The following letter was written by Theodore Jones (1826-1868) of Summit county, Ohio, who informs us that he enlisted on 22 October 1861 in Co. H, 29th Ohio Vol. Infantry (OVI). He was married in June 1854 to Catherine Fritman. Muster rolls state he remained with the regiment until April 15, 1865 when he transferred into the Veteran Reserve Corps. There is a Theodore Jones who was buried in the Clinton Cemetery, Summit county, Ohio, whose death date was given sa 12 July 1868. A son lies by his side named Harry F. Jones but the marker is so worn it can’t be read.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Camp Giddings, Jefferson, Ashtabula Co., Ohio
December 20, 1861

Dear Brother,

As I have enlisted as a bold soldier in the United States army for the term of three years and have not heard from you in a long time, I thought I would now employ a few moments by writing to you with the expectation of receiving an answer immediately. I believe that since I last wrote to you, I have been married. I have now been married about five years. I have since had the sad misfortune of loosing a son who was 3 years and two months old. He was a noble child and loosing him was a hard task. I live in Clinton, Summit county, Ohio. I own a house and lot there and live very comfortably when I am at home.

But on the 22nd of October 1861 I enlisted at my country’s call to go a soldiering. I am in the 29th [Ohio] Regiment, Co. H, Col. [Lewis P.] Buckley. He is a splendid commander and has the best regiment in Ohio. He was Major of the 19th Ohio Regiment in the three months service and showed himself to be a good military man. We have been in this camp two months but are a going to leave here next Monday morning for Columbus, Ohio, where we expect to stay this winter, and from there expect to go into Kentucky and clean the Rebels out of that state.

I will now give you an idea of our maneuvers in camp, We live in round tents, 10 of us in a tent. We have plenty of good blankets, good victuals, and good clothes. We are all furnished with a good warm overcoat. We have to get up at six o’clock in the morning, get our breakfast at seven o’clock, drill from eight to half past ten, have Battalion drill from one till three, and dress parade from four to five o’clock. Then we have supper and pass the evening telling stories &c. At eight o’clock we have to go to bed. That is the way we pass the day—only when the weather is bad, then we lay in our tents and kick up our heels like young colts in their glory (or in nice clover).

Our regiment is well equipped and all we now ask is to go into active service and we will show them that the 29th is O. K. in the land. Since I came into camp, my wife gave birth to a young son which I have not yet seen and therefore cannot say much about him. Clinton is situated on the Tuscarawas River and has canal and railroad. It is a very flourishing place but a little dull at present. I have no more news that could be of any importance to you so I will close by asking you to answer soon. Direct your answer to Columbus, Ohio, Camp Chase, 29th Regt. Co H, care of Capt. [Jonas] Schoonover. Your affectionate brother, — T. Jones