The following letters were written by John C. Redline, a 19 year-old mason from Columbia county, Pennsylvania, who enlisted in Co. E, 15th US Regular Infantry, on 22 September 1862. He died of chronic diarrhea at Chattanooga, Tennessee on 17 January 1864.

The 15th Regular Infantry was activated during the Civil War on 3 May 1861 by General Order No. 33. It was one of nine new Regular Army regiments, numbered 11 through 19, which were organized into three 8 company battalions. The battalions often operated independently of each other.

Its headquarters first in Wheeling, West Virginia then Cleveland, Ohio, then on to Newport Barracks, Kentucky and finally ending up in Fort Adams, Rhode Island in September 1862. Fort Adams served as the regiment’s training depot were new recruits were trained and organized into companies before being sent to the front lines.

Letter 1

Fort Adams, Rhode Island
January 18th 1863

Dear sister,

I take the pleasure to write a few lines to you to tell you how I am getting along. I am well at present and hope that these few lines may find you the same. I expect you are going to school as usual. I would like to see you and all the rest of you. Now, Catharine, take care and don’t let those boys squeeze you so. Tell Mary and Daniel to take care of David and Lise. I want you to write and tell me who is the best speller.

I would [like] to be home a while and go to school but I think I will never go to [school] any more for a while to come. I guess Dad can’t call me a hand any more nor dusty devil either. He won’t boss me very soon again. I will send him 10 or 15 dollars and the rest I will keep for my own use. I earn it and I will spend it to my own pleasure. You can tell him not to write to the Secretary of War for it is of no use. There is two men here now trying to get theirselves out of the army. There was one man got his sorry out of this regiment but he had to pay one thousand dollars to the government. I am better [off] here than at home for here I don’t get scolded and at home I do. I have only two years and eight months to stay yet and then I will come home if I don’t get killed.

The dogs of war is only coming. We look every day for orders to leave and go to Kentucky at Fort Columbus. The war news [is] very interesting. now to us. There was two ships loaded with sick and wounded came here day before yesterday. I seen the new monitor the other day from Boston and was going to Fortress Monroe. It only runs 15 inches above water an carries two guns.

Tell Mother that I am well and hearty. I am getting fat. I only weigh 158 lbs. now and before two moths more, I will weigh 165, I bet a quarter.

There is snow here yet. The sea surf is very high today. I send my best respects to [ ] and Lib. I have no more to say at present so I must close. Write soon as you. get this letter. Your affectionate brother, — John C. Redline

to Catherine redline.

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Letter 2

Fort Adams, Rhode Island
Headquarters of the 15th United States Infantry
May the 20 1863

Dear Father,

I received your kind letter the 11th of May and I never took time to answer it until this morning. I am well and hope that these few lines may find you the same. You said that Catharine was sick. I hope she is well by this time. The reason that I did not write sooner for we had orders to leave and that is the reason that I did not write sooner. But I guess we will not leave now until fall. We have a new Colonel now. His name is Oliver L. Shephard. He is a better colonel than the other one [Fitz John Porter] was.

What is the reason that when you write that you never mention anything about James. You. said that Jolene worked good since I was gone. I guess I will come home next winter—that is, if I can get a furlough, and I think that I can. At least I will try for one anyhow. I got a letter from Jess Hanover the other day and he said that you was all well and them too.

We had a gay time last Tuesday. We was all over town to inaugurate a governor of Rhode Island.

I would like to know where you planted corn this year and where are you going to plant some buckwheat this summer and how much are you going to sow. I would like to know how much cloth you have woven yet and how does it go?

It is pretty nice weather here now—nice and warm. I am [line cut off]. You said that I should send you $13 and then you would be out of debt. I will try and send it to you when I get paid. We may be paid soon and we may not be paid before August. I don’t think that we will be paid for August and not then for all I know.

How has Aunt Mary been and is she as fat as she use to be? When I wrote before, I asked you how the peach trees are getting along. I would like to know where you are going mow this summer. How is the garden this summer? How many hens have you? I wish I had some mush and milk for supper. I had fat pork for my breakfast and beans for dinner, and will have bread and coffee for supper.

I just came in from drill and hain’t took of my belts yet. I think Fort Adams is the prettiest that ever I did see. There was a fellow shot today at Fort Trumbull for desertion.

Write soon and tell me how all the family is. From J. C. Redline

To J. S. Redline

My pen is poor.