The following letter was written by James Hudson Prickett (1843-1924) of Co. H, 3rd Ohio Cavalry. This regiment was organized at Camp Worcester in the fall of 1861 and remained there until mid-January 1862 when they were sent to Cincinnati, and then on to Nashville, Tennessee where they were attached to the 6th Division, Army of the Ohio.

James served in the 3rd Ohio Cavalry from 20 August 1861 until 4 August 1865. He was taken prisoner at Bardstown, Kentucky, on 4 October 1862 but paroled shortly afterward. He began his service as a private and ended it as a corporal. Also serving in the same company as a quartermaster sergeant was James’ older brother, Daniel J. Prickett (1840-1927). Their parents were Japhet Leed Prickett (1815-1893) and Phebe Sharp Borton (1815-1901) of West Unity, Williams county, Ohio.

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

Camp Worcester, Ohio
Wednesday, October 30, 1861

Dear Parents.

I take a seat to write you a few lines. We are well and hope you are the same, We have had a visit from several of the Unity folks lately. [Gilbert] Doughton waited till he got tired of waiting for something to be done, then he went to the Colonel and talked with him. The Colonel told him he had nothing to do with him. I suppose the Captain wanted the warrant and the Colonel gave it to him. Captain done nothing with Doughton. [Michael] Hibbard I believe is a going to stay with the company. There is one Dave Hart in our mess that is a brother to Wash O. J. Barn’s brother of Christina of old. Also Seth Hamlin. He is an old rascal, as he calls himself. He has been there. He helped me to get rid of an old plug of a horse that I had to take. He understands it. [David] Hart worked in Shafer’s old mill with Glad Ewers. He is like Wash—quiet and still. He is [ ].

There is nothing I want, I believe. I get along first rate. I can stand the fare as well as the rest of the boys. They grumble because things ain’t as they want them. A fellow might as well save his wind for hard times.

I guess the chestnuts that Bill Rings says are so plenty are in the grocery. Hickory nuts are thick enough but there can’t anyone but them that in [Lt.] Sam Hansey’s tent get a pass to go after any. They can go out and stay all day & it is all right. Dan told Bill Gardner to get a couple of bushels of hickory nuts for him down town if he could & take them home. Bill said they cost 50 cents a bushel. There is no beech timber around here. One of the boys said he saw one in the woods. I think it has strayed down here from Bill county. This is a hickory county—a good share smooth bark.

There was several—say four of our boys—got kicked on their knees when they go to water the horses. They let their horse get too close to the others. That is something I always avoided. Our company has done well to what the rest have in the kicking line. Others have been hurt so they had to lay by. We have a dress parade every evening at five. At present it amounts to nothing.

I have done a most to [ ] since we left home. I have gained seventeen pounds in weight which is enough to make the child weigh 153 pounds. The boys in our mess are giving Dan [J. Prickett] fits because he don’t get plenty of wood & other things like the other companies have. When he told them that the other quartermasters had a Captain & two Lieutenants to help them along, they stopped & begin to give the officers fits. Sam can’t stop every load of wood, hay or straw, draw for the officers and their horses, and carry it to them & they do nothing. He has more than he can do without [help]. No more this time. I send my love to you all, — J. H. Prickett