11th Ohio Infantry | Spared & Shared 23

The following letter was written by Jared E. Gates (1832-1911) of Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio. In the 1860 US Census, 28 year-old Jared was the oldest of several siblings by that name living in the Salem household of 48 year-old Lydia Minsor. Ohio Marriage records inform us that Lydia Gates married, William Henry Minsor in 1845—presumably her second marriage. At that time, Jared was employed as a “confectioner.”

Jared was one of the first to join Co. C, 11th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) and was mustered in on 1 July 1861. He mustered out three years later on 21 June 1864. Jared must have been home on furlough in January 1863 for it was on 9 January 1863 that he and Esther (“Hetty”) W. Hart (1834-1915) were married in Columbiana county. Jared lived his last thirty years in McKean county, Pennsylvania.

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Chattanooga Tennessee
January 27th 1864

Mrs. E. W. Gates,

Dear Hetty, I am well and trust this may find you also well. Have had no letter from you [for] some days past but likely I may hear from you next mail. I have sent 2 letters a week for a while back. There is very fine weather here at present but news are scarce. Everything remains quiet at this post. The railroad to Knoxville is being pushed to an early completion. Deserters still continue to pour in. There is every prospect of an early and vigorous campaign in front of this line—that is, I mean the line of the Tennessee. It may be that the storm will burst forth at Knoxville. The Rebels are evidently about to make a desperate effort to retrieve their fortunes in this section of the country and Uncle Sam is making preparations to receive them in a style becoming their chivalry and prestige.

The weather is very warm—so warm today that a blouse feels uncomfortable. I am in hopes that before it gets very hot we shall be on our way north. Our time is said to be out April 20th. If so, we shall be just in time to escape the hot season. Will finish this tomorrow. In the meantime, there might arrive a letter (for the undersigned) with news from home.

Well the night has passed pleasantly away. The train from Nashville came in just after retreat but it brought no letter for J. E. G. There is no news. Some ladies (southward bound) were searched at the Provost Marshal’s the other day. Various contraband articles were brought to light among which were some 30 revolvers nicely concealed in a bed tick. These ladies were sent on their way to Dixie with a lighter load than they had intended to take. They were the hardest set of women I ever saw.

Well, I will have to close this important letter for want of something to say—that is, something that would interest you. The days are all alike here. What is done today, will be done every day this summer. But I must close hoping soon to hear from you. I remain your loving husband.

Respects to all, — J. E. Gates

Who it may concern and who still remember—J. E. Gates

Send some paper and envelopes by mail if you please and I oblige, Jared E. Gates, Co. C, 11th O. V. I., Chattanooga, Tennessee

1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland

The following letter was written by Thomas F. Bragg (1840-1919) to his widowed mother, Elizabeth (Poage) Bragg (1814-Aft1904). In the 1860 US Census, Thomas was enumerated in his mother’s household in Union City, Randolph county, Indiana, where he worked as a Daguerre Artist. He is listed (“T. F. Bragg”) in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry as “ambrotypes and photographs” in Union City, Ohio, 1860.

Census records inform us that Thomas was actually born in Hancock county, Indiana. His deceased father’s name was Jackson Bragg (1811-1849).

Thomas enlisted on 23 April 1861 at Union City to serve 3 months in Co. I, 11th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He was discharged at Columbus on 30 August 1861 at the end of his term of enlistment. Later in the war, he was drafted into Co. D, 27th Indiana Infantry and was discharged on 17 May 1865 after 16 months service.

In October 1904, Thomas was admitted into the Home for Disabled Soldiers at Indianapolis and was discharged on 29 March 1905. Admission records inform us that Thomas never married. That at age 65 he stood 5 feet 4 inches tall, had gray hair and dark eyes, that he was a Protestant and that he had been working as a real estate agent in Indianapolis.

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*Addressed to Mrs. E. Bragg, Union City, Indiana*

Bellaire, Ohio
July 16th 1861

Dear Mother,

This day affords me the pleasure of once more communicating a few words with you by way of the pen. I learn from your last letter that you have not received all my letters dated since our arrival here. However, you may be well contented as we are enjoying good health and the pleasures of life exceedingly.

Well, this is no doubt the last week that we shall be in camp, our time being up Saturday. We shall as I before stated, return home at the close of our enlistment. I have thought something of calling at Uncle Samuel’s as we will pass near there. I have a desire to know what has been the matter with him for the last three months—why he has failed to comply with my several letters. I hope he has not turned traitor to his country.

We have had since our arrival here the pleasure of seeing many of our acquaintances from different parts of the country as this is the main crossing for those passing to and from the seat of war. We saw this morning several men from Capt. Stone’s Regiment stating that they were quartered at Buchanan, Va. and have been completely surrounded by the rebel forces. This we doubt from the fact that we hear so many rumors from that part of the country. We have almost come to the conclusion here to believe nothing we hear which gives us but little satisfaction to write anymore to our friends at home.

I shall not write to you any more unless something should turn up that might delay us a few days. You may look for us soon. Having nothing of an interesting nature to write, I close by giving my compliments to all the friends at home. I remain as ever, — T. F. Bragg