The following letter was written by Walworth Delavan Porter (1839-1924) of Co. F, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry. His obituary, found in the Baraboo New Republic on 29 October 1924, informs us that he was born in LaGrange, Walworth county, Wisconsin on 11 January 1839. His parents were Horatio Nelson Porter (1811-1852) and Harriet Newell Nay. His father purchased land in Lagrange in 1831 and farmed there until 1848 when the family moved to Baraboo in Sauk County. Muster rolls reveal that Walworth enlisted on 1 March 1862. He was taken prisoner on 15 September 1862 and mustered out of the service after three years on 3 March 1865.

[Editor’s Note: My thanks to Abbey Weber Jones for preparing the first draft of this transcription.]

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

Camp Benton, St. Louis, Missouri
May 5, 1862

Brother Sam,

Having an opportunity to send a few lines by Lieut. Asa Wood I thought I would do so by improving a brief space of time previous to going on dress parade. I wrote to you a few days ago and I think stated about leaving soon. Well, we have not gone as yet, but will probably get off by tomorrow forenoon. We have had some unpleasant weather since coming here. Also many of the boys have been sick on account of the miserable water that is used. I have had a severe cold of late and am now nearly laid out but am bound to stand the storm if possible. Asa is going down after the body of Charlie Brier ¹ who has recently died from a wound at [the] Pittsburg [Landing] fight. I am afraid Lieut. Wood thinks of leaving us by appearances. I think a great deal of him and would be sorry to have him leave.

I think there will be some trouble in our company among the officers before long. You may have heard of [brother] Charlie’s being promoted to Second Lieut.

There is but one Reg. on the ground at the present—that is the Second Wisconsin Cavalry. It is astonishing how many troops has left here within the past month, most of which were going to Pittsburg. What has become of Geo. Van? Tell him he must not expect to hear from this chicken again until he answers my letter.

One of Armstrong’s Co. who has been sick here in the Hospital rec’d a letter from Al yesterday. Al’s health has been miserable since landing at Pittsburg because of the water. Al states of [there] being two hundred troops now at that place.

Should we be sent out on the plains, I think our chance for staying three years is good. It is likely we may stay considerable time at Leavenworth. It is supposed there will be no use for us should there be another fight like the one which came off at Pittsburg.

When you write, give me the particulars in general. What do you [do] with those livestock when you have to abide by the law of not letting cattle and hogs run the streets; which I think a good law. As the bugle is blowing for parade, I will close. Give my respects to all friends and oblige

Your brother, W. D. P

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¹ Private Charles Augustus Brier of the 14th Wisconsin reached Mound City with a severe gunshot wound to the knee. Pneumonia soon followed, killing the 18-year-old from Webster’s Prairie on April 26. “[W]e look around and behold a lovely family circle broken — a father in tears, a mother in anguish, brother and sisters bowed in sorrow and sadness,” William Thompson, a Baraboo, Wisconsin, businessman, wrote about Brier in a letter published in the local paper. Reflecting on the private’s death, Thomson added: “Who then shall be held responsible for the sacrifice of the thousands of our young men, who have gone forth in the hour of our country’s peril, to save us and our posterity from the otherwise fearful doom which awaits us? But the record has been made! Thus fell Charles Brier, of Baraboo, Wis., at the battle of Shiloh, in the 19th year of his age; and died at the Mound City Hospital, April 26, 1862.” [Source: A Flood of Memories: How rising water imperiled Shiloh wounded.]