This letter was written by Reuben Benedict [“Benerdick”] Abby (1832-1864) of Co. C, 124th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). Reuben was the son of Loren Abby (1803-1858) and Abigail Tower (1798-1843). He was married in September 1853 to Roxanna Mann (1831-1896) and was living in Berea, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and working as a wagon maker when he enlisted on 30 September 1862. He mustered in on 31 December 1862 and soon found himself in Elizabethtown, Kentucky where he wrote the following letter to his wife. Reuben did not survive the war, however. He died of small pox at Nashville Hospital No. 11 on 16 February 1864. Reuben’s widow was left with four children to raise on a limited pension. They included Myrtle Malvina Abby (b. 1858), Mayhetta Jane Abby (b. 1859), Henry Egbert Abby (b. 1861) and George Benerdict Abby (b. 1863). Note: the family surname is sometimes spelled Abbey.

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

Elizabethtown, Kentucky
January 26, 1863

Dear Wife,

I received your letter today and was glad to hear from you and finding that you and the children are all well. I am well and when you get this, I hope that these few lines will find you and the children the same. I sent a letter by Neager Whitbeck last Monday the 19th and then I wrote another the 25th and now I am a writing another. That is more than one a week.

You wanted to know if I knew anything about Berwick. I heard from him the other day. Some soldiers that was a going home. He and Captain Edgerton and a number of others are taken prisoners. They were taken at Mumfordsville or Murfreesboro but I don’t know which and I don’t know where they are sent to. I mailed a letter this morning but I have forgotten what I wrote but it don’t make no difference. Tell Gars’ [Eben W. Garzee] wife that I have not heard from him since we left Louisville but all that I know of him since. We left him at the hospital No. 7 in Ward No. 7. We have not had no correspondence since we left. [William] Wilson’s Company [A] has two sick there. [George] Elliott Goodrich is at the same hospital with Gar [Garzee]. He went from here with some prisoners and was taken sick while he was there and he went to the hospital. They have not heard from him since for I was over to Wilson’s Company just before I got your letter to see if they had heard from them but they had not.

We are under marching orders but we don’t know where to. I will write again as soon as I can write and tell me if you have the letter that has got a note to Gar’s folks or not. We have not been paid off yet. Has Doc McCullock got any money from Cran [?] yet. I told him to have you to leave it there so he could collect it for he could see him every day and it would save you some trouble. Tell Walt that he must not leave until next spring anyway for I want him to stay with you. Tell him he shall not lose anything by staying. This is from you dear husband, — R. B. Abby

Kiss the children for me. Write soon sa you get this. Goodbye, — R. B. Abby

If you want some money, send Walter to the Doc and get some.