The following letter was written by Henry H. Joslin (1843-1909) who enlisted at the age of 17 in Co. C, 55th Illinois Infantry. When he enlisted, he was described as a 5′ 11″ blue-eyed, light haired, farmer from Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois. He reenlisted as a veteran in February 1864 and was discharged for disability on 30 June 1865.

Henry was the son of George Henry Joslin (1819-1881) and Eunice A. Olmstead (1822-1881). The family was enumerated in Harrison township, Winnebago county, Illinois in the 1860 US Census.

Henry wrote his letter from Camp Douglas near Chicago in December 1861 where the regiment was organized and drilled. Most of the members were recruited from Northern Illinois counties such as LaSalle, Fulton, Grundy, Ogle, Winnebago, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, McDonough, Carroll, and Knox. Some of the early enlistees even helped build Camp Douglas. Because they were ill equipped, they did not participate in the taking of Forts Donelson and Henry. They saw their first action at the Battle of Shiloh.

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Camp Douglas [near Chicago]
December 6th 1861

Friend Edgar,

Having a little time to spare and Mr. Anthony was coming to Davis, I thought I would write you a few lines to let you [know] what kind of a time I have here. I have all the fun that I can. We dance every night. When we are not a dancing, we are reading or listening to somebody else. There is a paper bought every night and morning and somebody reading it out loud so that we [are] well supplied with war news.

We have to drill twice a day in the forenoon. We have battalion drill when the whole regiment has to go out. My turn to stand guard comes once in two weeks. The Lead Mine Regiment from Galena ¹ came into camp here last Saturday afternoon. They are a fine-looking lot of men. There is about six or seven thousand men here in all; one regiment of cavalry and one of artillery, and the rest is infantry.

I have not heard from home for about two weeks. The family were all well then. I enjoy myself much better than I expected to when I started from home. I have made a bad mistake and wrote on the wrong page. I will have to close now. When I write again, I will try and do better.

We expected to leave here tomorrow but that need make no difference about your writing to me. I do not know your post office address. When you write, please to put in your letter. Give my respects to your father and mother and write as son as you can.

Yours truly, — Henry H. Joslin

Direct to Douglas Brigade, 2nd Regiment, 55th Regiment Illinois Vol., Chicago, Illinois, Box 5815 until you hear from me again. Then we shall be in St. Louis.

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¹ The “Washburn Lead Mine Regiment” from Galena, Illinois, was the nickname given the 45th Illinois Infantry. In November 1861, the seven companies that had formed were armed with short Enfield Rifles and moved to Camp Douglas, in Chicago, where they were joined by companies from other parts of the state to form a full regiment of ten companies. Jasper A. Maltby a Galena gunsmith, who had served in the Mexican War, was selected as Lt. Colonel to replace the former Lt. Colonel, who had resigned. Melancthon Smith, the postmaster of Rockford, Illinois became the regiment’s major. After the regiment was mustered into U.S. service on December 25, 1861, they were sent to Cairo, Illinois on January 12, 1862.