The following letter was written by Perry Runyan (1822-1891), the son of Peter R. Runyan (1787-1871) and Mary Crum (1791-1857). Perry was married to Juliana Sears in 1845 and was living in Hagerstown, Indiana, when he enlisted in Co. I, 57th Indiana Infantry. The regiment was mustered in November, 1861, in Richmond, organized in Indianapolis, and sent to Louisville where it was placed under General Buell’s command and assigned to the 6th Division of the Army of the Ohio.

The 57th was stationed in Bardstown, Lebanon, and Munfordsville, Kentucky, before marching to Nashville, Tennessee in March, 1862. Although the regiment was not engaged in any battles at this time, it suffered a number of casualties from the severe winter of 1861-1862. In April, 1862, the 57th was ordered to Shiloh and saw action near the end of the battle. The regiment also was active in the siege of Corinth and was afterward ordered to northern Alabama where this letter was penned.

Transcription

Tuscumbia, Franklin county, Alabama
June 15, 1862

Dear companion,

I take this time and opportunity to inform you that I am alive and well with the exception of my back but I hope that these few lines will find you all enjoying good health. I received another letter from you last week but I hant had time to write to you since until now. I hant been able to do anything for two weeks on the account of my back and I have done my washing today and my back hurts me very bad now.

We have been on a march for five days but now we are camped at this time in Alabama on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad but expect that we will go on east in a day or two.

It is very hot here now and there is more corn growing here in this state than ever I seen in one state in my life. Their wheat is all cut that they have but it is not worth much. There is plenty of corn here that is higher than my head and some that ain’t more than four inches high. Onions is plenty here but if we get any of them we have to pay about 5 cents apiece for them.

You wanted to know if we have plenty to eat. There was one time that the men were suffering. That was right away after the Battle at Shiloh and then there was plenty at the river but the teams had not got there nor did not get there for 10 days after the battle and in that time they had to carry their grub out from the river on their back. But as a common thing, we have plenty to eat—such as it is. We have plenty of old sow, crackers for bread, and coffee three times a day. And rice and beans and sometimes we draw fresh beef. We very often get a little flour and I can keep myself in cakes by mixing it up for the boys. I have got enough to draw me two or three weeks.

The sun is so hot that I sweat so that I can’t hardly write, but now I have drawed my shirt to it now and I think I can stand it now. I want you to write as soon as you get this letter and I wish that you would send me that gentleman’s name that thinks that I am better off in the army and if I get home, I will remember him. you tell me to keep old Gobaden [?] here but I think it will be hard to keep him where he never has been. I haven’t see him since we left Nashville and I don’t expect to see him now.

I’ll put one dollar in this letter and if you get this, write soon. So no more at present but still remain your affectionate husband until death. Direct your letters to Louisville to be forwarded to the 57th Regiment Indiana Volunteers. — Perry Runyan

to Juliana Runyan