have some money by this time but we will have some soon. Tell all of my friends to be good to you all while I am fighting for their country. They say here that if they don’t arm us here pretty soon, they will send us home and arm us and send us to Kentucky. We hain’t got our arms yet but we can kill a regiment of Rebels with clubs. We are men here. I can kill six secession men and not half try. We heard that Kentucky had took Vevay.
If I have anything at home, sell it if it will do you any good. Tell Cuney and Dosh to save all the fodder they can for the cow this winter. Oh dear Mother, and brother and sisters, I am a great ways from you now. Don’t you grieve about me for I am a coming back to Old Indiana again. They can’t kill me. You all know that, and if Joseph can’t get him no coat, make him one out of mine. I would just like to see you all just as well as you would me. When I get some money, I will send you my money.
Dear sister, tell Miss Dow [?] that Thomas Smelly has got so that he can walk and he has changed his looks so that you would not know him. But he is getting better every day. Tell Doll [Dewell C.] McMackin to write me and Thomas Smelly a letter and tell Ike Freeman to write me a letter.
Letter 3
October 6th 1861
My dear friends,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present time and I hope these few lines will find you in the same health. I made a mistake in my letter. I dated it in the wrong month and I wrote this. I thought I would right another to you. We are well here at present time. I am well and hearty adn weigh 185 pounds and I see the pleasure of my life here and plenty of fun in our old camp ground.
Dear mother and sister, I wrote this letter today because it was Sunday. I wrote you a letter on Saturday. That is the one I made the mistake on. Then I wrote this one. You must send me my brass pen holder and a good pen.
A soldier’s life is a dreary one. I would like to see you all very well and you would like to see me I expect at home once more. Don’t grieve about me Mother for I am coming back home when war is over. They can’t kill me, you know that. And you must do the best you can till I get some money. I expect to get some next week and if I do, I will send it to you and I will send you all a present. Here is my letter to you all at home.
Dear mother and sisters and brothers, you must think of me but not cry. Here is my love to all in Mt. Sterling and I want all of them to write and be good to you and I will not forget them.. Be sure to tell them to write me a letter and sign all their names. Here is the paper I have got and you must send me some to write to you for I don’t get more here that is fit to write on now. When you get this letter, you must write when you got it. I write to you twice a week. You must write how you are doing and how you are getting along at home.
I am dirty and sassy as a hog. And write to me if you got that letter that I wrote to you when I told you might sell my scythe and cradle to Cotton Bonty. You must write whether you got it or not.
I am your dear son, Mother, far from home in a secession country and I want you to write to me where Edward is if you can. And write soon. I received your letter this 5th of October and was glad to hear from you all. I can’t get paper enough to write to you. — G. W. Martin
Letter 4
[Letter from George’s brother]
October 17, 1861
[Dear] George Washington Martin,
I take the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that we are all well at present time and when you receive these lines, I hope they will find you in the same health. And when you get it—the letter—you must not let it hurt your feelings what I write, for dear brother, you know that I would not lie to you and I want you to believe what this letter tells you.
We saved over half of your fodder at John Nash [Mosher?] and he come over here and dared Mother or me or anybody else to come inside of the fence. He said you give him your corn and we should not have it. He told Mother and me if we come in the field again, that he would shoot us and George, if we don’t get it—your corn—to live on, what do you think we will live on. And he came over here in the house and abused Mother to all you ever heard in your life, and it has grieved Mother almost to death because you let him have your corn and would not let us have it and you ought to know what a good boy Joseph is and when he went over to save the rest of your fodder, John Nash run him off and threatened to take his wagon whip and whip him all the way home if he went in the field again. And now George, we want you to send us word who is to have your corn—us or Mr. John Nash?
And we received your letter the 15th of October and you named Mother’s name so many times in your letter that she cried all day after we got the letter. She says you are her one dear son and she says that she will always remember you and we would give our right hand to see you come home once more to let people know who they are a running over. And now, dear brother, we want you and Paul Clark to write Harvey Bonty and Mr. Brown an order to have your corn gathered in their care for us. Mr. Bonty told us to write to you for an order for the corn in his care and he would gather it and haul it home for us. If you and Paul Clark would send him an order on the field which John Nash rented from Nathan Waldron and you bought it from John Nash and we have got a very long well ever since you have been gone and everybody has been good to us—all but old Parker and John Nash.
And dear brother, there is a long farewell for Mother to you for she thinks that she will never see you anymore for she thinks you are gone forever more to stay. She hain’t got anything to do now but grieve about her two boys in the army for when we lay down at night on our good, warm beds, our thoughts is on you and Edward in the army for you both have to take your beds on the ground in strange lands—where? we know not. And dear brother, don’t never forget your God that rules the Heaven and Earth. And now, dear brother, if you get sick while you are there, you must pray to our blessed God to spare you to come back home once more and your best friend here, Doll [Dewell C.] McMackin, he was here yesterday and told me to send you and Thomas Smelly [ ]. Write him a letter and send him both of your respects. And George, when we could not get any wood, Doll [Dewell] hauled us a load of wood and he said that we should not suffer for wood this week. And George, you may write back on the same paper and you must write to me when you get it. — your brother
Bladensburg, Maryland
October 28, 1861
Friend Martin, as your kind letter has just come to hand and George is unwell and desires me to write something concerning his corn at John Marsh’s, he says that John in the first was to find the team and feed and he was to do the work and have one third and then him and Ed and Joseph bought John’s third for ten dollars and paid him six dollars in money and four dollars in work and John was to find the team. Together their two-thirds and would done one third. This he says he can prove by Mr. Waldon and you and Marian. He says to tell Mr. Banta and Brown to tent that for him and he will pay them for it. Yours respectfully, —Paul Clark. (for George Martin)
I would say not to be uneasy about George for he is not dangerous.
Letter 5
Washington D. C.
October 20, 1861
My dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well today and I hope those few lines will find you in the same health. My dear Mother, I ain’t very well at the present time but I hope these few lines will find you all well today. It is Sunday and I thought I would write you a good letter. You sent me word I must write you a good letter and dear Mother, I thought I would write one to you today. I received your letter on Saturday the 19th day of October and was glad to hear from you all. I have a bad cold and don’t feel much like writing today but I like camp life very well and I see plenty of fun here but has got no money yet.
Dear Mother, I was glad to hear where Edward was and I want you to write to him and tell him to write to me how he likes to be a soldier and how he likes his company and then you get an answer from him and write it to me, And dear Mother, you must write how the children is and tell them to send me some word about them in the next letter you send to me. I would like to see little Darly very well and all of you but I could not leave Washington and come home at all. There is nothing here but soldiers and music and I never will leave here as long as they can beat a drum and play a fife. Mother, you know I like to hear music.
This paper was sent to us from Vevay and I thought I would write to you all. Now Mother and Mary Ann, I want you to write as soon as you get this letter and tell all in Mt. Sterling to send me their best respects…I hope you will not forget to write to me….— George W. Martin
Letter 6
[Approximately 1 November 1861]
Dear Mother,
I received your letter the 23rd day of October in the evening and was glad to hear from you all but, dear Mother, I am sorry to hear that you was used so bad at home. Now dear Mother, if I had thought that you would of been served so mean, I never would left you in my life at home to be run over by such a mean son-of-a-bitch John Nash. Mother, it hurt my feelings to read your letter and to think how you was used. I always was so glad to get a letter from you till now. You wrote so nice to me and how well you was a getting along.
Dear Mother, you must not think I never will come home again for I am a coming back when this war is over with plenty of money. Dear Mother, I have dreamed of you and the children every night for a week and thought that there was something the matter. They told me that you should not be run over if I left home but I imagine they don’t care now. Dear Mother, when you get this letter, take it to Mr. Brown and tell him to see about my corn and get it for you and I will pay him for it as soon as I get some money and I will be much obliged to him.
Mother, write as soon as you get this and tell me how you are getting along. — George W. Martin
Letter 7
November 25, 1861
Dear Mother,
I received your letter this morning and I was glad to hear from you and hear that you was well and was doing well at the present time. Dear Mother, I was glad to hear from Edward. I would like to see him but I can’t and I would like to see you all. You wanted to know how many letters I had received from you. I have got ten letters from you since I left Madison [Indiana] and when you get this letter, write to me how many you have got from me since I left Madison. Mother, you wanted me to get my miniature [photograph] for you but I can’t get any place to get it taken. But when I get where they taken them, I will get mine and send it to you.
Dear Mother and brothers and sisters, here is my best respects to you.
Dear Mother, I have sent you twenty dollars by Express and when you get it you must be saving with it and buy good clothes for the children and for you and Mary Ann. And if you ain’t got enough, write to me and I will send you some more. I wrote a letter last week to you. When I got my pay and I wrote this one, I received your letter this morning that had three stamps on it and I thought I would answer it….
Letter 8
December 1, 1861
Dear Mother,
I received your letter this evening on Sunday and I was glad to hear from you and hear that you all was well and hearty. This is three letters that I have wrote to you and I have got two. And you say that you don’t get any from me. I write once a week to you and you say you don’t get any letters from me. Dear Mother, we have got paid off and I have sent you 35 dollars to buy your winter cloth. I was glad to hear from Ed. I shall write to him soon.
Dear Mother, I have been sick for some time. When you get htis letter, don’t write till I do again for you say you don’t get any letters from me. Dear Mother, I am well and hearty now. I ain’t got anything to write to you. I have got to wash and clean my things to go on fress parade and I ain’t got time to write any more.
We are all well but a few and they have got bad colds. Sickness is pretty bad here now. I hope that when you get this letter it will find you all well and hearty. Mother, just let that 230 cent [?] alone till I write again. Mother, I want you to write to me if you got that corn at John Mash and write too if it was good and where you put it. And write to me if you have got it gathered or not. And write how you all are i nMt. Sterling. And tell them all to write to me. And Mary Ann, you must write to me how all the children is. I will have to close my letter now.
Dear Mother, here is my love to you in this letter and all the children. — George W. Martin
To his beloved Mother, fifteen hundred miles from home.
Letter 9
December 10, 1861
Dear Mother,
I received your letter last night on the 9th of December. I was glad to hear from you and hear that you was getting along so well at home. I received your letter and Ike [Snow’s?] letter and the paper, two sheets, and three stamps and I was glad to get them. Dear Mother, I am well and hearty now. I have got well and I see a heap of fun in the company. You want me to come home but I wouldn’t leave my company and come home for no price at all.
We are in sight of the Rebels. We can hear the cannon balls whizz when they fire and see the bomb shells burst. Our gunboats went down yesterday and fired on the Rebels and routed them and burnt three fine houses—our men did. And we expect a big fight in a few days now and I hope that we will for we all want to whip the black sons-of-bitches so bad that we don’t know what to do. We are all hankerin’ for a fight.
We have plenty to eat and plenty to wear. We have fresh beef every other day and hog most every day and good coffee and rice and beans and potatoes and sugar and molasses. Don’t you think we can stand it on that grub? We was out on a scout a few days ago and took five mules from the Rebels and has got a team out of them to haul our things and we are right in the Rebel’s country now.
I write Ed a letter t’other day and I hope when I get an answer from him he will be well and hearty. Mary Ann, I want you to write to me if you got the corn over to John Mash or not. And write too if you have got enough to do you this winter. And write to me how you get your milling done and write to me who hauls your wood and how you pay for it. And write how the children is and Joseph and Andy. You must write to me in the next letter how you are. Mary Ann, you wanted to know when I settled with Mr. Froman. I paid him the rent up to the first day of August. You hunt my papers and you will see when we settled on. Then you will know all about it. Mother, I sent you 20 dollars by Dan Glade. When you get it, you must write to me and be sure to do it.
Dear Mother, you don’t know what a soldier your son George is. I can whip Jeff Davis or any other old woman.
Letter 10
January 25, 1862
Dear Mother,
I received your kind letter today and I was glad to hear from you and hear that you all were well and hearty at this time. This is three letters I have wrote to you this week and I have got one today. You said you wanted me to tell you the story about the old sow. Well, don’t you know the old sow that father bought from old Billy Mitchell when we lived in Point [?] Run—that is the sow? Don’t you know when I was eating a piece of her, I got a piece of her in my teeth and I said, “God damn the old sow. I wish she was in old Mitchell and he was in Ireland.” I meant Maryland and said Ireland. That is the joke.
You said you wanted me to write you the news. Well there is none here. It is a dry place here. The mud is three feet deep here and still raining. We see a good time here. We have plenty to eat and wear and don’t do anything adn we have plenty of horse feed. Our horses all is fat now.
Well, you said you wanted to know how I built my house. Well, I cut the log and put them on my back and built my house and I built my chimbley [chimney] with rocks and sticks and mud and covered it with my tent and it is just as good a house as anybody’s house, I can build a big fire in it and sweat.
Well, you wanted to know who stayed in it with me. James Pollison and Charles Johnson—that young man that went with Bordman and me a squirrel hunting when we killed three [ ] three owl. I have got three men in my house—the best men in the company with me. I have got paid off and sent you 25 dollars by Mr. Danglade. When you get it, you should spend it for something to eat and ear. You said I must write to Ed on that paper. Well, Mother, I have wrote to Ed two or three times but go no answer. I won’t write to him till I get an answer from him. Here is my love to you all. From G. W. Martin
Letter 11
Camp at Budd’s Ferry, Maryland
February 11th 1862
It is with great pleasure that I take my pen in hand to let you know that I received your letter that you sent by. Mr. Clark. I was glad to hear from you once more. That is the first letter I have got from you for three weeks and I was so glad to get a letter from you that I didn’t know what to do. I think you have forgot me or you would write more than you do. I have wrote six letters to you and only got one letter from you—[the one] Clark fetched me. You must write to me more than you do…
Well, dear Mother, I got the can of peaches that you sent to me by Clark and I was glad to get them. I ain’t eat them yet. When I write again, I will tell you how I liked them. Mother, I got a letter from Edward yesterday and he said he was well and hearty. I am well and hearty today and see plenty of fun. Mr. Wilcox is here now and he looks better than he ever did….It has been raining for two months here.
Mother, when you get this letter, you must write to me, I can’t think of any [more] to write till I get a letter from you. I want you to write how all of hte children is in your next letter and write me a good letter. No more at present but still remain yours, — G. W. Martin
Letter 12
May 21, 1862
Dear Mother,
I take the time to let you know that I am well at this present time and hope these few lines will find you all well and enjoying the same good health.
Well, Mother, we have got paid and Captain Lemon is coming home on a furlough and I will send you fifty dollars by him to you and when you get it, you must buy some things to eat and wear and do the best you can until I come home. I think we will be home before long. Well, I got a letter from Ed since he has been in the fight and he was well and is doing well. Well, we have got back to washing right in the city and I see the best time in the world. Well, Mother, you wanted to know where [ ] Reed was. He is here with us and he is the best friend I have got. He is well and hearty and he has got the best name of any of us. Tell Mrs. Reed that he is all right.
Well, Mother, I have wrote all I know this time. I will close. Write as soon as you get this and write and tell me how you are getting along at home and write [more] often than you do. From G. W. M.
To his dear Mother
Letter 13
May 25, 1862
Dear Mother,
I sit down to let you know that I am well at the present time and hope these few lines will find you in the same good health. Well, dear Mother, I have sent you thirty dollars by Capt. Lemon and I thought I would send more but I bought me a fine watch. I thought I ought to buy me something for I think I ought to have something to make me look like a man, don’t youy? Well, Mother, I have wrote this much, I will write something else. When you get the money, you must buy something to eat and wear and do the best you can with it and when you get this you must write and tell me if you got it.
Well, Mother, I would [have] sent more but I thought I would buy me something to wear and to look like somebody. And it won’t be long till we are paid off again and then I will send you some more. Well, I have wrote all I know this time. Write as soon as you get this and tell me how you are getting along at home. Abraham Plew is coming home and will tell you all about me. And Mother, I want you to send me two shirts by Capt. Lemon and I don’t want you to send me white shirts. Send me some checked ones and I will thank be thankful to you to get them. From G. W. M.
To his dear Mother at home.
Letter 14
May 31st, 1862
Dear Mother,
I take my pencil in hand to let you know that I am well and hearty. Well, I will tell you where we are now. We are in Virginia out ion the Rebel’s country, and they are all around us and we look every night for them to come on us. But we are all right for them and we expect to have a big fight tomorrow and we expect to go it into them like lions.
Well, Mother, I ain’t got much to write this time. I thought I would write and tell you where we was so you would bot be uneasy about me. Write as soon as you get this and when I write again, I will have something to write. And tell O[ssie] Bowright to write and tell me if he got home and if he gave you the money I sent to you. Write as soon as you get this. From G. W. M. to his Mother
Letter 15
June 5th 1862
Dear Mother,
I take the time to let you know that I am well at present and hope these few lines will find you in the same good health. I received your letter this morning and was glad to hear that you was well and hearty. Well, Mother, I will tell you where we have been. We left Washington and went into Virginia and we have traveled all over the mountains. We have been all through Virginia and now we are on the railroad at [ ] about 25 miles from Harper’s Ferry and we seen good times here.
Well, Mother, I have wrote all I know. I will close. When you get this, write and tell me if [you got the] 35 dollars that I sent to you. I would send $5 but I bought me something to wear and to look like somebody and I only sent you 35 dollars and you must not think hard of it for me not sending you more.
Well, I will close. write as soon as you get this. from G. W. M. to his dear Ma in Mt. Sterling. Goodbye till I hear from you.
Letter 16
June 28th 1862
Dear Sister,
I take the present opportunity to let you know that your dear brother, G. W. M., is well and hearty this morning and I hope these few lines will find you in the same good health.
Well, dear sister, I can’t much to write this time. I thought I would write this to you and I want you to do just what this says. When I send you some money again when Father’s old debts come, I don’t want you to pay them anymore. I wanted you to pay S.S. S. Cofield for he is all of gentleman. I think that is in Mt. Sterling. I owed him about three dollars and 90 cents I think. When you get this letter, give my best respects to Mr. Cofield and when I send you money again, I want to spend it for you and the children. Everybody that Father owed said that you paid Symes. That rotten rascal knowed you would pay them. Now if anybody else come for debts, tell them that you have quit being banker for everybody.
Dear sister, I am out here soldiering for your living and now when you get any money from me, you buy something to eat and wear for you and Mother and the children and tell the next rascal that comes to you for debts that you ain’t around. Dear sister, it hurt my feelings to hear that you had to pay every little debt that I owed and father’s too. If you ever see Walter Lock, tell him that I think he just went and stole that money as to make you pay it. When I read it, it made me so mad I could just [have] bit steel. Dear sister, don’t think hard of this. Write soon as you get this and tell me how you all are. From your dear brother, — G. W. M.
To Mary Ann
June 28, 1862
Dear Mother,
I take this time to let you know that I received your letter last night and was glad to hear from you all once more. That was the first letter I have got from you for one month and you don’t know how glad I was to hear from you all at home. Your letter found me well and hearty and enjoying myself very well and I have been all of the time. Well, dear Mother, you said you wanted to know where we was. We are in Virginia at the Junction. We have been all over Virginia. We have been over the Rappahannock River three times and have been to Harper’s Ferry once and have been to Front Royal and now we don’t know where we will go next and we have had the best time in the world. We ain’t been in a fight yet nor I don’t think we will for some time yet. We was called out in a line of battle one night and we thought that we was going to have some fun, but the rebels didn’t come and you never seen anybody so keen for a fight as the Bloody Third Indiana Cavalry was. We just think we can clean Virginia out if they will let us into them. It is given up that Capt. Lemon has the best company in the regiment. We are all brave and hearty men and don’t care for nothing. If we get hungry, we just go in a house and get something to eat. And if one of our horses gives out, we will go in someone’s stables and get the finest horse that we can find and then we are all right again.
Well, Mother, I have wrote all I know this time. I think when you get this letter, write and tell me how you all are at home. I think this war will be over before long and then I will come home. Don’t be uneasy about me for I am all right on the goose. And if you get a letter from Ed, write and tell me how he is. From your dear son, — G. W. Martin
To his dear Mother. Goodbye till I hear from you.
Letter 17
July 23, 1862
Dear Mother,
I received your letter today and I was so glad to hear from you once more. This is the first letter I have received from you for one month. I thought that you had forgot me. Your letter found me in good health and in fine spirits and enjoying myself better than I ever did in my life.
We are in Virginia yet and I expect we will stay here for some time yet—at least I think we will. Well, Mother, you wanted to know what Paul Clark come home for. Well, I don’t know. Mother, I sent you five dollars by Paul Clark when he left and you never sent me word whether he give it to you or not and when you write to me, write and tell me if he give it to you. Well, dear Mother, I got a letter from Edward t’other day and he was well and hearty. And he said the fighting was played out where he was and he said when [ ] he thought they would go to Richmond. Well, I think the fighting is about played out myself.
Well, dear Mother, when you get this letter, you must write and tell me how you all are getting along at home and tell Joseph to tell me how he is doing at home by himself. And tell Old Andy to tell me how he is and tell Darly to tell me how he is and tell all of the children to tell me how they are and you must do the best you can until I come home….— George W. Martin
Washington City, D. C. in care of Capt. Lemon, 3rd Indiana Cavalry, Co. C.
Letter 18
August 8, 1862
Dear Mother,
I received your letter last night and was glad to hear from you all. your letter found me in good health and in fine spirits.
Well. dear Mother, I will tell you what we have been doing for two weeks. We have been scouting around in Virginia for two weeks and we have been in two pretty hard fights. We was in a fight day before yesterday off and on all day. We got one man killed and several took prisoner but we held out until we shipped them out and they took three of our teams in the fight.
Well, Mother, I have told you all I know about the fight. I will tell you what I have sent to you. I have sent you forty dollars and here is an order to get the money. You take this order and go to Vevay and give it to Mr. Brimstrong and you will get the money and when you get it, you must write and tell me if you got it.
And Mother, I was glad to hear from Ed. I will write to him as soon as I can and if I hear from him before you do, I will write and tell you how he is. Well, dear Mother, I have wrote all I know this time. I will bring my letter to a close. Write as soon as you get this and tell me how you all are at home. So no more at present but still remain your dear son, — G. W. Martin
Letter 19
[Sharpsburg, Maryland]
October 4, 1862
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at the present time and hope these few lines will find you all in the same good health ad enjoying yourselves as well as ever.
It has been a long time since I heard from you and I thought I would write you a letter today as I have nothing to do and it is a fine day. We had a nice drill this morning and a bully time last night and cut up the Devil. We charges on the Major’s tent and tore it down. We are in camp now and we are going to rest for thirty days and by that time I think we will be all right.
We have had a very hard time all summer and fall. Had no rest until now. We are in Maryland at a town called Sharpsburg about ten miles from Harpers Ferry. We have got all the rebels out of Maryland and run them to Virginia again. But now I think the rebels is about played out here and I hope everywhere else. I wish this cursed rebellion was scratch [?] for I a getting tired of it.
Well, I have wrote all I know about the war. I will write something else. When you get this letter, I want you to write me a good letter and tell me all of the news that you have at home and if you hear from Edward. You must write ad tell me how he is and Mother, we ain’t got paid off yet but will be next month and then I will send you some money and you must do the best you can until I get paid off. Write as soon as you get this. From G. W. Martin
To his dear Mother at home in Mount Sterling
Letter 20
[Falmouth, Virginia]
November 24th 1862
Dear Mother,
I sit down to write you a few lines to let you know that I received your letter last night and I was so glad to hear from you and this is four letters I have received from you and I had no chance to write you until now for we have been going for one month day and night until now and we have stopped for one day or two. Your letter found me in good health and in fine spirits for a soldier and when you get this, I hope it will find you all in the same good health.
Well, dear Mother, I will tell you what we have been doing for some time. We fought the Rebels out of Maryland into Virginia and fought them from Sharpsburg to Fredericksburg in Virginia and that is about 50 miles. We fought them fifteen days right straight along and we had it up and under with them. Sometimes we would run them and sometimes they would run us but we never lost a man. We only got one wounded but we just slayed the Rebels. We killed and wounded I don’t know how many.
And now we are in camp in sight of them. They are on one side of the [Rappahannock] river and we are on the other side. We are waiting for them to fire on us and then we are going to cross the river and run them to Richmond. The talk is here now that we will go to Richmond or to Texas and we don’t know which place we will go yet. Gen. Burnside’s whole army is here and he says he will go to Richmond or lose every man he has got with him and it is a going to be a very hard time on us this winter for it is very cold here now and it is getting colder every day.
Well, Mother, I have wrote all I know about the war. I will write something else. We ain’t got paid off yet and we don’t know when we will be paid off but when we get paid, I will send you some money for I expect, dear Mother, you need some money now. And tell my friend P. Clark to let you have things and when I send you some money, you must pay him. And if you hear from Ed, you must write and tell me how he is for I ain’t heard from him for four months and I would like to hear from him.
Well, dear Mother, I have wrote all I know. I will bring my letter to a close. Write soon as you get this. From your dear son, — G. W. Martin
to his dear Mother
Letter 21
On picket on the Rappahannock River
February 5, 1863
Dear Mother,
I received your letter last night and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you all was well and hearty at present. Your letter found me in good health and in fine spirits for a soldier.
Well, Mother, I have got some good news to tell you this time. We got paid off yesterday and I am going to send you fifty dollars and dear Mother, I wish I could send you some more but I had to pay for my clothes this time and some more that I owed and I sent you all that I could. Cpt. Lemon is coming home and I am going to send it by him to you and when you get it, I want you to spend it for something to eat and to wear. And Mother, Charley Johnson is coming home with the captain and I want you to send me some shirts by C. Johnson. I told him to fetch them to me and if Ralph Cotton has got them boots done, tell him to send them to me by C. Johnson. And Mother, I would send you something but I am on picket and I can’t leave to get anything to send to you.
C. Johnson will tell you all about me. Well, dear Mother, I have wrote all I know this time. When you get this letter, I want you to send me some postage stamps. Send me twenty. That will cost 63 cents and when you get this, tell P. Clark that I received his letter and I can’t get anything to answer it. I can’t get no stamps, nor paper to write. Tell P. Clark to send me some stamps and then I will write him a good letter. We can’t get them for the money and you must send me some and then I will write to you until you get tired of it.
Well, Mother, I have wrote all I know. Write as soon as you get this. And when I get paper and stamps, I will write to Edward and if you hear from him, write and tell me how he is. From G. W. Martin
Goodbye until I hear from you.
Letter 22
On picket at Port Conway, Virginia
February 9, 1863
Dear Mother,
I sit down to let you know that I am well at present and I hope this letter will find you in good health and in fine spirits at home when it comes to hand. Well, dear Mother, I wrote a letter t’other day and I thought I would write you another today, being I could do nothing else. Well, dear Mother, we have got paid off and I am going to send you fifty dollars by Capt. Lemon and when you get it I want you to get something to eat and to wear. And dear Mother, you must do the best you can until I come home. And Mother, I want you to send me twenty stamps in your next letter for I can’t get none here. And tell P. Clark to send me some stamps. Tell Paul that there is no stamps in Virginia and tell Paul if he will send me some stamps that I will be under obligation to him. And tell him to tell me who that gal is that thinks so much of me.
Mother, you must pay Paul what you owe him and then you can get things from him again. And when Capt. Lemon comes back, I want you to send me some shirts and if Ralph Cotts has got them boots done, tell him to send them to me by Capt. Lemon and that will be all right. Well, dear Mother, I have wrote all I know this time. write as soon as you get this letter and tell me the news and tell me how you all are. From G. W. Martin
Letter 23
On picket at Port Conway, [Virginia]
February 14, 1863
Dear Sister,
I take mt pen in [hand] to let you know that I am well at present and enjoying myself very well for a soldier and I hope when you get this, it will find you enjoying yourself as well as I am.
Dear sister, I received your letter this morning and was glad to hear from you all and hear that you was doing so well. I have not much to write you this time. You wanted to know if I had heard from Edward. Well, I have not heard from him yet and I wrote to him two letters and got no answer yet and if you hear from him, write and tell me where he is and if I hear from him, I will write and tell you how he is.
Dear sister, if you know anything about Borden Wilcox, write and tell me for I would like to hear from him and if you know where he is, write and tell me…. Send me some stamps for I can get any here and I had to send a letter without a stamp on it and I send you this letter and mother one in this envelope… From G. W. Martin
Letter 24
Camp 15 miles from the Knowledge of God
March 2, 1863
Dear Mother,
I received your letter today and it was read with great pleasure. Your letter found me in good health and in fine spirits for a soldier. I have wrote you four letters and this is the first one I have received from you and I was glad to get a letter from you and I got a letter from Edward this morning and he was well and hearty.
Well, Mother, I have not much to write this time. I will tell you what a hard march we had t’other day after Old Stewart’s Cavalry. They came over the river and took some of our pickets and we was called out at three o’clock in the morning to catch him and it was raining and the snow was about one foot deep and we was gone two days and nights and it rained all of the time we was gone and we didn’t see a rebel while we was gone and we had all of our hard march for nothing. And the roads was belly deep to our horses all of the way there and back. And now we are are in camp and all of the boys in good health and in fine spirits.
Well Mother, I have wrote all I know. I will write something else. Mother, Charles Johnson is coming home on a furlough and I want you to send me some shirts by him to me and be sure and do it. And Mother, I have got fifty dollars to send you the first chance I get. I would a sent it by Johnson but the Captain had it and he was not here and the first chance I get I will send it to you… Tell Josepg I would like to get a letter from him and when you get this, tell Mr. Cotton to send me a pair of boots by Johnson and when I get there, I will send him the money for them…
Well, dear Mother, I will close this short letter. Write as soon as you get it. From G. W. Martin to Mother and children at home
Letter 25
Camp near Stafford Court House in Virginia
April 18, 1863
Dear Mother,
I received your kind and welcome [letter] this evening and it was read with great pleasure and I was so glad to hear from you for this is the only letter I have got from you for 10 days and I was glad to hear that you all was well. Your letter found me in good health and enjoying myself. We have been on picket for ten days and we had everything that we wanted. We had chickens, eggs, and cornbread and ham, and everything that we wanted. We had a fine time and now we are back in our old camp and we will see a good time, I think.
Well, Mother, we are going to leave this place in the morning and cross the Rappahannock River and go it right into the rebels and I think the hair will slip for there is a big force over the river of them. All of the army here is going. I think we will see Richmond this summer if we have the good luck to live and I hope we will. This summer is the time to whip them out or we never will in this world. I am willing to risk my life with them once more and don’t think there is a man in the Army of the Potomac but what is ready to fight for their country at any time.
Well, Mother, I have wrote all I know this time. It may be some ime before I hear from you again but write often and tell me how you all are at home. We was going to be paid this week but now I don’t know when we will be paid. Tell Paul C. to let you have what you want and when I get paid, I will send him the money.
But it is getting late and I am sleepy and I will have to close. Write as soon as you get this and tell me all of the news. From G. W. Martin
to dear Mother and children at home in Mt. Sterling
Letter 26
Camp near Rappahannock Station in old Virginia
August 19, 1863
Dear Mother,
I received your kind and interesting letter today and was glad to hear from you. Your letter found me in good health and in fine spirits for the times here. Well, dear Mother, I have nothing to write that would interest you. You say that Edward is well and hearty. Well I am glad to hear that for I thought he was dead for I have not got a letter from him for three months and I had just give him up. And you say you want me to send you some money to buy you a stove. Well, I will send you some money to buy you a stove before the cold weather sets in and we are going to be paid in a few days and I will send you some money to buyt your winter clothes ad it won’t be long until I will be at home and then I will know what to do. I wish this war was over so I could come home and stay with you all of the time.
Well, dear Mother, I have wrote all I know. I will close. Write soon and tell me all of the news. From — G. W. Martin
To dear Mother at home. Goodbye until I hear from you.
Letter 27
[Editor’s note: The following letter was written by Ed Kelso at the request of George Martin. George’s muster rolls indicate he was ill in December 1863 and he may have not been up to writing but didn’t want his mother to worry about him. Edward Kelso later died in Andersonville Prison as well.]
Camp 3rd Indiana Cavalry
Culpeper C. H., Va.
December 21st 1863
Dear Mother,
I received a letter from you on the 19th inst. and was truly glad to hear from you. In answer I hardly know what to write. No news here of any interest. Our regiment are putting up “log shanties” for the winter. Our only duty is picket and camp guard. We are four days on picket and 8 days in camp. In this way we expect to pass the winter. The rebs are picketing on the south side of the Rapidan River and only six hundred yards from our picket line.
The health of the regiment is good. I sent you $20 by Abe Plew. He started home day before yesterday. It is very cold here now and getting colder. Was paid off day before Abe Plew started home. I can’t think of anything more to write just now. My health continues good and I hope these lines ,ay find you the same. Remember me to all enquiring friends. Please write again soon and give me the news generally. Ed Kelso (the writer) send his compliments and best respects to all. No more. Your affectionate son, &c. — George
To Mrs. Frances Martin
Letter 28
Camp near Culpeper, Va.
January 18, 1863 [should be 1864]
Dear Mother,
I sit down to let you know that I am well and hearty and hope these few lines will find you enjoying the same good health. It has been a long time since I heard from you and that I thought it was would write and see what is the reason you don’t write to me. Two letters is all I have got from you this winter and I would like to know the reason you don’t write to me more than you do. Dear Mother, you have no idea how glad I am to get a letter from any of the family. I have been from home two long years and a half in this tarnation rebellion and it is not settled yet and if our men don’t turn out this spring and help us, we are gone forever and ever. I have been in the service long enough to have my eyes opened and before I will see the Rebels gain their independence and see all of the niggers freed, I will see the last drop of my blood fall from my body. I am a true Union man and will die in the cause before I will suffer to see those things come to pass.
Dear Mother, I dreamed of being at home last night and we all had a gay time. I think it won’t be long until I will come home and Mother, you must not think hard of this letter for every word in it is so and when you get it, I want you to write and tell me how Joseph is and if you hear from Edward. Write and tell me how he is getting along and tell me what is the reason they don’t write to me. And write and tell me how Andy and William is for I dreamed of them last night and I believe they saw something the matter with you all or you would write more than you do. Well, dear Mother, I have wrote all I know. I will close by saying you must write as soon as you get this. From your son, — George W. Martin
Spared & Shared 23 