21st Kentucky Infantry | Spared & Shared 23

*A post war picture of Benjamin Milton Miller*

The following letter was written by Benjamin Milton Miller (1843-1877) while serving as a sergeant in Co. K, 21st Kentucky Infantry. Benjamin was the son of George Miller (1793-1848) and Louisa Yates (1820-1869) of Edmunton, Metcalfe county, Kentucky. He lays “claim” to a young woman named “Kate” in this letter who may very well be the woman he married in 1865, Eliza Catherine Kirkewall (1842-1929).

In his letter, Ben mentions that they have recently had an organizational change. Indeed, the 21st Kentucky had been part of the 21st Army Corps until October 1863 when they were reassigned to the 4th Army Corps.

Benjamin wrote the letter to his friend, James W. Pool (1838-1933) who was identified as a merchant clerk in 1860 in Edmunton.

Transcription

Camp on South Mountain of Walden’s Ridge
November 15th, 1863

Kind friend a old associate,

Yours of the 30th of last month came to hand a few days since. It found me in the enjoyment of good health. I was very glad to hear from you and I was somewhat surprised to hear of Ben Clark’s marrying but was not astonished to hear that S. R. W. Ried was still waiting to marry. But you said that you was still in good spirits about yourself as Ben was colder than you ever was. Well gee, it seems that there is and will be a chance for you and I both when such men as Ben and Sam could not call names until you was certain you could tell me who you thought it was.

Well gee, you said that Kate was still single. That is good news to me and I am inclined to think like you. I think if my claim is not as good, it is at least the oldest but I expect she has done away with all the claims that I have. You will do me a favor to ask her if she has not.

Gee, I’ve no news of importance to write to you. Waller and McWare [were] both well the last I heard of them. We are not allowed to leave our fort to visit each other. Tell Mama and Uncle Jack that I am well. But I must tell you of last night’s adventure. Mr. Bragg sent a cannon ball over to see us and lit in our camp. But it did not kill nor hurt any person. But tore the top off of our tent so I was busy in the forenoon to fix the top on my tent and then I thought I would write to you.

Give my best respects to A. F. Newman and Sam Scott. Tell whether or not Sam is setting to Miss Nannie Wren. Gee, I am the same old Miller yet that I was three years ago. Have my own fun with the Boys. But I must tell you that I have not drank a drop of whiskey for six months. But I take my deck [of cards] and sit down with the Yankees and ease them of their money and they swear [they] will not play poker with me. But then James Long and me will light them up with Chuckerluck [Chuck-A-Luck] ¹and Fairer Banks [“Farobank”] ². So I shall want me a piece of land when I come back to Edmunton. Gee, I hope by the next time I write to you that I can interest you and have more news to write to you. So give my love to all the Boys and girls and to all my friends.

So I will close by saying write soon. I am your friend, — B. M. Miller

P. S. Direct your letter to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps

Please tell ma how to direct her letters as we have been changed from our division since I wrote to her. — B. M. Miller

¹ Chuck-a-luck is a game of chance and as such, favors the dealer rather than the players. No skill is necessary. The person hosting the game (dealer) has a cloth marked into six spaces numbered 1-6. This “playing board” can be traced into the dirt if one did not have a cloth. Players would select their number by placing their money on the appropriate square. The dealer then rolls three dice. If the player’s number comes up on one of the dice, he wins and gets his money back. If that number comes up on two dice, the player doubled his money; if the number comes up three times, one’s winnings are tripled. The odds, however, are in the dealer’s favor, because he got all the money left that did not come up on the dice.

² The faro table was typically oval, covered with green baize, and had a cutout for the banker. A board with a standardized betting layout consisting of all cards of one suit pasted to it in numerical order, called the “layout”, was placed on top of the table. Traditionally, the suit of spades was used for the layout. Each player laid his stake on one of the 13 cards on the layout. Players could place multiple bets and could bet on multiple cards simultaneously by placing their bet between cards or on specific card edges. Players also had the choice of betting on the “high card” bar located at the top of the layout.

The following letter was written by James Hervey Edwards (1837-1899), the son of Cader King Edwards (1790-1851) and Ann Payton of Barren county, Kentucky. Family oral history has it that he was called “Honest Jim” by his peers because he lived by the law of iron-clad honesty. Two of James’ brothers are mentioned in the letter: Cephas D. Edwards (1837-1899) and Christopher “Columbus” Edwards (1842-1863), and one sister: Angelina Edwards (1828-1906). Both James and Columbus served together in Co. H, 21st Kentucky Infantry. James survived the war, Columbus did not. Columbus died of chronic diarrhea at a military hospital in McMinnville, Tennessee on 7 July 1863. James mustered out of the regiment at Huntsville, Alabama, on 23 January 1865. He was described as standing just shy of 5’10” with brown eyes and dark hair.

James wrote this letter to his brother who must have been Edward Steele Edwards (by virtue of elimination). Edward (1826-1900) was the oldest child and the head of the family after Cader’s death in 1851.

*Edward Steele Edwards and other family members in front of their Barren county family home.*

Transcription

Camp Negley near Shelbyville, Tennessee
May 26th 1862

Dear Brother,

I have the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know how I am. I am well at present and hope these lines will find you and your folks the same. I received Cephas’s letter the 24th & was glad to hear that you were all well though was sorry to hear of the misfortune in Cephas’s family and of Ben being so low. Columbus received Angelina’s letter the same day. He is still at the hospital. I have not heard from him today. The doctor has gone over there. Before I close my letter, I will know how he is. I went to see him last Friday. He looks very bad though he was going about and said he was better. The officers has been very tight on us but they are a little easier now. They roused us up last night at ten o’clock to cook two days provision and to be ready at a minute’s notice to march. We are not gone yet and we may not go at all.

I have no news to write. The papers tell you of the war affairs. Angelina wanted to know how far we are from the road. You may tell her we are in one mile of the depot in Shelbyville.

Mrs. Catherine Locke wants to know how Nute [Newton] & [William] Harrison Brooks are. You may tell her Nute is in good health and as fat as he need be but Harrison I think is not in very good health though is going about. I want you to write me when you get this letter and tell me if Mr. Pruitt has gone home yet or not. If he has, tell me how he is. Give me all the information you can from there.

I heard they had taken J. W. Edwards up for treason. Tell me if it is so. If so, what they have done with him. I wait to hear from Columbus. In case I might forget, tell all the friends when they write, not to fail to put the letter of the company on the letters for they may come to the regiment and we would never get them.

The doctor has returned. He says Columbus is going about and is gaining some strength. He keeps me uneasy all the time for fear he will throw himself back again. I think they had better discharge him for I do not believe he will be able for duty any more this year. He has never got over that spell of fever he had last winter. I wish they would let him go home. If he could be where you could see to him, he might soon recover.

There is a very strong Union sentiment for this state here. The ladies come here every day to see us on dress parade and of Sunday evenings to preaching. We are camped in a bend of Duck River on a high place in the prettiest place I ever saw a regiment stationed at. It is such a shady place, the sun scarcely strikes us the whole day.

Tell your folks to write to me. I would like to see you all. I have nothing more of importance to write. I am in hopes it will not be long till we can see each other. Be sure and write soon. Give my best respects to all who may inquire. No more at present but remain your affectionate brother, — J. H. Edwards