This letter was written by Gustavus (“Gus”) A. Stevens (1843-1864) who enlisted in Co. K of the 12th Wisconsin with his cousin, Adelbert (“Del”) V. Stevens, in September 1861. In September 1863, Gus was arrested for robbery and sentenced to ten months in prison. He later died of disease in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on 19 August 1864. I believe Gus wrote this letter to his cousin, Edward B. Stevens who served in Co. C, 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. See also—1863: Gustavus A. Stevens to Elvira Stevens published on Spared & Shared 7 in 2014.
Patriotic Letterhead used by Gus for his letter.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Camp Randall [Madison, Wisconsin] December 30th 1861
Dear Cousin,
This evening I have a few moments of leisure. I thought I would write you a line or two to let you know that I am alive yet, and expect to be for some time to come. We are about twenty of us gathered around a fire in a hole in the middle of the tent. You can imagine the chance that we have to write where there are a lot of fellows kicking around in every shape. Soldiering is a queer life! I cannot say that I dislike it or that I really like it. However, I am reasonably contented.
A. S. Sampson arrived here this evening. The most of our officers are away after deserters. I suppose it is settled that we shall get our pay from the United States within a few days. There is nothing certain about our State pay when we shall get it.
Adelbert has been quite sick for some time and has now gone home to stay until the first of Frebruary. I hope he will be all right by that time and meet us wherever we shall. be. I was up to Mr. Tullis’ last Christmas and had a pretty good time. I expect that we shall leave here the last of this week or the first of next. But I do not know as there is any more prospect of it than there has been for the last three or four weeks.
I am a little lonely sometimes on account of Adelbert being gone. I shall have to make the best of it all right. If I can’t stand it, there is no use for anyone else to try. No more at present. Yours as ever, — G. A. Stevens
This letter was written by Joshua Stevens (1842-1882), the son of Alonzo Stevens (1812-1877) and Mary Judkins (1821-1902) of Phillips, Franklin Co, Maine, who migrated to Wisconsin in the late 1840s. Joshua enlisted in Co. K, 12th Wisconsin Infantry but was discharged due to illness in mid-1862. He later enlisted in Co. K, 30th Wisconsin Infantry. He died in 1882 in Richland Co, Wisconsin. The letter is unusual as it was written on a sheet with a printing of the Co. K roster although Joshua was not included in that list for some reason. The letter describes the journey taken by the regiment from Camp Randall to the Missouri river port town of Weston, Missouri—just a few miles below and on the opposite bank from Fort Leavenworth.
The 12th Wisconsin proceeded as far as Fort Riley, Kansas, on a journey they imagined would take them as far as New Mexico, but their orders were countermanded and they returned to Leavenworth and were subsequently sent to Tennessee.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Craig Albrechtson and was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Weston, Platte county, Missouri
Transcription
Weston, Platte county, Missouri January 17th 1862
Dear Brother,
I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know where I am and what I am about. I enlisted in Captain Sylvester’s Company last Wednesday. I did not get into Madison till Tuesday about noon and enlisted the next day. Then all I had to do was fooling around about the camp. Did not drill while I was there. Our company didn’t drill from the time I got there till we left so I am rather a green hand at the business.
We left Camp Randall last Saturday tolerable late in the morning. It was rather a bad time to start as ’twas snowing all the morning. The worst of it was having to stand round after we pulled down the tents. They were taken down long before daylight and then we burnt up all the wood and everythig else that would burn was throwed onto the fire. When it was well afire and the soldiers all through the camp going in every direction, it made quite a grand scene as ’twas just light enough to see them running, kicking, boxing, yelling, and swearing.
We left Madison rather late in the morning and got to Chicago in the evening after dark. Then we had to march through town to another depot. After fooling around for some time, we got some coffee to drink and started. Had a very good ride but went very slow. Most of the way we rode in one train. Had two engines hitched on and one to go ahead to see if everything was right. The next morning after we left Chicago, we passed through some of the prettiest country I ever saw. We got to Quincy the second night and stopped there till morning. Then on account of the bridges being burnt on the other side of the river, we had to march 24 miles and had rather a hard march of it. The roads were very hard and slippry. One soldier in Company I fell and broke his leg before we had marched five miles.
Well, we got through a little before night to the [Mississippi] river and it was partly froze over so we had to stop on that side all night and it was very cold. There was a few houses to sleep in but a great many slept on ground by the fire. Some of the boys drawed chickens and several beehives. In the night, [there was] considerable drawing going on among the boys. I went to bed about ten o’clock in an old building. There was two old work benches in it and they was all covered over with soldiers. I slept in there on the ground.
In the morning at three o’clock I got up and fooled around till morning. Then, it was afternoon before we got across the river so we had to stop on that side another night at a place called Hannibal. The next morning we started on the cars and got to a place by the name of Weston where we are now, about four miles from Fort Leavenworth.
I sent my clothes to Woodstock and should like to have you get them as soon as convenient. They are in care of Wade. I sent two coats, two pairs pants, 1 hat, 1 pair mittens. I want you to get that three dollars off Stoel and pay James Kenyon 40 cents for me for half a days work he done for Lorenzo Stevens.
We shall stop here several days probably. I want to hear from you soon. Lieut. [Isaac] Walker was accidentally shot through his leg by Lieut. [Almon N.] Chandler. That was before we left Madison. Someday when you have nothing to do, you must read this. Write soon and let me hear the news. I will bid thee off, — Joshua Stevens
This letter was written by Adelbert V Stevens (1839-1919), the son of Alonzo and Mary (Judkins) Stevens. “Del” came to Wisconsin with his family from Phillips, Franklin Co, Maine. He served in Co. K, 12th Wisconsin Infantry, Co K, rising in rank to 1st Sergeant.
Del datelined his letter from Natchez, Mississippi on December 17th, 1863. It includes a lengthy description of the arrest of his cousin Gustavus Stevens who was arrested for robbery and sentenced to confinement for ten months. “Gus” did not survive the war, however. He died of disease in Vicksburg in 1864.
[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Craig Albrechtson and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Transcription
Natchez, Mississippi December 17th 1863
Dear Brother,
I take this opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am alive and well with the exception of rather a bad cold. I received a letter from you dated November 11th directed to Gustavus. I read it according to his directions and will send it to him as soon as I find out where he is. I suppose you have heard about his trouble here. I will give you a slight description of it. He went out into the country with three other men and searched a house for arms and when they came back, they were arrested by the pickets and taken to the Provost Marshal. He had charges preferred against him and was put into the jail to await trial. This was about the 14th of September. In about a month, he had his trial but was still kept in jail to await his sentence and thus it went until [he] left here and went to Vicksburg. The night that we left here, he got out and stayed around here about a week and when the 33rd Regiment came up to Vicksburg, he came with them and as soon as he got to our camp, he was put under arrest again.
The next morning we was ordered to march and they took him in to Vicksburg and turned him over to the Provost Marshal and I have not seen him since. He promised to write to me as soon as he found out where he was going to and as soon as I find out where to direct, I shall send all his letters to him. I forgot to mention that while Gus was with the regiment, his sentence came. He is to remain in confinement till the expiration of his term of enlistment and a stoppage of pay of ten dollars a month for ten months. I think that is rather rough.
I received a letter from Mother a few days ago. The folks were all well at home. She said she expected you was coming home on a furlough until she heard that you was gone. I understand that Jeff Thompson was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga. Perhaps you will get a chance to see him. He belongs to the 11th Battery Indiana Volunteers. If you see him, tell him to write to me.
Garfield Sylvester was married a few weeks ago to Miss Osbern. I believe that is the way with the most of these brave stay-at-homes. They are a little afraid to go to the war so they get up a small company of their own and then they can drill when they please. But enough of this nonsense for his time. So goodbye. Write often. Direct to Natchez, Miss. — Del Stevens
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