The following letters were written by Rev. Robert  Francis Taylor (1830-1866), an 1851 graduate of Hanover College who became a licensed preacher in the Presbyterian Church with pastorates in Indiana, Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, Michigan and finally Vernon, Indiana in the 1850s. In 1860 he was supplying the pulpit in the First Presbyterian Church of Macomb, Illinois, when he resigned for health reasons and relocated to Rochester, Minnesota. In September 1862, he mustered into the 78th Illinois Infantry as its Chaplain, coaxed into the service by a Macomb parishioner. He resigned from the regiment for health reasons on July 8, 1863. He died just three years later from the tuberculosis that had plaqued him most of his life.

Robert wrote the letters to his cousin, Capt. David Taylor of Co. B, 113th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI).

Readers may also be interested in this article about Rev. Robert F. Taylor’s war-time experiences: See Rev. Taylor’s War-time Duties.

Letter 1

Vernon, Indiana
May 6th 1863

Capt. David Taylor.

Dear cousin, have been here ever since having a grand time and growing in health & vigor amazingly. My friends tell me that I am looking better than I I am wont to appear. They urge me earnestly to enjoy their hospitalities a month longer so as completely to reestablish my health. But to this I cannot consent. In fact, I propose to start back to my regiment on tomorrow.

I hope you are making like progress, and if you should recover speedily that I shall see you soon in Tennessee. I should be glad to hear from you in regard to health, prospects, projects, &c.

Will you have the kindness to see whether there are letters in the office for me, and if so to forward them superscribing them Chaplain, 78th Illinois Volunteers, Franklin, Tennessee. Had a letter from there yesterday. Sickness prevails in our regiment in a distressing degree. We have but one Captain able for duty, and regimental officers have all been sick. Your regiment doubtless shares this trouble. They have been playing the handsome in our Division in the way of surprising and capturing the whole [?] 120 in number while asleep. They have been reinforced somewhat and are fortifying extensively & feel well prepared to receive Van Dorn & company warmly. They have cut down all surrounding timber and have fortified all the hills including the old bald hill to the north.

I look for stirring news from the Rappahannock today. God grant that it may be all that we could hope for or desire. My regards to all. I will write to your mother soon.

Yours most truly, — Robert F. Taylor

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Letter 2

Headquarters 78th Illinois Infantry
Franklin, Tennessee
May 26th 1863

Capt. David Taylor,

Dear cousin, your favor of the 6th instant has just been received by way of Vernon, Indiana. Also one of later date was received some days since and the inquiries it contained replied to in a letter to your Mother.

I thank you for the interest you express in my health and situation. It would be pleasant for me to renew my visit and to sojourn with you under the shadow of your own Alhambra; and God may sometime in the course of my wanderings (I seem destined to be a wanderer) lead me that way again. If He should, of course I will stop and see you. In the meantime, may He restore you to health and vigor and to the pleasant home around which found memories cluster, and where reposes all that was mortal of your loved and lost.

Or rather, why do I say lost? Our gold is not lost when securely invested. Out intellects are not lost when unspeakably elevated and enlightened; even though the sphere of our conversations be somewhat changed. Our energies are not lost because they may have been transferred to a new class of objects. Neither are our loved ones lost because they have been removed for a time from our embrace. The whole truth or enough of it perhaps is embedded in that golden line, “Not lost, but gone before.”

Lady Huntingdon is said to have transferred a fortune to heaven in the shape of charities to the poor and contributions to the cause of human evangelization. It seems to me as much, and may hope as profitable an investment to transfer our domestic jewels to the Savior’s crown, “the olive plants,” from about our tables to the garden of the Lord. It seems to mem were I the Father of children I should rather have then in heaven than anywhere else, and especially if I could be sure of their being there as I doubt not you can in the care of your little ones.

Things here are in a state of status quoity. Extensive and formidable fortifications have been made, the timber all cut from the surrounding hills, and we think we can successfully resist an attack from five or six times our number. The enemy made a slight demonstration in front yesterday but we do not apprehend an attack. They probably are preparing to fall back and hope to keep us from pursuing by this means until their main force is out of reach.

Gen. Grant’s successes—have they not been splendid? If indeed we have not been deceived in relation to them? Thanks be to God for such tokens of His divine regard.

I shall be glad to har from yourself, wife, mother, and sisters, and all. My health is not good & fear it is declining again. I shall resign within a fortnight if I am not better. My contraband enterprise is a failure I presume. Yours most truly, — Robert F. Taylor

My letters were forwarded from Cleveland to this place & have been received.