This letter was written by Norman Chaffin (1839-1926) who was 22 years old when he enlisted in September 1861 to serve three years in Co. C, 41st Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He mustered out of the regiment on a surgeon’s disability certificate on 4 October 1864.

Norman was the son of Simon Chaffin (1808-1886) and Catharine Mowrer (1816-1902) of Wayne county, Ohio. He was married in 1866 to Catharine Ann Erwin (1848-1940).

Norman wrote the letter to Mary Jane Stirk (b. 1841), the daughter of Henry Stirk (1816-1904) and Eliza Jane Bodine (1821-1902). Mary Jane (“Jennie”) married Allen Ludwig Mohler (1844-1926) in 1867.

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

October 5, 1863

Friend Jane,

I received your kind and encouraging letter on the 2nd of October and was well pleased with its contents. I am glad to see that you with the rest of the family is getting along well. Your letter found me well and in fine spirits. I see by the your letter that you are having some fine times tending political or in other words Union meetings. I am glad to see that you are so patriotic. I would to God that the people of the North was also. I think times would be different. I should love to attend a good Union meeting once more. I think I could enjoy myself well. I just received a letter from friend Joe McGonagle. He is at Madison, Indiana. He is troubled with the rheumatism. He as not walked a step since the 16th of August. I feel sorry for him. He has a hard time of it.

I see by your letter that the young people of Old Wayne will get married if the war does go on. I presume William is a married man, The last letter I got from him he said he was going to get married on the 29th of September. Peace and plenty go with them. I guess that the East Union ladies willl all be married before I get back. If they are, I will try and find one somewhere else if there is any to be found, and I think there will [be] some left. I got a letter from home a few days ago. They was all well.

Friend, I must tell you something but perhaps you know all about it before this time. Miss Mary Jane Anderson ¹ has got a young son so we can call her mother now. She fooled around once too often. I pity her but whose fault is it (her own). She was a girl that would believe anything that a young man would tell her. She did not know when she had a friend that could be trusted so she trusted all. I know how the boys used to lie to her and what few times I kept her company I told her over and over not to be taken in by them. I tried to give her good advice. Where is she now? I wonder if she minds what Norman told her.

I will close. Give my respects to all enquiring friends and keep a large share for yourself. Respectfully yours. From your friend, — N. Chaffin

to Miss Mollie J. Stirk

Direct to Co. C, 41st OVI, Chattanooga, Tenn., 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 21st Army Corps.

If you want to write to Joe McGonagle, direct to the U. S. Hospital, 2nd Section, Ward 7, Madison, Indiana

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¹ In the 1850 US Census, Mary Jane Anderson (b. 1842) was enumerated in East Union, Wayne county, Ohio, in the household of her mother, 34 year old Jane (Orr) Anderson. In the 1860 US Census, she was enumerated in the household of her grandfather, 68 year-old Samuel Orr with her mother and three siblings, still in East Union. She married Cornelius A. Franks (1843-1919) on 29 October 1863 and moved to Gratiot county, Michigan.