The following letter was written by Henry H. Joslin (1843-1909) who enlisted at the age of 17 in Co. C, 55th Illinois Infantry. When he enlisted, he was described as a 5′ 11″ blue-eyed, light haired, farmer from Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois. He reenlisted as a veteran in February 1864 and was discharged for disability on 30 June 1865.
Henry was the son of George Henry Joslin (1819-1881) and Eunice A. Olmstead (1822-1881). The family was enumerated in Harrison township, Winnebago county, Illinois in the 1860 US Census.
Henry wrote his letter from Camp Douglas near Chicago in December 1861 where the regiment was organized and drilled. Most of the members were recruited from Northern Illinois counties such as LaSalle, Fulton, Grundy, Ogle, Winnebago, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, McDonough, Carroll, and Knox. Some of the early enlistees even helped build Camp Douglas. Because they were ill equipped, they did not participate in the taking of Forts Donelson and Henry. They saw their first action at the Battle of Shiloh.
Transcription
Camp Douglas [near Chicago] December 6th 1861
Friend Edgar,
Having a little time to spare and Mr. Anthony was coming to Davis, I thought I would write you a few lines to let you [know] what kind of a time I have here. I have all the fun that I can. We dance every night. When we are not a dancing, we are reading or listening to somebody else. There is a paper bought every night and morning and somebody reading it out loud so that we [are] well supplied with war news.
We have to drill twice a day in the forenoon. We have battalion drill when the whole regiment has to go out. My turn to stand guard comes once in two weeks. The Lead Mine Regiment from Galena 1 came into camp here last Saturday afternoon. They are a fine-looking lot of men. There is about six or seven thousand men here in all; one regiment of cavalry and one of artillery, and the rest is infantry.
I have not heard from home for about two weeks. The family were all well then. I enjoy myself much better than I expected to when I started from home. I have made a bad mistake and wrote on the wrong page. I will have to close now. When I write again, I will try and do better.
We expected to leave here tomorrow but that need make no difference about your writing to me. I do not know your post office address. When you write, please to put in your letter. Give my respects to your father and mother and write as son as you can.
Yours truly, — Henry H. Joslin
Direct to Douglas Brigade, 2nd Regiment, 55th Regiment Illinois Vol., Chicago, Illinois, Box 5815 until you hear from me again. Then we shall be in St. Louis.
1 The “Washburn Lead Mine Regiment” from Galena, Illinois, was the nickname given the 45th Illinois Infantry. In November 1861, the seven companies that had formed were armed with short Enfield Rifles and moved to Camp Douglas, in Chicago, where they were joined by companies from other parts of the state to form a full regiment of ten companies. Jasper A. Maltby a Galena gunsmith, who had served in the Mexican War, was selected as Lt. Colonel to replace the former Lt. Colonel, who had resigned. Melancthon Smith, the postmaster of Rockford, Illinois became the regiment’s major. After the regiment was mustered into U.S. service on December 25, 1861, they were sent to Cairo, Illinois on January 12, 1862.
The following letters were written by Thomas Goakey (1844-1883) who enlisted in Co. C, 55th Illinois Infantry, on 5 January 1864. According to his military record, Thomas was wounded in the fighting near Atlanta, Georgia, on 3 August 1864 but recovered and joined his regiment at Goldsboro, North Carolina. He mustered out of the regiment at Little Rock, Arkansas, on 14 August 1865.
Thomas was the son of Justin Goakey (1783-1871) and Mary Eliza Hudson (1815-1887) of Harrison, Winnebago county, Illinois.
Letter 1
March 17, 1864
My dear Sister,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present and hope these few lines will find you enjoying the same health at present.
Josephine, I will tell you what happened between here and Nashville. The train was captured at Murfreesboro and it was burnt up as we learn here. Gus is well and Henry too and all the other boys.
I received your letter March the 5th. No more at present. From Thomas Goakey
So goodbye. I send my best respects to all enquiring friends.
Letter 2
Dallas, Georgia May 31, 1864
Dear Brother,
I take the opportunity to write you a few lines today to let you know that I am well at present and hoping these few lines will find you the same as it leaves me at present.
Oh Joe, they have been very heavy fighting here day before yesterday and night before last. The rebels charged on our works and they were nicely piled up here them for they were cut down like grass with a scythe and the soon scaddle [skedaddle] back on double quick times.
Joe, I got your letter May 15th. I was at Snakes Gap near Resaca, Georgia, about four or five miles from the battlefield and I am today about two miles in the rear guarding the Division trains. Oh, Joe, they is heavy skirmishing today.
Joe, tell Mother and Father that I am well and rugged. Never had better health in my life than I have now.
No more at present. From Thomas Goakey
Do goodbye for this time.
Letter 3
Big Shanty, Georgia June 14, 1864
Dear Mother,
I take my pen in hand to address you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope these few lines will find you in the same [health] as it leaves me at present time.
Mother, I have got two letters from home since the Seventeen of April and I don’t see what is the matter—the mail, or [un]less there is no one to home to write to us down here, or what is the matter with it. Mother, are you all dead or all alive? I am sure that I don’t know what is the matter with you and the rest of the folks for I am one of the boys.
Mother, how does Joe and Elic get along with the work and how [do] the crops look? And how does Old Irish Settlement get along this season? Are they quiet yet, or not?
So goodbye for this time. No more. From your son, — Thomas Goakey
I send my respects to all enquiring friends. Direct your letters to Thomas Goakey, Co. C, 55th Regt. Illinois Infantry, 2nd Division, 1st Brigade, 15th Army Corps
Letter 4
January 1st 1865
Dear Father,
Sir, it is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to let you know how I am at present and hope these few lines will find you the same as it leaves me, Father, I have not seen Gus yet but I hope that I will see him before long in nothing happens before long, and I think they won’t for there is a fair prospect to go to the boys before long. And if they is, I think that I will start for them soon as I can get out of this God forsaken hole for this place is th last place that God ever made for it is the crumbs of the leaving of the rest for it is in the valley of the valleys. No more at present.
January 6th, 1865
My dear father, I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am in the hospital at present and I am about as well as I was when I left you the last time at home. Father, I just have signed the pay roll this morning for two months pay and as soon as I get it I will send some of it to you by Express and if you need it, you can use it as soon as you get it for anything.
Father, I have not done a bit of duty since I left home on the 15th day of November. I have fared hard since I left home this last time for the road was cut and we fare slim for awhile. But now we are faring very well at present for we have all that we want to hear here now.
So no more at present. From your son, — Thomas Goakey
So goodbye for this time.
Letter 5
Goldsboro, North Carolina March 29, 1865
Dear Father,
It is with pleasure that I find myself seated down to write you a few lines. Mother, I am well at present and hope that these few lines will find you the same as it leaves me at this time. I received your kind and welcome letter Sunday the 26th day of March with two dollars in it and was glad to get it. I have received a letter from Josephine and one from Elic and was very glad to hear from them.
Mother, give me the reason why you don’t want me to write to them or less it is on the sly. If that is the matter, I want to know it so that I can write and give them another address so their man won’t find it out for a bit longer who it is.
Mother I have seen Gus and he is well at present and he says that he had a good time on the march through Georgia and South and North Carolina and that is enough. Tell Mary that she can’t expect much of a letter from me at this time so she will not feel bad for I have not got time to write to all of them at once. I send [my] best respects to all inquiring friends. So goodbye.
No more at present. From your son, — Thomas Goakey
To his mother, Eliza Goakey
Direct your letter to the company and regiment.
Letter 6
Camp near Richmond, Va. May 11, 1865
Dear Mother,
It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to write to you once more and to let you know that I am well at present and hope these few lines will find you the same as it leaves me at this time. Gus is well too and we expect to start for Washington City in a day or two and we don’t know how long we will stay there. We are to be reviewed there and then we will muster out of the service in a few weeks and then I think we will be at home by the 4th day of July 1865.
No more at present for this time. From your son, — Thomas Goakey to his mother
So goodbye for this time.
Letter 7
Louisville, Kentucky June 10, 1865
Dear Mother,
It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to inform you how I am at this time. I have a bad cold and that is all. Gus is well too and hope that these few lines will find you the same as it leaves me at this time. Mother, we are to be paid in a few days and then I will send part of it home and keep part of it to but a few postage stamps.
I send to you so you and the rest can write once or twice a week for you must not think that we are going home tight off for we can’t so that little thing when we are a mind to.
I must bring my letter to a close by saying write soon as you get this. From your son, — Thomas Goakey
To his mother, Eliza Goakey. Direct to Louisville, Ky.
I could not find an image of Gus but here is a CDV of Henry Joslin who also served in Co. C, 55th Illinois Infantry (Austin Sundtrom Collection)
The following letters were written by Augustus (“Gus”) C. Goakey (1838-1911), the son of Justin Goakey (1783-1871) and Mary Eliza Hudson (1815-1887) of Burritt township, Winnebago county, Illinois.
Augustus was mustered into Co. C, 55th Illinois Infantry in October 1861. At the time of his enlistment he was described as a 5′ 8″ tall, black-haired, black-eyed, 23 year-old farmer. He mustered out on 24 August 1865.
Gus’ obituary states that he was in “some of the notable engagement and most hotly contested battles” in the Civil War. “He was for 120 consecutive days under the fire of the enemy, all of which is recorded on his discharge” papers. “He joined Sherman’s ranks at the beginning of the eventful campaign…and remained with him until the army was mustered out at Washington D. C.
[Note: These letters are from the personal collection of Austin Sundstrom are were transcribed and published on Spared & Shred by express consent.]
Letter 1
Memphis, Tennessee August 5th 1862
Ever remembered Mother,
Once more I take time to write a few lines to you to let you know where I am. Well, I am in the army yet and in Memphis—that stronghold of the rebels. But it did not prove so strong as they thought it would at that time. I am well as can be expected after our long & wearied marches. I got somewhat wore out then but am getting better fast now. It is pretty hot weather here but we do not have much to do here for for the Niggers do all the work on the fort and let the soldiers rest & recruit up. There is no special news to write this time.
Tell Jule that job of Riley’s was to her two hundred dollars.
The fruit down here is ripe and fit to eat so we get all we can eat of the fruit.
The reason why I did not write any sooner was because we was on the march all the time & could not mail a letter if I did write. The regiment is more healthier than it was two months ago.
Give my best respects to all the folks. Write soon. Direct your letters to Memphis.
— Augustus Goakey
Letter 2
Camp Opposite Vicksburg February 21, 1863
Dear Mother,
I now take the opportunity of letting you know that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing of life.
I received your kind letter last Tuesday and was very much pleased to hear from you. I was pleased to hear your health was so good. If I was at hom now I would change someway or another so that we could get along better. It comes very hard to me to hear in almost every letter that I get to hear that you have so much fuss with Jule. I may get home some day or another to settle all this trouble.
Tell Thomas to do the best he can. Tell the whole three of the boys to stick together as brothers should so and not be fighting and quarreling all the time. I thought that I had a brother once but now he is worse than a stranger to me. And tell Tom and the rest not to serve one another in this way. Tell them all—Jule with the rest—that they will not get mad over what money I send home hereafter.
If you can get some postage stamps handy, send me some for they are very scarce down here.
It has been very bad weather here for the last two weeks. It rains nearly all the time. No more at present. Write soon. I remain your son, — Augustus
Letter 3
Goldsboro, Ga. [should be North Carolina] April [?] 1865
My dear beloved Mother,
With pleasure I take this present occasion of addressing you these few lines to inform you that I am well at this present time. Still hoping that these few lines may find you enjoying the same good blessing.
I received a letter from you a few days ago. I was glad to hear from you. I have not had the opportunity to write sooner.
We left Beaufort on the 27th of January. We had quite a difficult march through swamps and [ ]. We had to fight the enemy in a great many places. We are now at Goldsboro, N. C. You will think that the enemy are very strong but they are not. You have a great many conflicting reports from Richmond. I think that when we make two more marches, this war will be over. I don’t think that our troubles will last long. O am in hopes that I will be home in 2 or 3 months. If not in that time, I will in two years.
I got a letter from my brother Joseph. He is at Memphis, Tennessee. He was well at the time.
Jones is now with me. It is a great comfort to me to be with him. He is well and hearty. Charles was here to see me since we was here. He is well. I will write to my sister and I’ll see if she will answer it. You will please send me 50 cents postage stamps. If I don’t write often, I have not forgotten the dear ones I left behind me when I come in the army.
I will close for the present. I still remain your true and affectionate son, — Gust Goakey
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