My passion is studying American history leading up to & including the Civil War. I particularly enjoy reading, transcribing & researching primary sources such as letters and diaries.
The following letter was written by Joseph T. Miller (1836-1863), the son of William B. Miller (1803-1864) and Synthia Johnson (1807-1884) of Jackson, Keokuk county, Iowa. Joseph was working as a carpenter and still enumerated in the household of his parents in Jackson, Iowa, when he enlisted at age 26 in August 1862 to serve three years in Co. F, 33rd Iowa Infantry. He was seriously wounded in the battle at Helena, Arkansas, on 4 July 1863, and was transported to a hospital in Memphis where he died on 8 August 1863.
Carte de visite photograph of the city of Helena in Phillips County under Federal occupation. (Arkansas Digital Archives)
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In Camp at Helena, Arkansas January 22nd 1863
Dear Friends,
I take this opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope those lines may find you all enjoying good health as health is the greatest blessing we can enjoy.
I hardly know what to write as Nicholas [Belveal] has wrote about all the news. I will tell you that the word came here that the 33rd [Iowa] Regiment was cut all to pieces but I think it is a mistake or I would know something about it for I have been with the regiment all the time. I believe I am as hearty as I ever was and weigh 167 lbs.—a little more than I ever weighed before.
We are camped on the west bank of the Mississippi river. It is rather swampy and wet around the camp but where our tents are pitched is dry and sandy. The river has raised 4 or 5 feet since we landed here. I do not know exactly how many troops are stationed here—something like 25 or 30 thousand—and the river is lined with boats loaded with troops now going North. I do not know to what point they are going. I can hear no news here but a little camp news and that don’t amount to much.
I must tell you that we have some pop guns here. They take about 6 lbs. of powder at a load.
Helena is rather a dull-looking place. I expected to see quite a city but was much disappointed. In coming down from Columbus, we laid at Memphis, Tennessee, one day and we got off a little bit and went up in the city and in the park. It was a nice place. I saw a monument there in memory of Andrew Jackson which paid me well for my trouble. Memphis is quite a city but I must come to a close.
The following letter was written by William Henry Anderson (1836-1902), the son of Francis D. Anderson (1807-1866) and Jane Davidson (1808-1880) of Londonderry, New Hampshire. William attended primary school in Londonderry, before studying at the Pembroke Academy (Pembroke, New Hampshire, 1852-1853), Phillips Academy (Andover, Massachusetts, 1853), and Kimball Union Academy (Meriden, New Hampshire, 1854-1855). He considered attendance at Dartmouth, favoring instead Yale College, which he entered in 1855. An 1857 disciplinary action notwithstanding, Anderson graduated in the spring of 1859. [See: The Demise of the Crocodile Club: A Town/Gown Tragedy at Yale]
After graduating from Yale College at New Haven, Connecticut, William accepted a job as a private tutor on the Sligo Plantation near Natchez, Mississippi, teaching students from Sligo as well as the nearby Retirement Plantation from 1859 to 1860. Prior to the Civil War, it was a widespread practice for a wealthy southern planter, or planters banding together, to hire a college graduate from the North to teach the white children on the plantation. Public schools were virtually non-existent in the South. By the late 1850s planters monitored the schooling closely to make certain that tutors from the North did not attempt to introduce ideas about racial equality into the heads of their children.
During his time in Mississippi, William wrote numerous letters home to his parents and to his future wife Mary A. Hine. He arrived at Bennett’s Retirement Plantation in early September 1859, and shortly thereafter settled in at David P. Williams’ Sligo Plantation. In his letters from Natchez archived at the University of Michigan, William described his relative isolation, loneliness, teaching and wages, corporal punishment, thoughts on slavery and the enslaved men and women on the plantation, games he played with his scholars, travel between the Sligo and Retirement plantations, and leisure activities such as hunting and horseback riding. In late December 1859, he provided a lengthy description of a (largely) steamboat trip to New Orleans with his students for Christmas.
Anderson noted that no poor white people lived between Sligo and Natchez; he was uncomfortable with the aristocratic lifestyle of white people living in the south, and expressed this view on multiple occasions in his correspondence (see especially September 30, 1859). Although his father appears on list of members of the American Anti-Slavery Society, William H. Anderson did not write with disgust at slavery, but rather used racist epithets, accepted the “servants” who assisted him in various ways, and wrote unmoved about abuse doled out to children (see especially June 9, 1860). In one instance, he wrote about enslaved women who gathered near to the house in the evenings before supper to sing and dance (October 25, 1859). One of the highly detailed letters in the collection is William H. Anderson’s description of the use of the cotton gin on the Sligo Plantation, which includes remarks on its history, its functioning, the various jobs performed by enslaved laborers, and the rooms in which the jobs took place. He included calls made by enslaved workers between floors of the “gin house” and the roles of elderly men and women in the grueling labor (October 1859). In 1860, Anderson planned to take a summer break in Tennessee and then teach another year, but on the death of his oldest scholar Susie (14 years old) by diphtheria, Williams decided against having a school the next year (July 4, 1860).
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Natchez, Mississippi December 1st 1859
Dear Mother,
It is too warm altogether to be comfortable. I have had no fire for three weeks and the very thought of one puts me in an additional perspiration. It has been as warm some days as it is at home in August and thin clothing has been not only desirable but comfortable. Some say we shall have such weather all winter but I hope not for it makes me feel like a “wet dish cloth.”
One of my scholars—my oldest boy—comes up in the evening and studies his Latin a half an hour or an hour and a half just whether he is very sleepy or not. He is now at it but it is like pulling teeth for us both—at least it is for me. I get terrible tired of this constant “punching up” of small boys and girls who know nothing about studying and care less. I think it is the last business for a man to engage in permanently and if I am not much mistaken, my anticipated term of teaching will be cut short a year or so, if I can find any other way of getting along.
You must not conclude from what I have said that I am having any difficulty or trouble. Not the least. Only that I am worrying and fussing over examination, which is expected to come off on Monday the 19th of this month. The parents are calculating on having a huge examination and will invite all their friends and relations for miles around—and they are not a few—to be present at the show. I did not expect they would make so much of it and have made no great preparation although I am trying to so something now. I am bothering over French dialogues, declamations, and compositions. The reviews do not go off smoothly enough either to promise a very brilliant examination.
Sometimes I flatter myself that I don’t care anything about the thing and so it goes. [Joel Jackson] Hough is as much exercised in mind as I am. I don’t want him to have a better one than I do for the people here would not like that as they consider their children superior to the Retirement children and they are. But enough on this point.
On the Wednesday after the examination, the family here leave for New Orleans and Hough goes up river somewhere to visit his “intended.” I expect to have a more lonesome time then than ever.
Christmas is really a great occasion here—especially for the negroes. The gardener—an old black fellow—asked me the other day how long it was to Christmas. I told him. “Ah,” said he, “dat’s de time to hop ub & down.” I asked him if he hopped up then and he replied, “No! when I goes to jumps up, I tumbles down.” He said, however, that “some of dem does.”
The negroes, I believe, then have a week or so to make merry in, and also have various “goodies” (as they call them) to eat. They are busy making the dresses for them. They also get their presents then.
Hough was down here last Saturday and we went gunning as usual. I flatter myself that I am a little better shot than he is. Sometimes I get behind him when he has got good aim on a bird, and shooting before he does, destroy the necessity of is firing. It makes him rather provoked but then it takes him so long to get ready to fire that I like to do it. All the good clothes I’ve got can keep till I leave here. I have worn my old light coat all the time except on three or four occasions. My best black coat I have not taken out of my trunk. Hough and I are thinking that we must have more pay if we stay here another year. Please write a little oftener and oblige.
Yours truly, — W. H. Anderson
You need not be alarmed about my getting married down here as I have not spoke to an unmarried female except my two scholars since I left New Haven.
The following letter was written by Henry Clark (1845-1893), the son of George Clark (1821-1896) and Rhoda Parks (1820-1852) of Clifton Park, Saratoga county, New York. When he was eighteen years old, Henry enlisted to serve a three year term beginning on 8 August 1862 in Co. H, 115th New York Infantry. He was among the thousands of troops surrendered by their commander at Harpers Ferry in September 1862, paroled, and sent to Chicago to await exchange. As regimental bands were disbanded by Congress in October 1862, Henry continued to serve in the Brigade Band. He mustered out with his regiment at Raleigh, North Carolina, on 17 June 1865.
At the time of this letter, datelined 4 January 1865, the Third Brigade consisted of Henry’s own 115th New York, 169th New York, 13th Indiana, 9th Maine, and 4th New Hampshire. Colonel Louis Bell of the 4th New Hampshire acted at Brigade commander.
In his letter Henry refers to his brigade having recently returned from their expedition to Fort Fisher, North Carolina, which proved a failure. Not long after having returned to Virginia, the Brigade returned to North Carolina and participated in the assault and capture of Fort Fisher on 15 January 1865.
Henry wrote the letter to his cousin and former comrade, Lt. James H. Clark of Clifton Park who was wounded in action on 20 February 1864 at Olustee, Florida and was discharged for disability on 29 December 1864.
A typical Brigade Band during the American Civil War (Military Images)
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Headquarters 3rd Brigade 2nd Division, 24th Corps Near Chapin’s Farm January 4th 1865
Dear Cousin,
I take this opportunity of answering your kind letter which I received on the 30th—the day that we returned from the North Carolina expedition. I will not undertake for to tell you anything about the expedition for you have read it all in the papers before this time, only we had a pretty hard time of it and gained nothing. Whose fault it was, I cannot tell.
Our Brigade all had quarters built—only our Regiment. They commenced building quarters day before yesterday and yesterday morning the Division got orders to move at eleven o’clock. Colonel [Louis] Bell 1 said that the band might stay back this time. At the appointed time the fourth and Second Division started for Bermuda Hundred. There they are going for to take transports for North Carolina again. I heard that Gen. Burnside was going to take command of the expedition in the place of Butler. I think the men must have suffered very much last night on their way to Bermuda Hundred for it snowed about two inches during the night.
It has been very cold here for a few days and we have had hard work for to keep warm. I think it is two months since Lieuts. Corene and Smith were discharged while absent from the regiment but George Smith came back and I heard that the Major was trying for to get him in again but I haven’t seen anything of him lately.
Things go on about the same as usual in the regiment. [George T.] Hoag was mustered as 1st Sergeant of the company at last muster and William H. Gorham was promoted to Sergeant. Wallace McIntosh of Co. I is promoted to Lieutenant over Jay Ashman. Hoag told me yesterday that he received a letter from you not long since and before he could answer it, they were off again. He told me to tell you not to expect an answer from him until they make another stop.
William H. Gorham told me yesterday that Lieut. [Aaron C.] Slocumb told him that you was discharged or was a going to be. There is some one coming back to the regiment most every [day] that has been wounded during the summer. There is no news at present so I will close for this time. Give my respects to all.
Yours truly, — Henry Clark, Clifton Park
Direct to Henry Clark, Brigade Band, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 24th Corps
1 Col. Louis Bell, commander of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 24th Army Corps, never made it to Fort Fisher in the assault. He fell with a bullet through his chest, at the head of his brigade, not far from the bridge leading to the river road sally port. The colonel later managed to ask if his wound was fatal. A surgeon gently confirmed that it likely was. “I thought as much,” admitted Bell. He was dead before sunrise, and the survivors of the Third Brigade were crushed by the loss of their popular commander.
The following incredible and newsy letter was penned in October 1864 by “Carrie O.” whom I later determined to be Caroline Victoria Ozias (1843-1902). Caroline was born in Twin, Preble county, Ohio, the daughter of Peter Leo Ozias (1812-1893) and Rebecca Kesler (1818-1863). It seems she never married. She died of pneumonia when she was 59 years old.
We learn many things from Carrie’s letter but her post script suggests that she was attending school at the time and my hunch is that she was attending the Davenport Female College.
Carrie wrote the letter to her childhood friend, Sarah (“Sallie”) Rachel McQuiston (1843-1926), the daughter of David McQuiston and Margaret Hamilton of Preble county, Ohio.
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Addressed to Sallie McQuiston, Morning Sun, Preble county, Ohio
Davenport, Iowa October 20, 1864
Dear Ohio Friend,
I can’t say that it was negligence why I did not write sooner but have ben very busy and received a “host” of letters from our old neighborhood and I answer first those which I receive first. Your letter was very interesting as it seemed that I was at home in Ohio while reading it. Don’t think that I am homesick that I write thus—not by any means for I enjoy it here and like it very much. I have been some two or three miles out in the country to parties several times and had real good times.
As to soldiers, they are pretty plenty here, they having two camps near here, besides the guards of the rebel prisoners at Camp Jeff Davis on the island. 1 I have been at both camps, and a good view of Camp Jeff which I think is better than going on the island to see them.
Then there is the Indian camp close to Camp Roberts 2 and it is amusing to see those sons of the forest carrying water, washing, cutting wood, and sweeping the grounds at the other camp. They number nearly three hundred and are a hard looking “set”—some dressed in soldier’s clothes, others in citizen’s dress, and others in Indian stuff. They are prisoners brought here several years ago from Minnesota and the ring leaders are kept very close, not being allowed to go out even with a “guard.” 3 Quite a number were in the woods gathering hazelnuts as we passed, with a dignified looking “guard” with them which reminded me of a former teacher of mine who considered it his duty to prop himself up at some conspicuous place every noon to watch the pupils in their play, which was productive of evil instead of good, as he was very impudent about it.
108th USCT guarding prisoners at the Rock Island Prison in 1864
To my subject again, the rebs are guarded (partly) by colored soldiers 4 and you may be sure that their aristocratic southern blood boiled at the very thought and it was not until they killed about half a dozen that they submitted of the darkies that they forced them to submit. I rejoice in it, but imagine their feelings at being guarded by the race they always were taught to hate. The “sogers” in a large camp are not the same ones that we see when they come home to their friends. There are a number here whom I think their friends would not like to own. Being away from many acquaintances, they care not how they act.
We had a heavy draft in some parts of this county and I learned that my old friend Preble [county, Ohio] had the same. In Poweshiek Co. (west of this near Iowa City), they resisted the draft, killed a provost marshal [John Bashore] and several others. The man who shot the marshal was wounded and taken. A rope was put around his neck and he was forced to name his accomplices, about a dozen of whom are now in jail. General [N. B.] Baker went from here with some soldiers and Governor Stone hastened there. Upon the whole they had quite a time resisting this “abolition tyrant.” Pa was in Grinnell the same night the soldiers came. He said it looked very warlike for so small a place. The soldiers realized what northern traitors are and felt like giving them their just dues. A few of the butternuts hid among the bushes near where the marshal and several others were obliged to pass and shot at them, killing him. Then, not satisfied with that, they beat his head almost into a jelly. It caused quite an excitement for a time. Price was in the southern part of Iowa and it was rumored that he intended making his way through to the island and take the rebel prisoners. I think until he gets this far, he will deserve them. 5
The guerrillas are in Davis County. They entered from Missouri one hundred and fifty strong mostly attired in Federal uniform. Soon after crossing the border they separated into bands and went plundering, murdering, and deceiving by the uniform. 6 The latest news is that four hundred citizens have congregated at Bloomfield and arming themselves to meet five hundred guerrillas reported to be at Memphis, Missouri, preparing for a march on Bloomfield. Further news are awaited anxiously.
I do feel rejoiced and thankful for the success of our arms and also for the victories achieved by the ballot. Don’t talk about the war being over for it is too good to think of. Oh! what a happy time would that be when friends shall meet on earth once more and those long loved return. But are we sure that they will return? That throws a deeper shade over our darkened hopes.
Schenk is elected. Good for that I say. A[ndrew] M. Weller’s Uncle was here a few days before we heard the result and he seemed very anxious to know the opposing candidates, and don’t you think that pa did not know who it was. He was a former resident of Preble [County, Ohio] and now is an active butternut. By the way, A. M. W.’s mother 7 died a few weeks ago. Her brother is the person of whom I have written.
There was a large mass meeting over in Rock Island City last week and some good Union speeches made. Governor Yates of Illinois was there and the soldiers from here went over in true warlike style. After dark there was so much noise that it seemed as if they intended storming the city. We went up in the third story piazza and had a view of all the processions and performances—better than if we had been there as I don’t think that I would fancy being there after night. I can walk quite well but my arms seem weak and I have been helping to wash this afternoon and it has made my hands quite nervous, and if you will excuse my poor letter, you will confer quite a favor.
Please think of me and write soon. Goodnight. — Carrie 0. Your true friend.
I like the school very well indeed. I am quite fascinated with it. There are one hundred in attendance now and you may be sure we have good times. I consider it all right that you write about your letters and such like, for it is interesting to me. I must quit for my hand is becoming painful. Pleasant dreams to my loving friend tonight. My love to you, — Carrie
Write soon please.
1 Though I have not heard of it being called “Camp Jeff Davis” before, it’s clear that Carrie is referring to the Rock Island Prison which was located on a government-owned island between Davenport, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois, in the Mississippi River.
2 Camp Roberts was the headquarters of the 8th and 9th Cavalry. It was established 14 July 1863 on Duck Creek near Oakdale. It was afterward called Camp Kinsman and the buildings were turned over to the orphans of soldiers and became the Davenport Orphan’s Home.
3 These Indians—part of the Minnesota Sioux—were among the nearly 300 that were rounded up after the Sioux Uprising in Minnesota in August 1862. They were brought to Davenport where they were confined in a prison area 200 feet square containing four buildings: two for prisoners to sleep in (no beds were provided), one for a hospital, and one for the guardhouse. It wasn’t until April 1866 that those who had survived were released.
4 It was the 108th USCT assigned the duty of guarding Revel Prisoners at the Rock Island Arsenal.
5 For more details on this Draft Resistance Incident in Poweshiek county, Iowa, readers are referred to a post by David Connon entitled, Draft Dilemma in Poweshiek County: The Murder of Marshals,” Emerging Civil War, March 29, 2018
6 In the book entitled, “The Confederate Invasion of Iowa,” author Russell Corder informs us that the raid took place in mid-October 1864. “Twelve young men, dressed in Federal uniforms, mounted on splendid horses, and armed with from two to seven revolvers each, entered Davis Co. near its southeast corner in the early morning with two prisoners, young men whom they had captured in Clark Co., in the Northeast corner of Missouri.”
7 Sarah (Higgins) Weller (1811-1864) died on 21 September 1864. She was buried in Roselawn Cemetery in Lewisburg, Preble county, Ohio.
I could not find an image of James but here is one of Charles Oliver Hunt who also served in the 5th Maine Light Artillery
The following letter was written by James Porter Holt (1838-1863), the son of Samuel Holt (1803-1891) and Elvira Estes (1808-1852) of Bethel, Oxford county, Maine. James was married in February 1859 to Mary Hicks (1838-1861), but after her death in June 1861, he mustered into the 5th Maine Light Artillery on December 4, 1861. He and the battery fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 29, 1862 and at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, where the 118 men were part of General Gibbon’s 2nd Division of General Reynolds’ I Corps of General Franklin’s Left Grand Division. The chief of artillery in his report stated, “The batteries of Captains Cooper and Leppien on my left did good service. The practice of the Fifth Maine (Captain Leppien’s) attracted my special notice and admiration”.
On May 3, 1863, Holt was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Orders had been received by Captain Leppien from Colonel Wainwright, chief of artillery of I Corps to move the battery to the front and report to General Reynolds, commanding the corps. While on the way to the front, orders were received from General Hooker that the batteries in reserve should move along to Chancellorsville, which was near the center of the Union line, and report to the chief of artillery there. Upon arriving and reporting, the battery was ordered to take position in an open field just to the right of the Chancellor House, with the left piece near one of the outbuildings. The Confederate line extended along the southern edge of the field and into the woods at a distance of 450 to 500 yards. As soon as the battery emerged from the woods and made its appearance upon the open field, the Confederate infantry was removed from the Federal front, disclosing the enemy artillery posted in the rear and partially covered by a slight elevation. The Confederate artillery had the exact range and immediately opened the most destructive fire the battery had ever experienced. Men and horses of the 5th Maine began to fall before the battery was in position In addition to Private Holt, five other men were killed in action, and 43 of the battery’s horses were killed..
James wrote the letter to his older sister Juliaett Matilda Holt (1834-1901) who married Augustus (“Gust”) Estes sometime prior to the 1860 US Census.
Transcription
Headquarters 5th Maine Battery Camp Augusta March 7th 1862
Dear Sister,
I seat myself this evening after so long a time to answer your letter. You must excuse me for not writing before. I have been waiting to get my picture to send. I have got it but it isn’t a very good one. I am here in Augusta, tough and hearty.
Aunt Hannah was here yesterday and brought Pason and I a box of provision. It made me think of home. She said the folks were all well. She come to Winthrop Wednesday and down here yesterday and back last night. They have had a very hard winter there and plenty of snow and it is drift[ed] bad. There was a storm last week that blocked the railroad up so the cars did not run for a week. There has not been a great deal of snow here this winter and not as cold as I have seen it in Bethel. It is muddy enough here now. I suppose you have plenty of it now.
I have no news to write. We don’t know how long we shall stay here. We have been expecting to leave every week for three or four weeks but don’t seem to get away yet. The soldiers all seem to enjoy themselves tonight. Some are reading and some writing. Some are playing cards and others are singing songs. We hear good news from the seat of war. It seems as though they won’t want us unless we get there pretty soon.
I should like to go home in sugar time but I can’t get away now. I cannot write more now. Write soon as you get this. Tell Gust to write to me. Give my love to all enquiring friends if any there be. Accept the same yourself.
This from your brother, — James P. Holt, 5th Maine Mounted Battery, Augusta, Maine
The following letter was only signed “Elisha” but clues in the letter enabled me to confidently conclude that it was written by Elisha Oaks Drake (1821-1901), a former shoemaker residing in Livermore, Maine. Elisha was married to Zibeah Cary (1812-1892) in August 1845. Their 16 year-old son, William “Henry” Drake (1848-1930) is mentioned in this letter.
When he was 41 years old, Elisha enlisted on 29 August 1862 to serve as a private in Co. C, 20th Maine Infantry. One source gives his discharge date as 15 June 1864 but this must be an error because this and other letters I’ve found on-line written by Elisha were written after that date. The 1890 Veterans Schedule gives his discharge date as June 1865 indicating that he served two years and ten months.
Historians will recall that the 20th Maine was most famous for its defense of Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg on 2 July 1863. Records indicate that Elisha was with his company that day and was not wounded.
We learn from Elisha’s letter that the 20th Maine had just entered camp near the Poplar Grove Church (sometimes referred to as the Poplar Springs Church.
Poplar Springs Church, a Woodcut in Frank Leslie’s Oct 22, 1864 issue
Transcription
Camp near Poplar Grove Church, Va. October 11th 1864
Dear Wife,
I received your letter of the 2nd of October this morning. Glad to hear that you are all well. I wrote two letters to you last week which it seems you have not got when you wrote. I wrote you about the advance of our army. If you don’t get my last letters you will get the doings of the battles so it will be no news for me to write it now. I sent you a dollar note in the last letter that I wrote. I got a letter from Mr. Abbott last week. Answered yesterday.
The weather is quite cold here so that a fire is comfortable. Slept rather cold for the two last nights but we have got our tent fixed up so that it is warmer. Slept very warm last night. The wind blows cold. Frost last night. Will be tonight if the wind goes down.
I saw Arad [Thompson] the other day. He is not very well. He has had the dysentery for a week and don’t seem to get any better of it. Quite a number are sick in the same way. Prez is well. You need not send any more shirts for I have drawed one from government. But I should like the boots and socks if you conclude to send a box. Should like about such a pair of boots as those I had last year. Scott will know about what I want. I think I shall take the old short that [Moses F.] Vernell gave me and make a back to my old vest for the front is good and will last another year if it can have a new back. I like the shirt you sent very well. The sleeves are rather long but I took a tack in them till they get shrunk. I like the color better than red.
Tell [our son] Henry that he must be careful when he is handling the steers and look out for them. They may start and run sometime and hurt him very badly. I think he was very fortunate not to get hurt any worse. I got hurt once pretty badly by the tung of the cart falling on me. I am glad your crop come in so good. Hope you will make out for corn without buying for the year. I wrote some time ago that I thought it would be best to get the hog house fixed up before winter. I think it will be for your interest to have it done and the sooner the better.
I understand that General Grant, Meade, and Warren have gone home or gone to Washington, Are to be gone for ten days. Don’t know what it is for of course. We think everything of General Warren. He is a working man, We have got a good Division Commander—General Griffin. We don’t know which is the best. They try to take care of their men but they are both fighting men but don’t rush head long into battle. They are cool and deliberate. That is the kind of men we like.
We have got a very good camping ground. Good place to stop all winter but I don’t expect we shall stop here long for I expect there will be a move made soon. I understand that Farragut has gone to Fortress Monroe to take charge of the James River fleet.
Bickmore’s brother’s wound 1 has got almost well and we expect him back to the regiment soon. Mr. Hall, uncle to Corp. Richards lost his leg in the last fight above the knee. The last we heard from him it was doing well. He (Hall) used to call on us quite often when he was with the regiment. I shan’t write again until I get a letter from you unless there is something more turns up for I have written two ahead of you now. If you send a box, you may send what you think best. I’ve forgotten that I owed Strickland more than two notes but I suppose it is all right. Derrell says supper is ready and I must close. Yours in haste, — Elisha
1 Most likely referring to Corp. Eli Bickmore of Co. I who was wounded at Cold Harbor on 3 June 1864.
The following letters were written byJoseph Steele Ramsey (1838-1913) who, at age 22, enlisted on 16 July 1861 to serve three years in Co. D, 47th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He reenlisted as a veteran in the regiment and mustered out on 11 August 1865. Serving in the same company with Joseph was his younger brother John Knox Ramsey (1841-1863) who died of illness at Paducah on 10 November 1863.
Joseph was the son of Thomas Lackey Ramsey (1812-1881) and Jane Steele (1808-1851). He wrote two of the following letters to his older sister, Rebecca Jane Ramsey (1836-1891) and one to Sarah (“Sallie”) Rachel McQuiston (1843-1926) with whom he would marry on Christmas Day 1866. Sallie was the daughter of David McQuiston and Margaret Hamilton of Preble county, Ohio.
Letter 1
Addressed to Miss R. J. Ramsey, Morning Sun, Preble county, Ohio
Larkinspur, Alabama January 17th, 1864
I received yours of the 2nd inst. in due time and should have answered it before this but we have been so busy at work building houses that I did not have time to write, Our houses are finished now and I will try and answer it now.
I received a letter from Father more than a week ago which gave an account of the death of our brother John. It is a sad thought to think that he died away from all his friends with no one to speak a parting word. But it was the will of the Lord and may we take warning and bear in mind that our time on earth is but short and may we be ready when our Master calls us to our final home to give an account of the deeds done in the body. I suppose we will never know much about his sickness. He left Chickasaw on the evening of the 4th and was taken down to Eastport and put into an old building without much accommodations—only what he got by the hands of [Sgt.] Jim Magee. He lay there until the 6th when he was put on the boat and the boat lay there until 10 o’clock on the 10th but no one was allowed to go onto the boat to see him. It must be a mistake about the time he died for J. M. says that the boat left Eastport at 10 o’clock on the 10th and it would take them two days to go through.
J. M. left Eastport about a week after and when he got to Paducah, he could not find or hear anything of him. But one of the sick men in one of the hospitals told him that he thought that [John] had died on the boat the day they landed but he did not know the name. Three days after J. M came, one of Company A boys come and he said that he was sick in the hospital and was getting better and that made me feel more easy. I was thinking of trying to get permission to go to Paducah to see him when I got that letter from Father. I do not know whether I would have got to go or not. That is all that I can find out about him.
The weather here has been beautiful for the last week. We had some pretty cold weather about New Years but not near as cold as you say it has been up north. We did not have any tents but we did not suffer any for all that. We was at Bellfont at that time and had our houses nearly finished but we had to leave them and come to Larkinsville where we are now.
We have got our houses built and are in them and they are quite comfortable. We have eight houses twelve feet square to our company. The furniture in our house consists of two beds, one table, and three stools or benches. Last night for supper was the first tie that I had eaten off a table in a house for more than a year and a half.
There are five of us in our shanty. Their names are as follows: J[ohn] Cook, [Andrew] B. Rock, E[lias] Dunkelberger, S[amuel] Hockersmith. I send you 50 cents for postage stamps which you will please send me in your next letter.
From your brother, — Joseph
Letter 2
Addressed to Miss Sallie R. McQuiston, Morning Sun, Preble county, Ohio
On picket, Cherokee County, Alabama October 23rd 1864
Friend Sallie,
Your very kind letter of the 5th just was received a few days ago, read and reread with much interest. I will try and scribble you a few lines this morning but as I have no good way of writing, you will have to excuse scribbling. I have written but one letter in the last month, consequently I am sadly behind in business—that is, literary business.
We did not get to rest as long at Eastport as we expected to. The rebel army was about to get in our rear. In fact, they did, and destroyed about twelve miles of our railroad between Ackworth and Big Shanty. Consequently we left Eastport on the 4th last and have been going it almost day and night ever since, trying to overtake Hood and his hoards of mighty men but we have not found many of them yet. We had a little skirmish with their rear guard at Snake Creek Gap but it did not amount to anything worth speaking about. We have been roaming all over the State of Georgia and are now in Cherokee county, six miles west of Gaylesville. We arrived here day before yesterday. How long we will remain here, I cannot say. Neither do I know where we will go to.
While you have been having so much wet weather up North, we have been having nice dry weather—beautiful weather for marching—rather cool at night, but we make up for that by burning fence rails which are very plenty in this part of the country. We are having a gay time on this march, plenty of everything good to eat, but the citizens have to suffer for it. But you know that we cannot go hungry where there is so many hogs and potatoes. For my breakfast this morning, I had sweet potatoes, beef, slapjacks, and coffee—not as good as we have sometimes. We often have chicken, molasses, and various other things that the country affords. It looks hard to take things away from the people that way but it is the only way that we have to live as Uncle Sam does not give us full rations but slows us to gather it from the country.
Capt. [Joseph L.] Pinkerton started home yesterday but did not get farther than Dawson Headquarters before he was ordered back. He will go home as soon as there is an officer appointed in his place. He is a good officer—I think a little the best one that our company has ever had. He is well liked by all the boys and will be missed very much in the regiment.
I do not think that there is anything wrong is showing good, well written letters to ones best friends but my letters are so very poor that I am almost ashamed to let anyone see them. As you have told the whole truth, I do not think that you have done anything to be forgiven for but I had rather beg pardon myself. You’re wrong in thinking that i thought you were that kind as to be showing my letters to everyone. I think you are flattering me in saying that my letters are too good to be laid away where no one would see them. I was not aware indeed of having gained so much favor in the eyes of your good friend, It is a fine thing to gain favor if it is only in the right way. Oh Sallie, I did not know that I was a thief. I do not know how you can blame me with stealing her heart away. Do you think that I want to steal anyone’s heart. No, never. If they cannot give it me with a good will, I do not want it. I am sure I could not steal one. I think that you blame me wrong for I do not know that I have any such thing in my possession. If I ever am so lucky as ever to gain anyone’s heart and affections, I do not want to have to steal them….
There was a big frost last night but it is quite warm and pleasant now. The boys are all well and hearty. It is almost dinner time and I must go into camp and see what the boys have for dinner. As this is so poorly written that I expect you will be tired reading, I will bring this to a close hoping to hear from you soon. Excuse mistakes and bad writing. Every your friend, — Jos. S. Ramsey
Letter 3
Addressed to Miss J. R. Ramsey, Morning Sun, Preble county, Ohio
Camp Near Goldsboro, North Carolina March 1st, 1865
Dear Sister,
As it seems your tirn for a note and I have received three from you since I come here, I will try and scratch you a few lines that you may know what we are doing and how we are getting along. It will not be necessary for me to go back and give a history of our late trip through South and North Carolina as I wrote to brother Sam the other day and told him about all that I knowed about it. I have kept a kind of a diary that I intend to send home that will give you some idea of the route that we went, how we fared, and what we were doing each day. I sent the first two weeks of it in Sam’s letter and I will send two more in this and so on until I have it all sent. I have kept it from the first of the year and I want you to take it all and put it together so that it will not get tossed.
We are encamped two miles east of Goldsboro. It is a very nice place to camp. We have got out little tents fixed up and things arranged so that we can live very well. The only objection that I have to this camp is the soil is very sandy and the high winds that we have here is continually blowing sand into everything—into our eyes, into our victuals, and everything else. But we have got so used to having sand in our victuals that we do not mind it much. Don’t you think that we ought to be getting gritty? They say sand makes things gritty. If that be so, we will be sure.
The weather is very warm and pleasant. We had some rain yesterday but today is clear, warm and windy—sand flying as usual. the peach trees have been out in full bloom for two weeks. The prospects for a large peach [harvest] is good. I think if we stay down here until they are ripe, I will have some of them. Apple trees are very scarce here. It is only once in a while that we see one and very shabby at that. We have plenty to eat at this place and had on the whole trip excepting three days that we subsisted mostly on parched corn. That was the time that Johnston thought to stop us near Bentonville, 20 miles from this place. The cars commenced running to this place the same night that we did and trains are arriving now almost hourly ladened with rations and clothing. We have not got our clothing yet and are in a very bad need of it. I tell you that we are a ragged looking set of boys. Would not look well promenading around in [ ] in our present state of existence as we were doing this time one year ago.
Our clothes are at the Division coming and we will get them as soon as they can distribute them out which will be tonight or in the morning. Col. Parry has been promoted to rank as Brevet Brigadier General. I suppose he will leave us in a few days and then Captain Pinkerton will have command of the regiment as soon as he comes back, We are looking for him every day. Lt. [James H.] Bullock is commanding our company. He was only promoted about two months ago from sergeant. We have not had anything to do since we came here except one day we went out with the wagon train a foraging. I think that we will have to drill before long.
There is a great talk about peace in camp today. Rumor says that Gen. Lee has gone to Washington to make peace and that Jeff Davis has run off out of the country. I hope it is so but can’t believe it. I look for peace before long but I think that there will be some fighting yet before this affair is ended yet. It is also said that Grant has taken Richmond with the loss of 20,000 men and taken 40,000 prisoners. That we do not believe although it may be so, We hear so much now days that we do not believe anything until we know it to be so.
From the letters that I have received from the North, I think that you must have had a gay time sleigh riding this winter. I would like to have been there to have enjoyed some of it but duty must go before pleasure in these war times. I have not saw a speck of snow this winter. The hardest freeze that we had did not make ice more than an inch thick. I like the climate of this country very well but the land is too poor to suit me. I do not like black-eyed peas well enough and that is about the only thing that will make more than half a crop in this country.
I received that housewife [sewing kit] that you sent me day before yesterday. I am very well pleased with it and think it a very nice one and for it you have my many thanks well wishes…
The following letter was written by Thomas Ebenezer Turner (1843-1927), the son of Moses Turner (1821-1904) and Rebecca T. Pressley (1823-1903) of Lebanon, Boone county, Indiana. Thomas married Elizabeth Malcenia Stephenson (1845-1905) in August 1867. During the summer of 1864, Thomas served 100 days in Co. K, 132nd Indiana Infantry. He later became a Presbyterian clergyman.
From Thomas’s letter we learn that he was attending school at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. According to their school archivist, Stephen E. Towne, in June 1863, just prior to the date of this letter, “amid a wave of organized and murderous draft enrollment resistance throughout Indiana and neighboring states, a large body of armed men accosted a draft enrollment officer in Indian Creek Township, in the southwest corner of Monroe County, and seized his enrollment lists. Military authorities sent a force of over one thousand troops—infantry, cavalry, and artillery—to Bloomington to arrest the perpetrators. The troops billeted in the town among welcoming pro-war Republicans (town Democrats, many of whom had soured on the war effort, later complained that the troops had been drunk and disorderly) for several days and arrested more than a dozen men for draft resistance before marching into Greene and Sullivan counties to enforce the draft law. The violence of the war reached into every Indiana community.”
Thomas’s letter also speaks of Morgan’s raid through Southern Indiana and of the volunteers from Boone county who rode out after him but came home disappointed. “The boys were pretty smartly outed because they did not get a chance at him,” he wrote his friend.
Indiana University before the Civil War
Transcription
Addressed to Sallie McQuiston, Morning Sun, Preble county, Ohio
Northern Depot, Indiana July 20th 1863
Friend Sally,
Your long looked for but welcome letter came to hand on last Saturday week. It found me well and enjoying myself in the happy land of Boone. I arrived home on the evening of the 4th from Bloomington in company with friend Weed. We left Bloomington on the evening of commencement day (July 2nd), came up as far as Greencastle Junction where we had to change cars, and behold! when we got there the train was gone. So we concluded it would not pay to wait there until next morning so we took it a foot, walked on till 4 o’clock the next morning, and having reached a station and being a little somewhat tired, we lay down on the platform and slept until a train came wizzing by and woke us. We again lay down and slept till 5 o’clock, when we got up, washed ourselves and started again. Went about three miles further to another station. We then had to wait an hour and a half before the train came along. You may be sure we were glad when it whistled. We reached Indianapolis about 11 o’clock and Samuel got on the Lafayette train and went out to Zionsville that evening. I (not being quite so homesick as him), waited until the next day, and went out to Lebanon.
There I found my old friends celebrating the fourth. Pretty near the first one of my acquaintances that I saw was Miss —— S——-. You had better believe I had a good time that afternoon. One Monday after the 4th, I went to work harvesting and have been busy all the time since.
There has been pretty stirring times here about old Morgan for a week or so back. There was a regiment of men left Lebanon on last Friday week, and returned on last Friday. There was a great many more wanted to go but the governor told them he could not supply them with arms, and so they stayed at home. Cousin Samuel went. He joined the home guards for sixty days and got a gun. The worst of it is they could not get a hold of the old scoundrel. The boys were pretty smartly outed because they did not get a chance at him. They caught some of his men.
It has been very dry here for some time. I believe about as dry as I ever saw it. We had a fine shower yesterday and it has been raining some this morning. We had considerable of frost last Wednesday night. It has ruined a heap of corn through here. Ours is as bad hurt or a little worse than any in the neighborhood.
Sallie, I think the Copperheads are just as mean as ever. I believe there is not so many of them in Boone as there are in Monroe, yet there are a few her. I think the time is not far distant when the most of them will have to pull down their heads and hide them in the grass “as it were.” Our cause seems to be prospering more favorably now than it has been doing for a good while.
I will send you a [School] Catalogue with this or in the same mail at least. Your advice concerning me getting the big head by going to College and forsaking Miss S—- simply because she cannot play on the piano and some others can, is very good but it is not needed in my case sa you supposed. You will know by my writing to you so soon after receiving your letter that I have not become so absorbed with Miss S—- as to forget to write to you. Perhaps I might have written sooner but I have had the sore eyes for a week that I could not see to read or write a letter. I got a letter last Saturday and had to get Eliza to read it to me. They are considerably better today.
I will have to close presently and go to work. This letter is pretty badly scribbled up but likely you can make out to read it. Our Catalogues are not as nice this year as common. They did not put the picture of the College in them and was always done before. They put my name in the 1st Year Prep. they reason they did it was because I had studied mathematics in the Freshman. I shall add no more except that I hope to hear from you a little sooner than before. — T. E. Turner
The following letter was written by a Union soldier named “John” who undoubtedly served in Co. D, 47th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was most likely a resident of Morning Sun (or vicinity) in Preble county, Ohio. Unfortunately there are too many soldiers with that name to say with certainly who wrote it though it’s clear that he was barely literate.
John wrote the letter to his “friend” Sally McQuiston who lived in Morning Sun, Ohio.
Transcription
Camp Gauly Mount., Virginia December 28 [1862]
Well, as I have a little time I will try and write you a few lines in answer to your letter which I received a few days ago, This is fine weather for this time of the year. The sun shines out warm and looks like spring this year has about come to a close and the war has not over yet.
I suppose that you have good times on Christmas and New Years. Well, I will tell you how that we spent Christmas. There was some Gray Backs came into camp and said that there were some secesh that had come home on furlough and our company went out to see if they could find them. We went out past Hawk’s Nest and Lover’s Leap and Mountain Cave, and came back without finding any of them and that was our Christmas.
Furloughs have been granted at last and there is seven gone home of this company. I[sreal] Brown is one of the number and I suppose that he will have a good time when he gets home.
I want you to tell me what kind of a time he has. Will Magaw 1 has had a hard time of it since he went to the war and the poor fellow’s troubles are at an end at last.
Well, I believe that I will have to quit for this time as dinner is about ready and for the want of something to write. Excuse this uninteresting scribbling and write soon and tell all the news. Your friend, — John
1 William G. Magaw (1836-1862) was from Preble county, Ohio, the son of William and Rachel (Paxton) Magaw. He served in Co. A, 30th Illinois Volunteers. He died on 19 December 1862. He had a couple of brothers who served in Co. D, 47th OVI..
These letters were written by Philander (“Phil”) Boyd McQuiston (1830-1915), the son of William M. McQuiston (1797-1878) and Nancy Boyd (1803-1886) of Preble county, Ohio.
Philander served in Co. D, 47th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI), from 16 July 1861 until 20 August 1864. After the war he returned to Preble county where he resumed farming and never married.
I could not find an image of Phil but here is one of Pvt. Robert M. Burnard of Co. A, 47th OVI
Letter 1
Addressed to Miss Sallie A. McQuiston, Morning Sun, Preble county, Ohio
Camp Gauley Mount. December 23, 1862
Cousin Sallie,
I now take my pencil in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present, hoping these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing and also to let you know that I have been sick for nearly two weeks. This will account for your letter remaining so long unanswered.
I am very punctual in answering letters; generally answer the same or the next day. But owing to the inferior state of my health for some time past, I am somewhat behind at present. I suppose [Samuel L.] Hockersmith (or Punchy as he is called here) answered yours some time ago.
We have travelled over the greater part of the sacred soil contained in the Kanawha Valley since we wrote to you. We were then at the head of the Kanawha. Soon after we moved to camp Piatt more than half way down. it to go into winter quarters as we supposed. We commenced fixing up immediately after. After remaining there about 24 hours, we crossed the river to go into winter quarters again, We were very sure of staying there and commenced making extensive preparations. we stayed there nearly a week and then got orders to move back to Gauly Mount where we are now and I think will remain until we go away unless something happens that we don’t know of now.
It is a great place for pies in the neighborhood of Camp Piatt. I made several trips unto the country after them, I suppose you have often heard of the kind the boys got here last winter. These were just the reverse. The greatest objection was they were made according to the strictest rules of economy. One afternoon two of us were coming into camp each with an armful. We met Gen. [Jacob Dolson] Cox and staff. He touched his hat very gracefully to us and looked as though he thought provisions were scarce in camp. Since then I have been thinking some of an appointment as Commissary General of this Department for if he judged from the load which I was carrying he would certainly think that I was abundantly qualified for this office.
Our mess has been putting up a kitchen today. It is a log tenement of quite an ancient style of architecture but I expect we think as much of it as any person ever did of a fine house.
Gen. [George] Crook is expected here this week to inspect the regiment and if it is well enough drilled, furloughs are to be given.
One of the boxes sent in Pierson’s care arrived yesterday. None that were sent by the “Aid Society” have arrived yet. He left more than a week ago to hunt for them and has not been heard from since. Give my best wishes to all the friends—girls in particular. Write soon. Goodbye. Your cousin, — Mc
P. S. Mr. A[ugustus S. Troth 1 is well.
1 Augustus S. Troth served initially in Co. D, 47th Ohio Infantry. He was transferred to the US Signal Corps on 7 September 1863.
An elevated view of Tompkin’s Farm (Camp Gauley Mount.) in West Virginia used as a military camp during the American Civil War; tents are visible spread out over fields on either side of a central roadway; farmhouse and other buildings also visible on the property; 1862. (The Huntington Library)
Letter 2
Camp Sherman August 7th 1863
Cousin Sallie,
It is a long time since I heard from you—nearly six months now I believe, and as I feel like conversing with some of my old friends this afternoon, I will scribble a few lines to you expecting to receive better than I send. But firstly I believe I ought to scold some for your not writing to me while I was sick and not able to write. But I guess I will let it pass this time hoping that if I am so unfortunate as to get sick again, you will perform your duty in respect to writing more faithfully.
Well, I suppose you have heard how we took Vicksburg and ran Johnston out of Jackson and cleared the country generally of rebels. As I was not with the regiment while these deeds were being performed, I will not go into detail concerning them but will confine myself to personal matters.
When the regiment started for the rear of Vicksburg, those of us that were not able to go were left in what was called a convalescent camp. Previous to this, I thought a convalescent camp was one in which sick persons received good medical treatment, suitable food, and in short, were treated as sick should be. But I soon found as I had often heard that this was all a mistake for more than a week after we were sent there, no doctor could be found anywhere in camp. One of our company, Joseph [H.] Arthurs died, I believe, just for the want of medical treatment. After a while an excuse of a doctor came, but I would be slow in saying that he did any good.
We were in this camp when the rebs came so near capturing us at the time they attacked our troops at Milliken’s Bend. I expect there was as much excitement and fun in our camp then as there was in Morning Sun and vicinity when Morgan passed through Ohio. It had been reported for several days that we would be attacked and the maimed and all that were able to hold a gun were frequently called into line. This had ben repeated so often that we had no faith in the reports. But one morning about ten o’clock, a force numbering about 1500 made their appearance about two miles from and in plain view of the camp. Then there was hurrying to and fro—And gathering knapsacks—And trembling in their shoes—Those who but an hour before—Had put their dinner on. But they didn’t come any nearer and after cooking their dinner and supper and resting until eleven o’clock at night, they quietly took their departure.
During the excitement, your humble servant according to orders took refuge behind the levee, but not liking the position, returned to camp where I had things all my own way until the next morning when my companions in arms being convinced that there was no danger, one by one came slowly dropping in.
Soon after this we were sent up the Yazoo to the landing at the mouth of Chickasaw Bayou. The Yazoo is a beautiful river and judging from its appearance, I think no one would give it the name that it bears. There is splendid scenery along its banks. The trees grow close to the water’s edge and the branches hang out over the water. It is such a stream as artists usually have in their pictures. But it is the greatest place for mosquitoes ever was. I won’t undertake to say anything about them for I couldn’t do them justice.
Soon after the surrender of Vicksburg, we were ordered there and of all the miserable places I ever saw, that is the miserablest I took the ague the day we went and had it more or less all the time we stayed. There was fifteen of our squad [and] everyone had it. The city is so miserably filthy. I think it is the principal cause of its unhealthiness. This camp reminds me more of Ohio that any place I have seen in the South yet. The timber is nearly the same as that of Preble county.
Col’s [Augustus C.] Parry, [John] Wallace, Capt. [Joseph E.] Pinkerton and four or five other captains and lieutenants started home on furlough today. Col. Wallace is to report at Camp Dennison to bring out some drafted men. I suppose I am staying in Col. Wallace’s tent while he is gone. I have everything my own way. All of Co. D are well They stood the march to Jackson remarkably well. [Samuel L.] Hockersmith is fattening up again. He was not very well during the siege.
Mr. [Augustus] Troth is in the signal corps now. They are quartered in Vicksburg now. I don’t want to make you uneasy but if he can stay there without getting sick, he will do more than anyone I know of yet. But my sheet is nearly full so that I have scarcely room to say that hoping to hear from you soon, I remain as ever your cousin, Mc
Spared & Shared 23 