The following letter was written by 17 year-old Gilbert Ogden Olds (1844-1922), the son of Madison Thurston Olds (1811-1880) and Elizabeth Brown (1824-1860). Gilbert was residing at Bloom, Seneca county, Ohio, in December 1861 when he enlisted in Co. G, 55th Ohio Infantry. They were not mustered in until late January 1862. The expedition to Moorefield, Virginia, which Gilbert relates in his letter occurred in mid-February so this letter must have been written in the latter half of February 1862. He remained in the regiment until May 1864 when he was transferred into the Reserve Corps. The 1890 Veterans Schedule indicates he received a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Gilbert wrote the letter to his Uncle Otia Olds (1807-1888) of Erie county, New York.

Transcription

Camp Kelley
55th [Ohio] Regiment, Co. G
[Latter half of February 1862]

Otia Olds, sir,

I now find myself seated to write you a few lines on this bit of paper. I am not very well at this present time. Herbert is well. I got a letter from home a few days ago. I stated that they were all [well] excepting Francis and Emma who has not been very well for a time past.

We had only one battle since we have been in the field. We carried the stars and stripes through the streets of Moorefield, Virginia, for the first time since this rebellion started. We lost no men. We only had two slightly wounded. On the other side, there was 17 killed, 20 wounded, [ ]2 taken prisoners. We also took 250 head of cattle [and] several head of nice horses.

Uncle Otia, the health of our regiment at the present time is not very well. There has been 12 deaths within the last two weeks, but it is gaining. As for rations, we have plenty beef, pork, potatoes, rice, beans, sugar, coffee, bacon, and bread. We have plenty to eat, drink and wear, and a dry place to sleep and we sleep very comfortable.

We are a going to get new tents today. Well, Uncle, I guess that we will have to quit for I do not know what to write. Please excuse my poor writing and bad spelling. Written in haste. write soon. Goodbye. Give my best respects to all. Yours truly, — Gilbert Olds

To Mr. Otia Olds

Via Grafton, Taylor county, Va. Camp Kelley, 55th Regt. Co. G, OVI