The following letters were written by Jonathan (“Jonty”) Balch Mann (1828-1913), the son of John Beattie Mann (1796-1881) and Albina Bloomer Balch (1797-1882) of Randolph County, Illinois. Jonathan enlisted in July 1862 to serve in Co. A, 80th Illinois Infantry. He entered as a sergeant and mustered out of the regiment in June 1865 as a sergeant.

He wrote the letters to his older brother, John Preston (“J. P.”) Mann (1822-1908), who served from 31 August 1861 to 27 October 1865 in the 5th Illinois Cavalry along with another brother, 30 year-old Calvin Anderson Mann (1833-1902). Both brothers were officers, Calvin rising to the rank of Captain of Co. K. During the seige of Vicksburg, Capt. Calvin Mann led a detachment of 40 men on a daring raid behind enemy lines that resulted in his capture. See Mann’s Raid.

In the 1850 US Census, Jonathan was enumerated in Chester, Randolph county, Illinois, laboring as a wagon maker. In 1860, he was married and farming in Randolph county. After the war, in 1870, he farmed in Salem, Dent county, Missouri. He died in Preston, Randolph county, Missouri. Jonathan’s wife was Harriet (“Hattie”) Webb (1834-1892), a native of Maine.

[Note: Recommended reading on the 5th Illinois Cavalry. See On Grant’s Front Line: The Fifth Illinois Cavalry in Mississippi by Rhonda M. Kohl, Illinois Historical Journal, Vol. 91, No. 1 (Spring, 1998), pp. 41-56 (16 pages)]

Letter 1

Camp Blue Springs near Cleveland, Tennessee
March 14th 1864

J. P. Mann,

Dear brother, your welcome letter of the 28th December has been gladly received and I now sit down to answer it. I arrived here at my regiment on the 12th inst., direct from home which place I left on the 2nd. All were well. I had a most splendid visit and you may depend I enjoyed it hugely. Was there 31 days of the prettiest weather I ever saw in February and March. I saw most of our friends. Your family were well off. They were never, ever hungry and I hope they never will be. Luther is just commencing to sell goods in Liberty [renamed Rockwood in 1865].

I found very many of our most able Generals in Randolph who daily plan the movements for our army and tis but justice to them to say that they do it well, considering they never was in the field nor I fear never will be unless drafted. My plan—if a soldier should have a plan—is to reenlist the veterans, give them a bounty, and then fill up the ranks with drafted men. Those who are for the Union would go willingly and those who are not, should be compelled to bear their portion of the hardships & dangers the loyal soldiers are now enduring for the maintenance of the best government in existence. Yes, “by the Eternal,” make them fight or leave the free land they are “so unworthy of.”

You ask if the 80th [Illinois Infantry] would not like to join the 5th [Illinois] Cavalry in a little raid upon Richmond for the express purpose of relieving our officers and men who are confined in the God forsaken place. My answer is yes—yes—yes! If such an order should come to us, there would be a shout go up from the 80th that would ring from the mountain tops of the Cumberland to the Valley of the Mississippi and I have no doubt that it would be re-echoed by the 5th [Illinois Cavalry] until it would cause rebel teeth to clatter like leaves falling in Autumn. ¹

I saw a letter Calvin directed to you and sent to Alford to mail which he did. I glory in Calvin’s grit. I always that move was injudicious. It had not enough men for an advance guard for such an undertaking.

My health is getting better & “going home helped me.” I was on drill today. Harvey Clendennon is well and in good spirits. He is commanding our company and fills his office with credit to himself and to the company.

I met with one of Clinton’s company (Douglas from Evansville) who told me Clinton fell within six feet of him. He was taken to a ditch where he had his wound dressed and was then sent to the hospital where he fell into the hands of the rebs but was afterwards sent to Chattanooga where he died after a loss of ten or more days.

I came from St. Louis to Nashville by water. Was at Liberty all night the 4th of March as the boat lay up there. I surprised the folks at your house by walking in about 8 o’clock. They were well but anxious to hear from you as they last they heard you were about to march. But I must close with many good wishes for your safe return to your most excellent wife & interesting little girls. From your affectionate brother, Jonathan

¹ Jonathan and “J. P.” Mann were interested in marching on Richmond to liberate the Union officers held in Libby Prison because one of them was their brother Capt. Calvin Anderson Mann of the 5th Illinois Cavalry who was taken prisoner (see Mann’s Raid). Calvin survived Libby Prison but transferred elsewhere and eventually escaped to return to his regiment.

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Letter 2

Headquarters 80th Regt. Ills Vol.
Huntsville, Alabama
February 28, 1865

Mr. John P. Mann,

Dear brother, your welcome letter of the 7th inst. came to hand in due time, and now I find time to reply. I was elated to hear that Calvin had “waked” up some of the sleepers, and that he had returned to his regiment. But alas, for human expectations, they seem to present themselves to the mind just to allure us on, strengthening our hopes, and brightening our anticipations, for a little season, that they may the more effectually crush us to the ground by sudden disappointment. I cannot describe my feelings on learning (as I did last night by letter) that Calvin was at home again, not that I blame him for quitting the service for he had already put in his three years and was justly entitled to a discharge, but I do think there was too much blowing for the amount of wool that has been picked. For instance, I received a note on the 6th of January, dated Nashville, Tennessee, January 4th, in which the following sentence was inscribed, “I will fight them as long as I live.” That note was signed, Capt. C. A. Mann.

Now I thought at the time that was a brand assertion. Nevertheless, I gloried in the grit. It sounded like a soldier and a patriot, both of which the writer might of justly claimed the honor of having merited, had he not penned that sentence, before he retired. Now, Preston, the time was when I rejoiced in the name of Mann. At that time I could count four brothers that were sharing the hardships and dangers of the soldier’s life, as I thought, all for the good of our common country, and all holding higher and more responsible—if not honorable—positions than the one I occupied. But now, when I look around in the ranks of our army for my brothers so brave, where do I find them? One indeed “died at his post” (peace and honor be to his name) the other three have turned their backs upon the glorious & victorious army of the Union, and that too, while our government is still calling mightily for help. Can our government stand? can we remain as a free people? can we govern ourselves as a nation in this trying hour while treason is stalking abroad throughout the land, and personal self-interest for the present time seems to be the only principle by which so many are actuated.

You seemed to be rejoicing that the end of the rebellion was so near that the bright morning of universal freedom and returning prosperity was beginning already gild[ing] the horizon of our national happiness and future greatness. I would that I could rejoice with you, but when I look around me and behold so much contention, and petty strife, even in the midst of the most peaceful circles of society, and so much vice and wickedness and immorality, I am led to doubt whether or not we ever will enjoy that peace, and prosperity, and national honor and dignity that our forefathers was permitted to enjoy after they had come through the fires of want, and persecution and oppression for a long series of years.

Liberty,
Fair Godess, hast thou flown
Far away, and will not own,
Our Country
Twas our Father’s gift to three
Then Oh! return and make it free.

Perhaps you think I am predisposed to look largely upon the dark side of the scene, but such is not the case. My delight is in the contemplation of the happiness to be derived from the privileges afforded to a good & free people, by a government founded as ours is, upon the true principles Christianity. And it is that, together with a firm reliance upon the justice of God in defending his precepts, and principles, that sustains, and upholds me in passing through the varied & trying scenes of life.

“Tis Justice, meets to all
Equal balance, great or small,
With earthly honors, are they crown’d
Or lowly, yet they, will be found.

Lieut. G. Scudmore starts for home on a 20 day leave of absence tomorrow. My health is very good. I want you to let the Copperheads alone (that is, I want you to quit wrangling with them, and convince them by your actions and general deportment that your desires are for the good of all classes of society.

Just learn to watch as well as say,
Then you’ll have peace another day.

Please write to me often and tell me how the good Union men stood up to the draft, and if it was only the Copperheads that was scared, so as to be able to run their hands down into their well lined pockets and draw out the greenbacks to hire volunteers. Bah! such men I greatly fear would run away were danger near, and leave their homes, to traitors free, thereby enacting, “Refugee.”

Now I close this with many good wishes for your future prosperity & happiness. From your affectionate brother, — Jonathan B. Mann

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Letter 3

Headquarters 80th Regt. Illinois Vols.
Greenville, Tennessee
April 6, 1865

J. P. Mann,

Dear brother, yours of the 24th ult. came to hand yesterday and found me well as usual. I was sorry to hear that affliction had befallen your family but the Lord loves them whom he chasteneth. Therefore, shall we not the more readily submit to afflictions. You seem to coincide with “everybody” in the believe that the white soldiers will all be mustered out of service in six months. I wish that I could see it in that light but I don’t. Although Gen. Grant has succeeded in taking the “ditches” around Richmond, there is yet a plenty of room for digging others, and when I hear of “everybodies” concluding that the war is about over I just think “everybody” don’t know much more about it now than they did four years ago when they were clamorous with the cry, “On to Richmond.” I just tell you, Preston, there is millions of people in the United States that don’t realize the true state of things in our government, and the eminent danger we are in by having the whole fabric of our free principles converted into the dark channels of anarchy, and ultimate ruin by those who are wrapped up in the veil of political prejudice, inexcusable ignorance, and willful selfishness.

Now Preston, I never blamed Calvin for leaving the army. I think he was right in that, but I did blame him for letting off so much gas jest before his quitting the army.. As to three years service in the 5th Cavalry, I can’t see that. Yet, I don’t doubt but they were on hand and frew big pay for three years.

Now as to “killing the Bar,” I never expect to try to do it “by stirring up Copperheads.” That my brothers feel they have done their duty, I have no doubt. Who would not in these selfish times when feeling for greenbacks is the principle criterion by which a large majority are governed. I can do no more than my duty, as a citizen and soldier of a free government. Have I done that? Ask my comrades. Your flattering compliments are a source of serious refection to me. I would not have any one to overestimate my character as a soldier or a true man. Alas! how far short we all come of filling the proper standard measure of true manliness.

As to drawing upon my imagination so strong as to suppose myself the Goliath of the “Manns,” I will only say the idea was entirely new to me when I first read it in your letter and I can only account for it by supposing it sprang from your own prolific imagination. As to somebody blowing to me out of malice or a want of sense, I will leave that to your decision as I have but a very limited correspondence and that almost entirely with my brothers and sisters. You can, therefore, readily judge of their “blowing” capabilities as well as their weight of “sense.” Now as to explaining the meaning of my former letter, it would be useless for me to do more than just say, what of it you could not understand? Let it rip, as a thing of no importance, whatever, for you know the world lives to move irrespective of what you or I could say or do. So now I close by subscribing myself your affectionate brother, — Jonathan