The following letters were written by Wellington S. Cates (1836-1863), the son of Mark L. Cates (1797-1844) and Mary Palmer (1799-1861) of Washington county, Maine. Wellington was residing in St. Cloud, Minnesota when he enlisted in Co. D, 4th Minnesota Infantry. He did not survive the war, however. He was killed in the massive Union assault on the Confederate works at Vicksburg on 22 May 1863. There were 12 killed and 42 wounded in the 4th Minnesota during that assault which failed, though the regiment pressed right up to and on the enemy’s works.

Wellington wrote the letters to his sister, Sarah E. Cates (1834-1897).

Letter 1

Ft. Abercrombie
January 4, 1862

Dear Sister,

I am once again seated to write you a few lines thinking you would like to hear how I am getting along. I am well and have been the most of the time this winter. I like a soldier’s life first rate. It is a lazy life. We are drilling now every day for we expect to go south in the spring and we want to be good soldiers.

This Fort Abercrombie is in Dakota Territory on the west bank of Red River three hundred miles northwest of St. Paul. It is a fine country up here. The prairie is very level. You can look for miles and not see as much as one bush.

I have written you two letters—one from Kingston and one from Ft. Snelling, and I have got no answer from either of them yet. I have not heard from home for a long time. I should think some of you might write once more.

We have meetings here every Sunday and I go as a general thing. Our captain is a preacher and I think a very fine man. There is two companies here at this post. I was down to Georgetown last week. Went down with a six mule team to carry provision for the soldiers. Captain Lewig [?] and fifty soldiers went down to protect the settlers for the Indians is quite troublesome down that way. But there is no Indians about here.

I had a letter from Mark a few days ago. His family was all well. They have got another boy and he weighed twelve lbs. when he was born. Well, Sarah, I can’t think of anything more to write this time. Don’t forget to answer this. Write all of the news. Give my love to all of my folks. From W. S. Cater

Write Abercrombie, Dakota, Territory

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Letter 2

Fort Snelling
April 19, 1862

My Dear Sister,

I received your letter this morning & also one from William and a likeness from both of you. I need not tell you how glad I was to hear from you & also glad to hear you received my letter and present. You may judge for yourself about the Ambrotype. I was very much pleased with them. I have been up & had them put in cases. I shall take them wit me down to Dixie.

Well, Sarah, you may be some surprised to have a letter from me dated Fort Snelling. I arrived here eight days ago and will probably leave on Monday morning for St. Louis. I went into Kingsley as I came down. Mark and family was well. They have three boys now. Mark said he wrote to you and wanted you to send a make for his last boy. I should not have known William—he has changed so much since I left home. He is a fine looking fellow.

Sarah, I sent you my likeness in case. It put it in the office this morning. I hope you will get it. I wish Rufus & Adeline would send me that likeness together. I received a letter from Adeline some three weeks ago and will answer it soon. I don’t have a very good chance to write.

My health is very good at present & has been most of the time this winter. I like a soldier’s life very well. They are all in good spirits and willing to go south or anywhere we are called. You must not fret about me for I think I shall come out all right and come home when the war is all over. I can’t think of anything to write this time. I will try and do better next time.

Give my love to all the folks. You must write often. you have a better chance to write than i do. Well, I must now close. So goodbye Sarah. From Wellington

N. B. Write W. S. Cates, Ft. Snelling, 4th Regt. Co. D, Minnesota Vols., Care of Capt. Inman

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Letter 3

Gen. Pope’s Division
Near Corinth, Mississippi
June 26, 1862

My dear sister Sarah,

I received your kind and interesting letter of the 10th instant adn was very glad to hear you was well but very sorry to think you should fret about me for I am getting along very well. I am enjoying good health. I have not been sick since I left Minnesota but there is a great many in our regiment that are very sick. There has been three soldiers died out of our company and four more not expected to live. It is very sickly here now. Our regiment are about half sick.

Sarah, I can’t think of much to write this time. I wrote you a letter three weeks ago and wrote all the news. I have not received that letter you sent to St. Louis. One letter is all I have received from my old home in Maine. I was very much pleased with your letter which I received yesterday.

We have not been in any battle yet and I do not think there is prospects of us having a battle very soon so you must not fret on that account. We made the rebels leave Corinth and I think they were badly frightened by the looks of things they left behind them. We followed them a ways as far as Booneville and have returned and shall stop here until further orders.

Dear sister, I wish you would write as often as possible for you don’t know how it pleases me to get a letter from home. If I leave here, I will write and let you know where I am, Excuse my bad spelling for I have a very hard chance to write. Don’t forget to write often. I will say goodbye. From your most affectionate brother, — Wellington

N. B. Give my love to all of my folks and tell them all to write. Goodbye.

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Letter 4

Jacinto, Mississippi
August 25, 1862

My dear sister,

I received your kind and interesting letter of the 11th and was very glad to hear from you. It is very strange that you do not get my letters for I see you have not received my last. I was much surprised to hear that Calvin had volunteered. I am very sorry that Rufus and Cal should be separated for it would benefit much pleasanter for them to be together. I think they will [find it is] no fun to be a soldier. I do hope they will get in a healthy climate. It has been very sickly here. A great many of our regiment has died. There has been nine men died from our company and a great many sick. I must confess that I am not very well now myself but think I shall be better soon.

You wished to know what I do with my money. I sent fifty dollars from St, Louis by Express to Minnesota. Mark for safe keeping. And I have 25 with me now. Get another payment the first of September. Then I shall have 50 dollars. Sarah, I am quite saving. I do not spend my money foolishly. Sarah, I can’t think of much more to write this time so goodbye.

From your absent brother, — W. S. Cates

P. S. My best respects to all of the folks. Goodbye, — W. S. C.

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Letter 5

Corinth, Mississippi
October 12th 1862

Dear Sister,

I am now seated to answer your kind letter which I received this morning. I was very glad to hear from you. The last time I wrote to you I was at Jacinto.

We have had a very bloody time here to Corinth since I last wrote to you. Old Price made an attack on our forces here and got badly licked. We fought him one day and a half & the Rebels all left & [we] chased hem four days. We took some prisoners. We had a very hard battle. The Rebels’ loss is two or three thousand killed & wounded. Our loss is not so great—I think about nine hundred killed & wounded. The field was covered with dead and wounded men. We had one man killed out of our company. I have been in three battles & have not got as much as a scratch yet so you see we do not all get killed—that is, in battle.

Sarah, you say you want me to lend you some money. I am very glad you let me know it for I shall send you ten dollars today & if you need more, I will [send] it out of my next payment. I have four month’s pay coming to me now. I have sent fifty dollars to Minnesota.

I am sorry you are obliged to leave home. You say you have a good friend that is going with you. I am very glad you have someone. I will send you money any time you want it.

Sarah I have not got time to write much today for we are a going to march in a few moments. So goodbye from your brother, — W. S. Cates