The following letter was written by Aaron H. Velie (1826-1867) of Co. F, 127th Illinois Infantry. Muster records indicate that he enlisted at Plano, Kendall county, Illinois, on 5 September 1862 and served until 5 June 1865. He wrote this letter describing his return from Illinois after a 30 days “Veteran’s furlough.”
Aaron was married in 1858 to Nancy H. Walrath (1825-1895) of Herkimer county, New York.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Squad 1, 2nd Division, 15th Army Corps
Cleveland, Tennessee
November 30th 1864
Friend George,
It is with pleasure I take my pen to write you a few lines to let you know where I am and what I am doing. I left Chicago the 11th at quarter after six in the afternoon. Got to Chattanooga the morning of the 15th. Had no difficulty in making connections. I found none of the boys that went home with me on furlough till I got to Chattanooga. There [was] but one [and] he left Chicago. Eight got to Chattanooga three days before I did. I inquired for Cris, found where he stayed, looked him up, & stayed with him one day. Found out there I could not get to my regiment so I reported to Gen. Stedman—the commander of the post. He sent me to the convalescent camp. There I found about 20 of the boys belonging to the 127th [Illinois] & Capt. Little in command of the 15 Corps. Detachment. Those convalescents are men that was not able to go on the marching with Sherman and sent back to Chattanooga, and all soldiers home on furlough after Sherman left Atlanta were ordered to report to the commander of the post & sent there. I was among the first to report. After I got there, they came in pretty thick.
Well I got to camp about 4 o’clock & 8 o’clock there was an order come for six hundred men from the 15th Corps & as many more from the 14th to draw guns, equipments, two day’s rations & be reday to march at a moments notice. Well we get ready and about 11 o’clock we marched to the depot, got on the cars and started. The next morning I found myself on the way to Knoxville. We got to Knoxville the night of the 17th. The 19th I went out with a squad of 25 three miles to look for some guerrillas that was reported prowling round among the mountains. [We] seen nothing, turned about & come back. While we was there, the rebs were at Strawberry Plaines 18 miles from Knoxville. We was sent there for a support in case the rebs should make an attack on the place. The 20 the rebs left Strawberry Plains and the 21st we left for Chattanooga. Got there the 22nd about sunset without wood or shelter & cold enough to freeze a fellow. So I went to where I left Cris but he was to Brideport, so I stayed with some of the 7th Ohio Cavalry and had a very good place.
The next morning I went to camp, drawed a shelter tent, stayed there that night. The next morning we got orders to get ready to move again. We got ready & about noon we started for the depot, got on the cars, run down to Chickamauga Station on the Dalton road, took on some soldiers & baggage, then backed up to the Junction, took on some more soldiers, then started for Cleveland. Got here about six o’clock, marched in [and found] first rate quarters, got supper & turned in for the night. We relieved 4 companies of the First Ohio Heavy Artillery but [they] wasn’t wanted in that branch so [they] made infantry of them. They come out in 62 & haven’t been in a fight. Their regiment is 1800 strong. They have gone to Cumberland Gap and will probably see some fun before they get back.
Day before yesterday a squad of guerrillas come near Sandtown, about 11 miles from here, killed two soldiers & six citizens yesterday. A squad was sent out to look for them but didn’t find them.
This leaves me well and hope it may find you the same. Accept this & write soon. Direct 2 Div 15 A. C. Detachment, Cleveland, Tenn. — Aaron
