The following letter was written by Louis W. Shiffer (1835-1911), the son of William Shiffer (1810-1889) and Catherine E. Near (1812-1892) of Plainfield, Will county, Illinois. Louis enlisted as a corporal in Co. I, 46th Illinois Infantry on 1 December 1861. He mustered out of the regiment on 30 November 1864. His brother Solomon Andrew Shiffer (1841-1929) served in the same regiment and rose in rank to 1st Sergeant of Co. I before mustering out on 20 January 1866. Solomon was wounded during the siege at Corinth. Another brother, Robert Wray Shiffer (1843-1919) also served in the same company and was wounded at Shiloh.

[Note: This letter is from the collection of Ryan Martin and was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

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

April 18, 1863

Memphis, Tennessee

It is with pleasure that I take the present opportunity to answer your kind letter which I received last evening. It found me in [ ] good health. I hope these few lines will find you enjoying good health. Maggie, I wish I were sitting by your side in the parlor. I could talk to you much better than I can write and tell you how I have suffered since I have been in the service. But I enlisted to fight for my country and I have seen many of my fellow soldiers lie on the bloody field of battle and I thank the good Lord that he has spared my life for I have two brothers in the same company with me and they have both been wounded. The youngest one was wounded at Shiloh April 6, 1862. I have not seen him since. He is in Kentucky. He is sick. And one brother is in Virginia.

I do not feel at any discouraged but I do not like the idea of fighting for the negro and did not enlist for that. But it has come to that and I will not be called a coward.

— Louis W. Shiffer, Co. I, 46th Illinois, 18 April 1863

I do not feel at any discouraged but I do not like the idea of fighting for the negro and did not enlist for that. But it has come to that and I will not be called a coward. I have stood where the balls have passed me as thick as hail but I was none of the number that was to fall. There was 33 wounded and two killed in the last battle in a very few minutes and one Colonel was killed.

I was sorry to hear that your brother was sick and the other wounded. So Mary J. Folston wanted to know where I was. You can tell her that I am in Dixie land doing what little I can do to save our glorious Union and liberty which our forefathers bought with their precious blood. I should like to see some of them Rebel sympathizers—or Copperheads as they are called—down here. I should like to get behind them with my old gun and make them fight or shoot them down like Rebels. If they would hold their tongues, the secesh would not say that the North was dividing and they would soon gain their Confederacy.

Maggie, I should like to help you wash the dishes once more. I know you are willing to do good duty but don’t work too hard. I have often thought of you and the pleasant times we have had in this country where I have to suffer for this country does not agree with me for my health has been very poor ever since I am down here. I must close for this time. I am yours truly, — Louis Shiffer

to Miss Margaret E. Fellows. Write soon. Direct to Adams Hospital No. 3, Ward 4, Room H