The following letter was written by Benjamin Franklin Welker (1836-1911) of New Albany, Floyd county, Indiana, who enlisted in Co. C, 23rd Indiana Infantry on 27 July 1861 and served until 23 July 1865. Ben was the son of Daniel Welker (1787-1860) and Nancy Ragan (1791-1853)—both parents deceased before the Civil War began. In 1867, Ben married Mary Augusta Bruder (1847-1919).

A history of the regiment, written by Lt. Shadrack K. Hooper, claimed that “there were few regiments in the War of the Rebellion whose service was more continuous, more constantly at the front, more frequently on the firing line, than that of the 23rd Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. During its four years of service, lacking but six days, it was continuously in the field, and it is questionable whether there was any regiment whose campaign was more extensive or covered so vast a territory as that of the 23rd, when it is considered that in leaving its rendezvous at New Albany, Indiana, for the field, it marche west and during the succeeding four years accomplished a complete circle of fully 3,000 miles, returning home from the east, and at no time retracing its steps except in detours from its great circular journey, and that during its period of service it participated in practically all the campaigns of the armies of Generals Grant and Sherman.”

Ben wrote his letter from the battle lines in the rear of Vicksburg in mid-June 1863. The marker of the 23rd Indiana Infantry is located on Union Avenue 200 yards north of the Shirley House. During the Vicksburg Campaign, the regiment fought at Port Gibson and Raymond, making a notable charge at Raymond where it lost a third of its engaged men but captured prisoners. The 23rd Indiana was also present at Champion’s Hill and participated in the attack and capture of Jackson, Mississippi. At the siege of Vicksburg, the regiment was in the front line and lost 55 men killed and wounded. They were called upon with the 45th Illinois to storm Fort Hill after the explosion of the mine on 25 June 1863 in front of Vicksburg (see image below).

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Camp in battle line in the rear of Vicksburg
State of Mississippi
June 19th 1863

Dear Sister,

I will again try to write you a few more lines to inform you how I am getting along, &c.

As regards my wounds, I have nearly recovered from their effects with the exception of a cough and spitting of blood which that shell wound in my breast occasioned. But the doctor still things he can cure me without much trouble. I am back with the regiment again but I have no company duty to perform. I have been assigned to the post office department and all I have to do is to take charge of the mail which is very light duty. But still I have the privilege of fighting if I wish to which I am going to do on all occasions.

I am a little like old Parson Brownlow—I intend to fight the rebs till hell freezes over and then fight them on the ice. But don’t judge from this that I am becoming an Abolitionist—far from it, I assure you. But I am for the Constitution and the Union.

We have been fighting them here for thirty-one days. I think the rebs are about out of grub. No doubt but they would like to get away from here but there is no chance for them to get out. Old Pemberton will have to make an unconditional surrender of everything. I don’t wonder at them for fighting as long as they can. But I will leave this subject for the present as I suppose you hear the news in the papers.

The weather is so miserable warm that I can hardly stand it. I fear it is going to be very sickly after a while but still our boys have their health very well so far. While I am writing, the bomb shells are whistling over my head. We are only about two hundred yards from the enemy’s batteries. We have holes dug in the side of the hills to run in under ground so when we are out and the bum [bomb] shells come flying at us, we strike for our holes in the ground.

But I must draw to a close. I want you to send me fifty postage stamps. I have to keep them in the post office here and I can’t always get them here. I don’t like to trouble you but still I would like to have them if you will please send them. I received all that you sent before.

I will now close by saying write soon and often and give me the news in full. My compliments to David and all other relations and friends in general. Write, write, write. Your brother, — Ben F. Welker