The following letter was written by James Wallace (1845-Bef1898), the son of Hamilton Wallace, Sr. (b. 1807) and Kate Haney (b. 1808), of Salem township, Jefferson County, Ohio. James enlisted in Co. G, 52nd Ohio Infantry on 18 August 1862, along with his brothers, Hamilton W. Wallace, Jr. and James Wallace. He served until he was mustered out as a veteran on 30 December 1865.

In his letter, James describes the illness of his older brother, George Washington (“Wash”) Wallace who died from disease in a hospital at Nashville, Tennessee. George was not married. As mentioned in the letter, George’s remains were sent home in a zinc coffin sold to the family by the a Nashville undertaker named Cornelius who contracted with the U. S. government during the Civil War. George was buried in a private cemetery named Wallace, Potts, Keiser Cemetery, also known as Fairfield Cemetery (there is no grave marker).

At the time James wrote this letter, the 52nd Ohio Volunteers had seen at action at Richmond, Kentucky, at Perryville, Kentucky. They were encamped at Brentwood (near Nashville), Tennessee, in March 1863 and remained there until June when they returned to Murfreesboro.

This letter is archived in the Pension file of George Washington Wallace at the National Archives and was provided to me by Brian Rhinehart for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared.

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

Nashville, Tennessee
March 17th 1863

Dear friends,

I once more take my pen in hand to let you know that we are well at present and hoping that these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. We started “Wash” home, I think it was the 12th and I had no money to telegraph and I don’t know whether the contractor Cornelius telegraphed or not, and Rothacker & Holmes and the company was out at Franklin and none of the boys that was left in camp had any money so I sent a letter as soon as I could get it started. We got him put in a zinc coffin. A metallic coffin cost about 25 or 30 dollars more than a zinc. We will send his Descriptive List as soon as possible and then you can get his money. There is an agent in Steubenville for to collect all such money. He was not discharged and you will get his 75 dollars bounty and will get about 140 or 145 dollars bounty and all [illegible]. Cornelius sent the bill to you. I guess [illegible]

About that piece of land for me and Hamilton will get four months pay if we paid now [illegible] don’t pay us till the 1st of May we will get six months pay but I think we will be paid off as soon as they get them paid off in front. Keep in good heart for Billy Ford will not push you for I talked to him the day that we left Richmond [Ohio]. The darkest time is always before day. I want you to write me a letter as soon as you get this one and tell me whether you got “Wash” and all about it. Isabelle writes me long letters.

Wash was as well taken care of as he could have been if he had been at home. Hamilton or I was with him every night and there were two good nurses with him, and there were no one in the room that was not able to take care of themselves and they all seemed that it done them good to do anything for him and he had what ever he wanted to eat or drink. If he had been at home, I don’t think that he would have lived long for he was consumptive before he came out. It was to be and we must all die sooner or later.

Charley Roberts is well and hearty. We will send two overcoats and shirts home as soon as get a chance. Tell Isaiah and Uncle [illegible] and Wm. Ellis that I will write as soon as I can, and Aunt Harriet too. We have as good officers as they are in the service. [Capt.] Rothacker can’t be beat,

Nothing more but remain your sons, — James & Hamilton Wallace,

Write as soon as you get this letter. It is pretty nice weather. Write and let us know how the wheat looks and things in general. I am in good health.

Isabella, you are learning to write fast. Keep at it. You will learn as fast as anybody. Frank Scott and Edd Wilson better look out for they will be punished.