This letter was written by Samuel W. Hill (1840-1864), a native of Pennsylvania, who was residing in Waynesburg, Carroll county, Ohio, working as a “Laborer” at the time of the 1860 US Census. He was enumerated in the household of Henry Rider (1822-1869), a farmer with a wife and two children. Henry’s wife’s maiden name was Elizabeth Maple (b. 1820). It’s possible the Rider’s were relatives.

In August 1862, when Samuel was 22, he enlisted as a private Co. F, 126th Ohio Infantry. He was taken prisoner at the Bloody Angle (or Muleshoe) on 12 May 1864 near Spotsylvania Court House and was transported to the prison at Sumter, Georgia, where he languished and died of scorbutus. He was one of 57 prisoners who died at Andersonville on 22 September 1864. His remains are in Grave 9538 at the National Cemetery there.

[This letter is from the private collection of Greg Herr 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

Camp Sumptor
May the 26th 1864

Dear Mother this afternoon I find myself in Georgia a prisonor of war and wel as usual though some tiard riding so far at one. I was taken the 12 of this month in the big fight that comenced on the 3d and was not over when I was taken I came out all rite this from your sone S. W. Hill to to EM Hill Bory no trouble about me.