The following letter was written by Pvt. Joseph H. Corbin (1846-1932) of Darke county, Ohio, while serving in Co. G, 44th Ohio Infantry. This regiment was organized in the fall of 1861 and spent the first winter of the war in West Virginia. They moved to Lexington, Kentucky in October 1862 and to Richmond, Kentucky, on 1 December 1862. It was while in Richmond that Joseph wrote this letter. Later in the war, in January 1864, the 44th Ohio Infantry was converted into the 8th Ohio Cavalry. Hence, Joseph finished his term of service in April 1864 in the 8th OVC

Joseph was the son of David and Margaret Corbin. In the 1880 US Census, Joseph was enumerated in Richland, Darke county, Ohio and his occupation was given as physician. His letter suggests that he must have worked in a printing office prior to his enlistment.

Joseph’s letter mentions the local newspaper office in Richmond, Kentucky. A paper was printed there prior to the Civil War called the Kentucky Weekly Messenger but shortages of paper and the ravages of war soon left them without a local paper. It appears that only a single issue of The Kentucky Rebel was printed in Richmond in September 1862 during the Confederate occupation of the town.

The reverse side of Joseph’s letter contains a sketch with no labels to indicate what it depicts. One drawing appears to be a Sibley tent perhaps. The other may represent some type of enclosure or breastworks but there are no landmarks or sense of scale.

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

Richmond, Kentucky
December 22nd, 1862

Dear Brother,

I now take the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present and am having a very good time. I am still working in the printing office. It seems natural to take off my coat and go to work. The office is in a miserable condition. It belongs to a Union man and when the rebels was here, they printed a small sheet called the Kentucky Rebel. It has been a good office once but now it is in a ruinous condition.

Well, Al, they are still fortifying this place. They have put up some splendid breastworks so that cavalry could do no injury. A shell or a cannon ball would not go through it.

Well, Al, the weather here now is not very cold. There has not been any snow since we have been here. The country is more broken here than it is at Lexington. It will not be long till this winter is over. Christmas and new Years is near at hand. Times passes swiftly. Our time of enlistment is nearly half out and I am not tired soldiering yet.

Well, Al, there is no news here ad I have nothing more to write at present. It may be that the next time I write, I will have more to write about. Well, Al, I must bring my letter to a close. Write soon. From your brother, — Joseph H. Corbin

This letter was written by Lyman Henry Wood (1840-1914), the son of David Wood (1804-1877) and Lucretia Baldwin (1815-1851) of Tompkins county, New York. He wrote the letter to his older sister, Frankes (“Frank”) Woods (b. 1836) who in 1863 still lived with her father in New York State. Just prior to his enlistment, Lyman was residing in Bath township, Greene county, Ohio, working as a carpenter.

Lyman served in Co. I, 44th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) which organized at Springfield, Ohio, in the fall of 1861. After spending the winter in West Virginia, they were ordered to Kentucky in the fall of 1862 and spent the winter near Richmond and then Danville, Kentucky, where this letter was written on 4 January 1863. One year later to the day, 4 January 1864, the regiment was changed to the 8th Ohio Cavalry.

Transcription

Camp near Danville, Kentucky
January 4th 1863

Sister Frank,

I received your letter last evening ad this dreary, rainy morning I will try and answer it. You see by the heading of this that we have moved from Richmond. I thought once that we would remain at Richmond through the winter but I begin to think winter quarters for our Brigade is played out and it suits me for winter quarters won’t end this war and I want to be at home next 5th of July if not sooner.

Yesterday the news of Murfreesboro fight came to us. If the report only turns out to be true that Gen. Rosecrans has gained a complete victory over the rebel force, I think it will have a great deal to do towards ending the rebellion.

I must tell you what a good time I had yesterday. A squad of 31 men went out to guard a forage train and while the train was loading, four of us went to a house and what do you think we saw there? “Why” three pretty little Kentuck girls. They went to work and got us a first rate dinner—the best dinner I have had since I have been in the service. After dinner we had a good chat with them and before we was ready to go, one of the boys came and told us the train was ready to start for camp so of course we had to leave though not without being invited to call again. And if it should be my luck to go with the train again, think I will accept the invite.

I suppose you had a good time during the holiday. We put our timer in at marching & building entrenchments.

I can’t think of any more to write so I will close promising to do better next time. Write soon.Your brother, — L. H. Wood