The signature on this letter has been shaved off the bottom of the digitized image but enough of it remains and because I have transcribed a couple of his letters before, I can be confident this letter was penned by Elmore Yocum Warner who served as the Chaplain of the 3rd Ohio Cavalry from the time of its formation until August 1862 when he resigned. [See: Letter of 18 July 1862 from Woodville, Alabama] The following letter was written on 31 March 1862, just one week before the Battle of Shiloh.

Warner lived in North Fairfield, Huron county, Ohio. An obituary for Warner published in the Wayne County Democrat on 14 July 1886 said of him: 

“This well-known minister of the North Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and son of the late Rev. Jesse Warner, was born in Wayne County, July 3, 1833, and died in Norwalk, Oh., July 6, 1886, aged 53 years. Mr. Warner, after a faithful use of the educational advantages furnished by the common schools, entered the Ohio Wesleyan University and while he did not complete the course, he did lay the foundation of a respectable scholarship, which enabled him to pursue so intelligently his future studies in connection with his ministry that, subsequently, the Faculty and Trustee of the University felt justified in conferring upon him the honorary degree of Master of Arts. He was married in 1857 to Maria Lee, of Huron county, who survives, with five children, one of whom is also a minister, and represents the third generation of the same line in succession in the same Conference. During the Civil War, Warner served as chaplain of the 3rd Ohio Cavalry and was on the field of Shiloh; but the exposure in the service being too severe for a constitution not naturally robust, he secured his discharge, but had already laid the foundation of the disease to which, after heroic struggle for years, he had, at last, to yield….”

Transcription

Camp near Columbia
3rd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry
March 31, 1862

Dearest wife.

Longer time has elapsed since I wrote you than I intended should but with moving & changing I have been unable. We left Nashville last Saturday and have now marched three days on a very dusty pike lime dust which is suffocating almost. But I have stood it well and am able to eat my full rations. We have passed over a beautiful country.

Yesterday we passed through the town of Franklin in which Sidney and Benjamin Hildreth reside. Capt. Frank Hunt stopped at Ben’s house and said that Ben and his wife wished to be remembered to you. I see Frank and Bill Hunt everyday. As I told you, we are attached to the Sixth Division of Gen. Buell’s Army under Gen. Wood so you may know by this when you read of us. Gen. Wood has under him some fourteen thousand. These all march together. Then there are several divisions just before us.

There is perhaps 60,000 troops within two or three miles of this point. Gen. Nelson’s division is just ahead of us perhaps five to ten miles and perhaps not so far. I can’t ascertain where they are—only that they are a short distance before us. Tod is in that. I expect to see him yet but when I know not. That division is in the advance.

We all expect to participate in the great battle soon to come off near Corinth, Mississippi. I suppose it will be a desperate one and one that will decide the contest. I want to be at home but I am so far in the enemy country, if there is to be a battle, I want to see it. For your sake, I will try to keep out of danger but I expect if this conflict commences, I will feel like having a hand in it.

I dropped you a line the other day informing you of Jason going home. There were a number of reasons why I sent him. 1st, he seemed to want to go, yet was willing to stay. 2nd, his clothing was worn out and I could not get him any here. 3rd, I feared he might get sick and I would have to stay with him for I could not leave him in a hospital for he is his mother’s baby and I should feel bound to care for him. 4th, I thought it best for him to work where he would be learning something or else going to school. If you or Mother could find a place where he could do chores for his board and go to school, I think it would be well. Or if you can find a good place for him to work this summer, do so. I gave him twenty-five dollars when he left which would take him home and get him all the clothes he wants, perhaps more. If he has more than he wants, I told him to give it to you or Mother. Watch over him and try to keep him a good boy. I felt somewhat lonesome after he left. Sergt. Major [James Ransom] Hall is my room mate now. Your friend. He now sleeps on the ground while I am writing.

My dear wife, I have only received letters from you once. True, I received three at that time but it has been some time since the reception of them. Please try to write often. We get our mail very irregularly but it generally comes some time so write. I know you love me and will do anything you can to make me happy. Then write sweet letters of love and if I have done or said anything to afflict you, I beg pardon for it all. I have read and reread your letters with great interest. You ask in one if you are any comfort to me? Wife, you make my happiness next to God. you cannot imagine the comfort you are to me—how many thousand times I have been cheered by you. I love you with all my heart and now I miss you, I just realize how much I am dependent upon you for my happiness. I will send as often as I can.

Wife, if anything should happen to you—if you should be very sick or anything of that kind, try telegraphing first. But if you can’t reach me that way, send a messenger to me and I’ll pay the expenses. But I trust in God that nothing will happen to you. Oh God should be our trust constantly. Wife, spend hours in prayer. If the war don’t close in a couple of months, I think I shall resign and come home. But don’t tell anybody this.

I understand we are to march at half past three tomorrow morning in order to pass another division. Tod may be thirty miles ahead of us.

I must close. I never can close until I have filled my sheet when writing to you. Write often and direct to 3rd O. V. I., 6th Division, Gen. Wood, Nashville, Tennessee. Your loving husband, — E. Y. Warner A kiss.