The following letter was written by Basil H. Maxwell (1837-1916) of Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, who enlisted on 13 August 1862 as a private in Co. E, 52nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) He served three years, mustering out on 3 June 1865.

Basil was the son of William and Sophia (Dural) Maxwell. He did not marry until 1872 when he took Emily Catherine Urquhart (1847-1899) as his wife.

The 52nd Ohio was commanded by Col. Daniel McCook. They began their training at Columbus but completed it at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati. They were mustered into service on 23 August 1862, the day before this letter was penned. Two days later they were marched to Cincinnati and crossed the Ohio River to Covington, Kentucky, where the command boarded railroad cars for Lexington, Kentucky. They were there assigned to the 36th Brigade, 11th Division, Army of Ohio. Their first engagement was in the Battle of Perryville on 8 October 1862.

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

[Camp Dennison, Ohio]
August 24, 1862

Dear Friend,

I again take the privilege of addressing you a few lines to let you know how I like the look of things by this time. Well as it regards camping, I like it very well. But when it comes to stand guard, I don’t think it is so nice as sitting in the parlor beside of a nice little woman like I have seen not long ago. I think I can tell about the time the moon gets up now without an almanac.

Well, Mattie, this is Sunday and it is awful to think how men that has been born and raised in a civilized nation will carry on ,swear and dance, and do everything that is unbecoming for a civil man to be guilty of. Well this [is] a gay place and gay people here. The women are no ways backward. They just walk past the guard as though they had a right to. But you know that the women are as independent as a hog on ice.

If you was here and could see this camp (which you could), I know you would say it was the grandest thing you ever saw. It is a beautiful place most assuredly. Well, there was a man got on a drunk and went to a little town below the camp and got a gun and broke in a drug store through the window and played thunder. Col. [Daniel] McCook ordered the guard to take him so they went down, brought him up, and the Colonel said that he would have to walk around the pump for five days with a guard around him and I tell you, the Colonel made things go just as he says.

We are uniformed and equip[ped] and we have as much harness on us as would harness two horses. If we ever get back, we will be good to peddle table cloths or pack salt. Well, I sent you a few lines by Hastings and I suppose you got them. I wish you could just see Miller and I. You would laugh I know for my pants are big enough for Old Jimmy Anderson and the legs are wide enough for wool sacks. The balance of our suit does very well. We have tolerable good grub but no variety.

Well, I want you to write to me as soon as you can and give me every particular and tell me what has been going on since we left and what is the prospect for volunteers. So nothing more at this time but remain as ever your true friend, — B. H. Maxwell

to Mattie M. [ ]

Don’t let any person read this letter if you please.