Solomon A. Landes (1848-1911) enlisted in Co. I, 99th Indiana Infantry when he was 14 years old (he was born 20 April 1848) and served the entire war. His parents were Daniel Landes (18xx-1873) and Mary Jane Hobaugh (1828-1854) who had a farm near the Eel River in Miami county, a few miles north of Peru, Indiana. His muster records show him serving from 10 August 1862 until 5 June 1865. A 1910 record from the Home of Disabled Vol. Soldiers records his height as only 4′ 3″ tall which I find difficult to believe given the size rifle and weight of the traps he’d have to carry on a march, so this measurement may be an error.

Whatever his stature, it’s clear that Solomon was not shy in expressing his opinion about others. Cowards, Copperheads, Abolitions and Negroes bore the brunt of his wrath, as this letter clearly shows.

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

Camp at Kings Bridge, Georgia
December 28, 1864

Friend Josie,

I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am alive and well at the present time and hope when these few lines comes to hand that they may find you enjoying the same good health.

I will inform you that we had a very poor Christmas here. It was cold and wet and muddy and our regiment was camped eight miles from the Division at that time. The Division was camped at Ft. McAllister on the Big Ogeechee River.

I think we will have a good time a New Years for our Division has the chance to garrison Savannah this winter and we will move from where we are at this present time to Savannah. It was our Division that took Ft. McAllister and that is the reason that our Division got the chance to garrison Savannah. Josie, I think I will get a chance to send you my photograph.

Josie, I want you to tell Mollie that I send my love and best respects to her and all the rest of the girls that I am acquainted with in that neighborhood. Tell your father & mother that I send my best wishes to them.

Josie, when you write, I want you to tell me all of them homesick cowards that was drafted I want to see them brought out and help put down this Rebellion and when there is not enough men and I think that I am needed. I will reenlist as the rebs say that they have done. That is for forty years or during the war. That is what I will do. I hope that the draft will get some of them rank Copperheads and Big Abolitionists in the service for life for men that will stay at home and curse the soldiers that has come out to save this glorious and once happy Union should be made [to] face the mouth of a 64-pounder that was loaded with grape and canister. And those men that talk so much about the poor Nigger and how bad he is treated and wish him on an equality with a white man should be made to come in the service and then have to carry one on his back for six months. Then I think he would begin to be brought to his senses. I will tell you that the sight of them sickens me. I would not care one fig if they was all in purgatory just so that they was all taken from their masters.

You must excuse a short letter and bad writing. I will close by asking you to write soon. Direct your letters as follows. Co. I, 99th Indiana Vols. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 15th Army Corps. No more. I still remain your friend until death, — Solomon A. Landes

To friend Josie Harp, Chili, Indiana