These letters were written by James Wesley Cassingham (1840-1921), the son of English emigrant James Cassingham (1811-1882) and Virginia-native Martha Oden (1810-1844). James was born in Jackson, Muskingham county, Ohio, and was living in LaHarpe, Hancock county, Illinois when he enlisted on 24 May 1861 to serve as a private in Co. F of the 16th Illinois Infantry. He reenlisted as a veteran in the regiment on 28 December 1863, for which he received a bounty and a 30 day furlough in February 1864. He mustered out of the regiment on 8 July 1865 as a corporal.
In is letters, James mentions his cousin, Thomas Alexander (“Alex”) Cassingham (1844-1863) who served in Co. F of the 88th Illinois Infantry. Alex was killed in the Battle of Missionary Ridge in November 1863, as described in Letter 2 below. The recipient of all three of these letters was a third cousin, Salina (Cassingham) Wyatt, who lived in Dresden, Muskingum Co., Ohio at the time. Her husband, Frank Wyatt, served as a private in Co. F, 62nd Ohio Infantry.
To read letters written by other members of the 16th Illinois Infantry made available by Spared & Shared, see:
Noble Lovely Prentis, Co. D, 16th Illinois (1 Letter)
Francis James Russell, Co. D, 16th Illinois (6 Letters)
Matthew Davis, Co. G, 16th Illinois (3 Letters)
These Cassingham letters were kept by Salina and passed down to a descendant, Melvin Ernest Wyatt, who gifted them to Paul Jacque Cassingham. Wishing to preserve the history in them, he in turn provided me with scans for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared.
Letter 1
Kelly’s Ferry, Tennessee 1
November 3rd, 1863
Dear Cousin,
I received your letter in due season and I hasten to answer it. Since I last wrote to you we have moved three ties and every time it was on Sunday. Gor the last four Sunday’s we have been on the go. A week ago today last Sunday we arrived on the opposite side of the river from this and at that time there was plenty of rebs here on this ground that we are camped on and there is some yet but they are prisoners of war.
On last Wednesday night we was waked up by heavy firing and it continued for some time. The cause of it was by a movement of Hooker and the rebs made a night attack on him and they got repulsed handsomely. The rebs is in pretty close quarters now and it is hoped that they will all be captured and if we should meet with such a victory, this war will soon be to an end and I won’t be sorry for this is no pleasnt work. But I won’t grumble for I am a faring first rate to what some of the troops front of us is they they are not getting full rations and for a long time they have not got half rations. But they are getting plentier now for the river is open to this point and the boats is a running to this point and from this point to Chattanooga it is but ten miles and good roads.
Alex got through the fight safe and sound. If you see either of them uncles of [yours], you can tell them I am all right and if they want to hear from me, for them to answer the letter that I wrote to them.
Well, Salina, I [have] but little news to write this time so I will close for this time. This leaves me well and hoping it may find you the same. I bid you goodbye for the present. I remain your cousin as ever, — J. W. Cassingham
1 Kelly’s Ferry on the Tennessee River in Lookout Valley, Tennessee, was a highly strategic point during the Civil War. It served as the crucial river terminus for the “Cracker Line,” a vital supply route that saved starving Union forces during the Confederate siege of Chattanooga in late 1863. Union victories in October 1863—including the amphibious assault at Brown’s Ferry and the Battle of Wauhatchie—secured the surrounding valley roads and guaranteed that provisions, ammunition, and reinforcements flowing through Kelly’s Ferry could safely reach Chattanooga.
Letter 2
Kelly’s Ferry, Tennessee
December 7, 1863
Dear Cousin,
I received yours of the 29th ult. and I was truly glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well as this [leaves] me well. I hope these few short lines may find you the same.
The news is rather sad. On the 24th ult. Cousin Alexander Cassingham fell mortally wounded on Missionary Ridge. He fell in a charge on the rebel works. He was a brave boy and he was well liked by all of his comrades. I was not in the fight. We layed here and heard it as long as they was in our hearing and that was not long for our men was not long in putting them to flight. The victory is complete and the breaking up on Bragg’s army. We have taken a large number of prisoners and any amount of cannon and small arms. Well, it is the most complete victory that ever was achieved in this department.
Our loss is small in the last battle. All of the rebs wounded fell into our hands. Bad luck to the men that took Lisie [Alex] away.
Well, my time will be out in 5 months and 17 days and perhaps sooner for there is strong talk of us a getting our furlough time and if we get that, we will be out in February and I will be as good as my word—that is, if I get out safe. And I hope I will for one. And I may find a wife but it is hard telling.
As for my likeness, I would gladly send it to you if I had one to send or if I could [get] one taken but I can’t do that for there is no chance here. But as soon as I can get one, I will send it to you. And you said that it was a snowing there when you wrote to me and that it what it has not done here yet this winter. And I hope it won’t thought it has been pretty cold.
Well, I must close for it is about dinner time and I am cook so no more at present. I remain your cousin, — Jas. W. Cassingham
Give my love to Aunt.
Letter 3
Nashville, Tennessee
February 26th 1864
Dear Cousin,
I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am still alive and among the living. We left Illinois on last Saturday and we got to this place the night of the 23rd and here we are yet. But how long we will stay here, I cannot tell but I hope it won’t be long for this is not the kind of soldiering I like to do. It is as bad as Libby Prison for we are kept about as close anymore than we can get out.
You must excuse me for not coming to see you for at the time I wrote to you, I had the promise of sixty days furlough but when my 30 days was out, I had to come to Dixie. Well, here I am and I suppose I must stay for a short time. I had a fine time while I was at home. Well, it was a free pitch in and no questions was asked so you may bet I had my own times of it.
Well, if I don’t stop soon, I’ll get to bragging a little and I never do. I have but little to write and nothing of interest so I will bring my short letter to a close. Hoping this may reach you and find you all well, I bid you goodbye for the present. Yours truly, — Jas. W. Cassingham
Co. F, 16th Illinois Infantry
Nashville, Tennessee
Direct as above.
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