This letter was written by Rachel Lovisa Underwood (1841-1925), the daughter of Dr. Willin Underwood (1800-1872) and his second wife, Lovisa Rawson (1819-1844) of New Baltimore, Stark county, Ohio. Lovisa’s mother died when Lovisa was less than three years old but her father took Maria Bender (1815-1899) as his third wife. Three of Lovisa’s siblings are mentioned in the letter—Nellie Underwood (1842-1921), Eberle Benton Underwood (1839-1925), and William Howard Underwood (1849-1861).
In the 1860 US Census, 18 year-old Lovisa was enumerated in her parent’s home in New Baltimore, employed as a teacher in the common schools; her older brother employed as a painter. Lovisa was married in December 1865 to Charles H. Bard (1838-1931) and settled down with him in Clinton county, Michigan. The “Charlie” she received a letter from in paragraph four was her future husband who served as a private on Co. F, 7th Ohio Vol. Infantry. He was discharged for disability from the regiment on 21 November 1862 after a year and a half of service.
Lovisa directed the letter to her cousin, J. Calvin Streator (1837-1863), the son of Marius O. Streator (1813-1888) and Laura Ann Rawson (1817-1902) of Randolph, Portage county, Ohio.
Lovisa’s letter refers to the “last battle” which I presume was the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee where many Ohio soldiers had their first taste of gunpowder.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
New Baltimore [Ohio]
April 15, 1862
My dear Cousin.
It is now Tuesday eve and I am at Cynthia’s. Came up today to attend a Soldier’s Aid Society. Am going to stay a day or two and thought I must sit down and answer your kind letter which I received last Thursday, but have not had time to answer it until now. I don’t want you to inspect this writing for I can’t find a pen fit to write with. Cousin Nellie & I are all at it, and have a great deal of fun about our pains.
I found Sarah at the Depot at Ravenna when I got there, stayed there all night, came to Randolph the next day, went to Father’s in the evening. Our folks were all very much surprised to see me. Found them all well but it is very lonely without my dear little brother. 1 If he was only here, it would seem quite natural at home, but I must not complain for it is wrong. Surely God would not have called him home had it not been for the best.
We are all very much excited about the last battle. How awful it is to think of the many poor souls who have fallen. And yet this wicked rebellion will still continue. Oh! how many homes are now desolate by the loss of some dear member of the household, and I fear many more must meet with the same fate ere we shall have conquered. A number of our Baltimore and Randolph boys were engaged in the fight, but we have not heard whether or no they have escaped. I presume some of them have fallen.
[Sister] Nellie and I went to Marlboro last Saturday and stayed all night. Had a very good time. Came home Sunday eve and found a letter from Charlie. He has got better and gone to Winchester to his regiment. Says the Rebels are shelling upon them all the time. They expect another hard battle there soon.
I have not heard from our folks since I came home. Am so anxious to hear how our Ma is. Do hope she has got well. Don’t you wish we could step in and see them this morning? Oh, I forgot to tell you I did not finish this last night for I got so tired of writing with such a pen—cannot better it this morn, and am in such a hurry to get it to the [post] office before the mail goes out that I have no time to go to the store after one.
Oh, I wish you could see our little Frankie. He is so pretty and good.
I am going to attend a funeral today—Chancey Harmon’s of this town. He died in a fit of apoplexy. Was taken Monday while setting out fruit trees. Lived about seven hours afterwards. 2
We are working very faithfully here for the good of the soldiers. There was about 80 at the society yesterday. We have two boxes of goods, two barrels of eggs and one barrel of beef ready to send. Sent from Baltimore Monday two boxes and one barrel of eggs. Eberle has just stopped here. Is going out collecting for Father. Has not commenced painting yet. Expects to soon.
Dear cousin, I must close. I am so ashamed to send this but must not put it off longer. If you will excuse this, I will try and do better next time. Please write soon. I am anxious to hear how you are prospering—whether you have received those instruments yet or not. Goodbye. Thy sister, — Lovisa
1 William Howard Underwood (1849-1861) died on 12 October 1861. He is buried in the New Baltimore Cemetery in Stark county, Ohio.
2 Chauncey Harmon of Randolph, Portage county, Ohio, was born in 1795 and died on 15 April 1862. He was married to Comfort Dickinson (1803-1877) and had at least eleven children.
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