The following letter was written by Rezin Shawhan DeBolt (1843-1927), and his older brother, Silas Debolt (1841-1924), when they served in the 49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) during the American Civil War. They were the sons of Silas DeBolt, Sr. (1807-1895) and Betsy Parkison (1812-1893) of Tymochtee, Wyandot county, Ohio. Their older brother, George Rider DeBolt (1833-1864) also served in the same regiment as a member of Co. K with Silas. Rezen was a principal musician in Co. D, later, F&S. George died a POW at Danville Prison in Virginia in April 1864. The boys enlisted in August 1861. Silas mustered out in September 1864 after being wounded in the Battle of Picketts Mills. He had previously been a POW when captured in the Battle of Stones River. Rezin was also present in the Battle of Picketts Mills where he received an injury to the head from the concussion of an exploding shell. Although he was in hospitals in Kingston, Georgia, and Louisville, Kentucky, the injury was not adequately treated at the time, and it affected him the rest of his life, eventually resulting in the loss of sight in his right eye. His struggle with “chronic sore eyes” was recognized in affidavits by friends in his records with the federal pension office. His discharge took place at Victoria, Texas, on Nov. 30, 1865. He went home to Wyandott County, which was his legal residence until 1871. He began to teach school from 1871 to 1875 in Benton County, Mo., where he married her in 1874.

An obituary notice for Rezin appearing in the Anderson (Indiana) Herald claimed that Rezin was a “veteran bugler of 28 major conflicts in the Civil War…His record of military service included participation in the battles of Shiloh, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Pickett’s Mill and Nashville. At the battle of Missionary Ridge, the intrepid bugler broke the code of military ethics by sounding “charge” against the orders of his commander and brought about victory instead of defeat.” Rezin won a citation for this action and the bugle is now a treasured relic in the Archaeological building at Ohio State University.

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

Camp on the Mississippi Valley
6 Miles from Corinth
May the 26th 1862

Dear Mother,

I again [have] the opportunity of addressing you a few lines in answer to your very kind and welcome letter which I received last evening of the 13th inst. and to tell you that we are all enjoying very good health, hoping that the reception of this will find all of my folks in the same state of health.

We have not had that awful battle yet which we are expecting every day to commence. It will either be a very great battle, or [ ], surrender, before long because Gen. Halleck has got Beauregard nearly surrounded. Just as soon as Gen. Butler gets in their rear the circle is around them as follows. When Butler comes round with his extreme left (the left is where the dot is on the mark), that will close the circle.

The pickets has been fighting every day for nearly two weeks until the day before yesterday. There is a rumor in camp—I do not know if it is true or not. It is as follows. Beauregard sent a flag-of-truce to Gen. Halleck. On the flag was these words, “A Special Dispatch to Gen. Halleck from Gen. Beauregard,” and Gen. Halleck answered it in 24 hours. We do not know what it meant but the firing on pickets has ceased. We do not know if he did send it or not but we have had more privilege in camp since that day than before.

Gen. Halleck and papers say that if they are left alone, they will take Corinth and most all of Beauregard’s forces prisoner without losing hardly any man.

Dear Mother, I received a very kind letter [from] Mary a few days ago. She said that she wanted me to write to her and inform her how you are getting along because she cannot get any letters from home anymore. She said that she did not know the reason of it. She has not heard from any of you for a longtime. She thinks that our folks can save their paper if they do not want to write to her. I think so too. She told all of us that William Baird told the Dr. that George turned her out of his house when she was up to Mexico [Ohio] and the Dr. takes delights in telling her of it and he tells it before strangers—those that wil spread it abroad. If that little puppy did tell it, he had not better come home for if he does, he will get three maulings and good ones too. That is enough of that for it makes me mad to think of it.

When you write to us, please tell us all about how the people and horses and panter [?] are getting along. Oh yes, I most forgot. Please tell Mr. Beckly to write to us. Rezen wrote two letters to him and he has not received any answer from them yet. And tell Mart to write to us for we would be very happy to hear from him. Tell him that E. is well. Send our respects to Mr. Dutcher also. Please tell him to send a hearty laugh in your letter. We would be happy to hear from him also.

Direct your letters to S. or R. Debolt, Co. [K], 49th Ohio Volunteers, USA, 6th Brigade and 2nd Division, Gen. McCook commanding, in care of Col. W. H. Gibson.

From your sons, Silas Debolt and Rezin S. Debolt. R. wrote this letter.

Oh yes. Most forgot to thank you for those stamps you sent us for they are very scarce here. Goodbye for this time. Please write soon and often and please excuse the bad writing and correct mistakes. — S.D., R. D., G. D.