The following optimistic letter was written just three days before Gen. Curtis launched his Arkansas campaign from Lebanon, Missouri. The campaign ended with the capture of Helena, Arkansas on 12 July 1862.  The army “marched quickly over the rough, frozen roads, and caught the Missouri State Guard, and its commander, Major General Sterling Price, by surprise. Price abandoned Springfield on February 13, and retreated south into Arkansas. The two armies fought a series of skirmishes along the way and on February 17, one week after beginning its campaign, Curtis triumphantly telegraphed Halleck, ‘The flag of our Union again floats in Arkansas.'”

But who was the “Sile” or Silas that wrote this letter? To narrow down the possibilities I searched through the infantry regiments that participated in the Arkansas Campaign of 1862, looking for any soldier named Silas who was a sergeant at the time, was single, and who had living parents. I found five candidates but only three of whom seemed to fit this profile completely. They were Silas B. Merchant of Co. G, 44th Illinois, Silas L. Parker of Co. B, 44th Illinois, and Silas Perry of Co. B, 35th Illinois. I could not learn from his record when Merchant was promoted to sergeant but think it may have been after the date of this letter which would rule him out. My hunch is that of the remaining two, the letter was most likely to have been written by Silas L. Parker as there are other letters of his in archives—one in the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan and one in the Library at the University of Tennessee, though neither archive has made a digitized image of his letter on-line to allow for a handwriting comparison.

Silas L. Parker was from Coldwater, Michigan, and he first enlisted in Co. C, 1st Michigan Infantry as a musician on 24 April 1861. After that short term of enlistment ended, he reentered the service in Co. B, 44th Illinois Infantry as sergeant, August 21, 1861; promoted to second lieutenant, April 7, 1862, and captain of Co. B, August 15, 1862. He died January 19, 1863 of wounds received in action at Stones River, Tennessee. I’m going to attribute the letter to him in my list of transcribed letters with a [?] to indicate that I’m not absolutely certain of him being the author. The ambition he expresses in his letter and the popularity he obviously enjoyed with the officers of the regiment certainly point to him, however.

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Transcription

Lebanon, Laclede County, Missouri
February 7, 1862

Dear father, mother, brother & sister,

We reached the above place yesterday after a march of 6 days. It is situated about 70 miles from Rolla due west. You may think this is very little marching, but in the mountainous country in this season of the year when it is either hubs or mud, with a heavy knapsack and rifle, with accouterments complete, it is doing well.

I do not know but should judge from appearances that the army station[ed] here now would reach the number of 20,000 under the command of Gen’s Curtis, Sigel, Asboth, & Osterhaus. It is supposed here—to a certainty—that Price’s army is now at Springfield and determined to make a stand. If this is the case, we will probably soon call on him and I don’t much think he will admire the result of the visit which he is now inviting us to make. The Union machine is working well now. One or two more Somersets from the Ohio 9th, Kentucky 4th and Michigan Battery will make the doomed and damned Rebels devilish dizzy—damn them! I give it as my opinion that we will not have a brush with Price. I think he will either run or surrender. Probably he will do the latter as he would disgrace himself less in the end.

I am well and so far have stood marching well. Soldiering is hard, unpleasant business but in our case it is in a good cause. My reputation could not be better in this company and I look forward to something better than sergeant in the future. My conduct not only meets the approbation of the privates, but the captain and 1st lieutenant are great friends of mine.

I do not know how soon we will leave here but will endeavor to keep you posted as well as I can of our movements. It seems to be of but little use to ask you to write but I hope you may see fit to answer this for however you may doubt it, my anxiety to hear of your welfare is second to none. My respects to all friends. Your son and brother, — Sile

Direct to St. Louis.