The following letter was signed by a civilian named C. C. Wright while employed as a guard at the State Prison in Columbus, Ohio, in October 1865. I was not able to identify him further but from the content of the letter it appears that he had spent some time in Sonoma county, California, prior to the war. Perhaps he came back East to enlist as a Union soldier. In any event, he was not in military service when he wrote this letter to his friend William who lived presumably in Sonoma county where the other people mentioned resided.
The second paragraph contains interesting content pertaining to Reconstruction. The author expresses disappointment that President Johnson was too lenient on the South—a widely held belief that caused resentment particularly among Union veterans. “It seems rather poor encouragement for a man that has been out for three or four years and come home with the loss of a leg, or an arm, to see those same rebels that he has been fighting, walk up to the ballot box and vote treason again, just by simply taking the oath when we all know that God Almighty is not capable of getting up an oath that is too sacred for them to break…It does seem as though he had better put them on trial for from 5 to 10 years and then if they would get humble enough to make good citizens, let them vote—but not before. But we have fought them in the field and I expect that we will have them to fight at the ballot box and I will try and not miss a shot!” he wrote his friend.
Transcription
Columbus Ohio
October 1st, 1865
My dear friend William,
I will now answer your letter of July 16th, which I received about 15th of September. I had began to think that I was not agoing to hear from California again, but I find that I yet have friends alive in California. You do not know how much good it did to me to hear from you, but I was sorry to hear the sad news of Mrs. [Lucy] Fike’s 1 & Henry Stephen’s death. I do not know how Mr. Fike can reconcile himself to live without her for Lucy was everything to him. Poor Henry. I was sorry to hear of his death. He did not have very good luck anymore than myself. I was afraid that his friends would be a little too sharp for him from what he had told me about them, but that is the way of the world, some make money and others get it. It is strange that I cannot get a letter from Brooks Beeson 2 for I have written to him three times since I have got an answer from him. But I suppose that he always finds something else to do. I am sorry that they have not got their place paid for yet.
Well, William, this wicked war is over and what do you think of old Andy’s way of reconstruction? It does look to me as though he was a little too soft with them. It may be for the best, but I cannot see it. It seems rather poor encouragement for a man that has been out for three or four years and come home with the loss of a leg, or an arm, to see those same rebels that he has been fighting, walk up to the ballot box and vote treason again, just by simply taking the oath when we all know that God Almighty is not capable of getting up an oath that is too sacred for them to break. They have been tried on all kinds of oaths and we have never found one yet that would hold them. It does seem as though he had better put them on trial for from 5 to 10 years and then if they would get humble enough to make good citizens, let them vote—but not before. But we have fought them in the field and I expect that we will have them to fight at the ballot box and I will try and not miss a shot.
I am at present at work at the Ohio State Prison as guard over the prisoners. The wages is 45 dollars per month & board. It is a very lazy job and for that reason, it does not suit me. I think that I will break for the frontier next spring—perhaps to Fort Leavenworth. I do not have any liking for Northern cities anymore.
Martha wrote that Harry Alexander had bought Gordon’s Mill but did not say where old Gordon had gone to. She also wrote that Hannah Alexander and Miss Fletcher was yet single. Tell Martha to give my love to them and tell them that I know how to pity them, but as long as there is life, there is hope. I do not know of any place that I would rather spend two or three weeks than with you. It would seem like old times to be back there. But I take it from the way you wrote that business was not very good. When you see Brooks Beeson, I want you to tell him that I want him to take time and write to me and tell him how to direct it. Tell him that I want him to let me know how all my old friends and neighbors are. I have no news to write you that will be interesting to you. The Sacramento Union can keep you posted on all that is going on here. Give my love and best wishes to your good wife; also to other inquiring friends, and receive this from your old friend, C. C. Wright
Please direct to C.C. Wright, Columbus Ohio, in care of J. M. Stewart, Lock Box 64
1 Lucy R. Fike (1826-1864) died in near Healdsburg, Sonoma county, California on 19 May 1864. She was the wife of Nathan Fike, who was employed by the Internal Revenue Service in 1870.
2 John Brooks Beeson (1819-1875) of Healdsburg, Sonoma county, California was a member of the California Legislature in 1863. Before going to California, Brooks lived in New Boston, Mercer county, Illinois, where he was the postmaster. He was born in North Carolina.
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