Though it is only signed Thomas, I feel confident this letter was written by Thomas C. Edwards (b. 1835) who served in Co. B, 8th New York Heavy Artillery. The regiment was organized at Lockport, New York as the 129th New York Volunteer Infantry and mustered on August 22, 1862, for three years service under the command of Colonel Peter Augustus Porter. Because heavy artillery regiments were needed for the defenses of Baltimore, the regiment was converted from infantry on October 3, 1862, and became the 8th New York Heavy Artillery on December 19, 1862. Companies L and M joined the regiment at Baltimore in February 1864.
Thomas C. Edwards—Age, 25 years. Enlisted, July 29, 1862, at Lockport; mustered in as corporal, Co. B, 129th Infantry, July 29, 1862 (which became the Eighth Heavy Artillery, December 19, 1862), to serve three years; promoted sergeant, April 25, 1863; quartermaster-sergeant, February 1, 1865; mustered out with company, June 5, 1865, at Munsons Hill, Va., as Thomas C. Edwards.
I have transcribed a large number of Thomas’s letters and posted them at:
Fort Federal Hill and the commanding view of the Bay and the City of Baltimore
Transcription
Addressed to Mrs. Hattie Brown, Niagara Falls, New York
Company B, 8th New York [Heavy] Artillery Fort Federal Hill Baltimore, February 23rd 1863
Friend Hattie,
I have looked for your letter for some time. Still it has not come & thinking this morning it will never reach me, I have seated myself at one of our pleasant east windows to write again that you may soon have another debt to pay, such as writing a letter to a soldier. By the way, are such debts very hard to pay? I hope you do not consider them so.
How do you do this beautiful morning? I hope you are well. Also all the friends at the Falls. Are you very busy now? I think Amanda wrote me you were washing dishes & doing housework now days, or were when she wrote. Wouldn’t you like a little help occasionally? If so, I would like to be there to help you—especially to wash dishes for I think I have made a great proficiency in that branch of housework of late. Did Amanda ever tell you how we do that work here? I think all of us soldier boys would make great housekeepers if we stay in the army our three years.
Yesterday was a very snowy cold day. The snow commenced falling very early in the morning & it continued falling until almost night & the air was so cold we were glad to keep in doors all day. The snow is six or eight inches deep this morning but the sun is shining so brightly today I think it will soon leave us. I wish you could be here a little while this morning. Do you wish so too? Well may by your work for a little time & just imagine yourself here. Our seat is just wide enough for two. My friend Charlie is sitting by my side just now but he is a very accommodating boy & will willingly give you his seat. There, he has gone already & I didn’t say a word to him. Isn’t he very good to vacate the seat for you? After all that isn’t why he left but because Sergeant Burns says he with out er boys must go out and shovel snow—that’s the reason he is so accommodating just now.
Isn’t this a pleasant place? From this window you can see the bay and hundreds of vessels & boats sailing upon its waters. Some of them more sluggishly along just as though they had plenty of time & never meant to be in a hurry, while others go shooting and puffing as though the life of someone depended upon their great speed. Now and then a little tug comes up the bay making the water all foam & wave, and it looks more as though it were flying than anything else. From here we can see Fort McHenry and away and beyond it several miles away Fort Carroll. This is not finished yet, but will be a very strong fort when it is done. It’s built out in the bay nearly equidistant from either shore. Across the bay from Fort McHenry some three miles from here we see Fort Marshall & that little long row of buildings you see just outside the fort are barracks, a portion of which were Co. B’s quarters while we were there. It is not as pleasant there as here and we hope we may not have to go back there again.
We can see nearly half of the city from here. How funny so many chimneys look peeping up above the snow covered roofs don’t they? Most of them spitting out smoke, not fire & smoke like a volcano—smoke only. The fire is beneath that snow-covered roof, warming the fingers of—do you believe it”’some secesh lady. Not all those fires are, still too many of the wreath of smoke, we see curling up so disdainfully, come from the dwelling of one who would gladly see this Union severed. Yes more, would willing help destroy it if he dare. Father of our Country, where is thy spirit on this great day of rejoicing. Ah! methinks thou wouldst harshly rebuke some of those who are now trying to sever the union thou so nobly fought for in days gone by were thou here today. I think it strange that anyone should ever think of trying to destroy such a government as this. I don’t wonder the smoke from those chimneys is glad to get out of sight so quickly. I almost wonder it doesn’t put out the eyes of any who dare call themselves secesh.
Something like a week ago, our company took some Rebel prisoners from the depot to Fort McHenry & while we were marching them through the streets of the city, we heard many words of sympathy from the brave females here. How they pitied the poor prisoners. One lady gave a hurrah for Jeff Davis & I never wanted to shoot anyone so much in my life. Would it have been wicked if I had? I don’t believe it would have been. But I must tell you how some of our boys chuckled over the kindness of these friends. Several boxes of cigars were given to one of our sergeants to distribute among the prisoners & he thinking our boys knew how to smoke as well as they, distributed most of them among us, & for several days our boys would testify to the excellency of these cigars. I might have had some too had I wished but as I don’t smoke, I don’t know how good they were so the boys tell me.
I haven’t told you the most neautiful sight here yet. It is beautiful & I wish you could see this if nothing more. It is the stars & stripes so proudly waving in the breeze which we can see all over the bay and city. Hundreds and hundreds of flags are in sight. On every boat, big or little, one may be seen, even those little row boats not large enough to carry more than half a dozen persons have the “Star Spangled Banner” proudly waving over them. Then, most of the Unionists have a flag waving over their dwelling. I hope your letter will reach me next time & that you will write soon. With much love, I am your true friend, — Thomas
As this day is kept in remembrance of Washington’s birthday, we can often on a pleasant day see many flags from this window, but never before have I seen so many as now. It is a beautiful sight to anyone who loves our “dear old flag.” Don’t you think this is a pleasant window? And do you wonder that I love to sit here? This morning each fort here fired a salute of 34 guns & I understand as many are to be fired this noon, also at night. Mr. Keef from Lockport (Augustus) was here last week. We were glad to see him as were all the friends from home. Amanda’s letter was received yesterday. Also one from Ann.
I could not find an image of John Kinder but here is a tintype of James T. Small who served in Co. D, 131st Infantry, Ohio National Guard. (Sold by the Union Drummer Boy)
The following letters were written by 34 year-old John (“Jack”) Evans Kinder (1830-1877), a miller and the Mayor of Miamisburg, Montgomery county, Ohio, when he served in the 131st Ohio National Guard during the summer of 1864. John was the son of George Kinder (1799-1862) and Eliza Schnorf (1806-1882). He married first Martha J. Reece, but after her death in 1853, he took Elizabeth Ford Clark (1832-1911) as his second wife in 1855 and together they had several children: Anna (b. 1856), Charles (b. 1859), Mary (b. 1862), Sallie (b. 1864) and Bertha (b. 1867).
The 131st ONG was mustered into the service at Camp Chase in Columbus on May 14, 1864, as an Ohio National Guard unit. It was a part of the Hundred Days Regiments commissioned by Ohio Governor John Brough as rear guard troops in an effort to free up veteran regiments for front-line combat duty in an all-out effort to seize Richmond, Virginia, and hasten the end of the war. Its commander was Col. John G. Lowe.
On May 15, 1864, authorities dispatched the 131st to Baltimore, Maryland via the Central Ohio Railroad and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Due to a washed-out bridge at Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, the 131st experienced a delay at North Mountain. Upon reaching Baltimore, the regiment spent its term of service performing garrison duty at Forts Marshall, Federal Hill, and McHenry, including during Confederate General Jubal Early’s raid on Washington, DC during early July 1864. On August 19, 1864, the 131st departed for Camp Chase, traveling via Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The regiment arrived at Camp Chase on August 21, 1864 and mustered out of service on August 25, 1864. The 131st Regiment lost two enlisted men by disease during its service, though others would succumb to complications of malaria in the years following. [Wikipedia]
John H. Patterson also served in the 131st Ohio National Guard unit. Three of his letters written on 19 July, 27 July, and 9 August, 1864, can be found at Out of the Box.
Letter 1
Camp Chase [Near Columbus, Ohio] Friday noon, May 13, 1864
Dear wife & children,
I take the present opportunity of writing to you. I am well and feel better than I have for a long time. Although we have had extra hard weather, I have not even got a cold. My appetite is like a horses. The life of a soldier agrees perfectly with me.
Our regiment is consolidated with the second, and will be the 131st. Col. [John G.] Lowe is our commander. I don’t know as yet what letter in the regiment we will be. I have not ascertained when we will leave here but it is likely we will go Saturday or Sunday as there is regiments leaving every day and 2 or 3 coming in every day. This camp is spread over twice the ground of Miamisburg. We get good rations and have plenty to eat. I have two blankets and sleep warm. I do not know where we will go to but Col. Lowe has so much political influence that he can have the pick of the places. I will write to you before we leave where you shall write to if we leave here I will send home to you some money as I have too much to carry and have no need of it.
Give my love to all, — J. E. Kinder
P. S. Tell Mrs. Miller, Miss Bell & Mrs. Lighty that their men are all well. In fact, the whole company is well. Israel Staley has a sore finger which is all the matter in the company. We have some deserters back yet in the brig which will be brought in like cattle. I saw some yesterday brought in with chains & ball to them.
J. E. K.
Letter 2
Camp Along the Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road 15 miles west of Harpers Ferry in old Virginia Thursday afternoon, 19th of May 1864
Dear Wife & children,
This being my dear little Amos’ birthday, I seat myself under a freight car and try to write to you on a cross tie but it is so ruff, I can’t do it very good.
We left Camp Chase last Sunday noon and marched into Columbus and at the Armory we got our guns. They are fine Enfield Rifles. We left Columbus Sunday evening at dark, passed Zanesville at daylight Monday morn. Got to Bellaire at noon, was ferried over the Ohio [river] and then took this road for Baltimore in the eve. We got this far yesterday morning and had to stop on account of the bridge over the Potomac at Harpers Ferry having washed away. The river was quite high. They have it almost repaired and we will leave perhaps tomorrow. There is a string of soldiers from here to the ferry. There is some twelve or fourteen regiments ahead of us and I don’t know how many behind, but it is as far as the eye can see.
We are quartered in the cars and cook outside. We are fixed up well for comfort & sleep comfortable. It is a beautiful country here—the Potomac close by us and mountains as far as the eye can see. I am very well and like it so far well. We have splendid water here.
I had quite a spell of toothache but it is now well. Took a dose of castor oil and I am now all O. K. I wish you to write to me to Baltimore as soon as you get this as we will be there. I sent you one hundred dollars from Camp Chase by Bill Lamb. If you see fit, you may pay Add Shuster or keep it yourself. His account is 105 dollars or 106. He has my note. I have plenty to carry with me.
I hope you will all keep well and trust in God for my safe return. Do the best you can and don’t deny yourself anything. The regimental officers are all acquainted with me and if I get sick or think I cannot stand it, they will let me go home. But I am now showing my will is a good as my profession. We have a splendid company of 83 men. We got some 15 from the Alexandersville company. Our rations are good. I sent my shawl home by John Bechtler from Columbus. I drew a good blanket. We get all the clothing we want. I don’t know what to write.
Anna, you will be a good girl. Charley you must be a good boy. Mary, you little dear, you must not forget your Pa. Laura you will be a good girl and mind what is told you and I will give you all nice presents when I come home. Dear wife, here is a kiss for you. I will write soon again. Yours, — J. E. Kinder
Direct your letters: J. E. Kinder, Company D, 131 Regiment, Ohio National Guard, Baltimore, Maryland
Letter 3
Fort McHenry [Baltimore, Maryland] Monday morning, May 23rd [1864]
Dearest wife & children,
I again embrace the present opportunity to write to you to let you know I am here & well. We were detained at North Mountain three days on account of the Harper’s Ferry Bridge being partly washed away. We left North Mountain Saturday at 4 p.m. and got to the Ferry just at dusk. It is one of the most romantic places I ever saw.
We got to Baltimore yesterday morning and marched out here yesterday afternoon. This is out of the city on the point in the Chesapeake Bay. The grounds inside of the outer wall is about as large as one half of Miamisburg with water nearly all around it. We are on high ground and it is very pleasant, there being a sea breeze all the time. We have a splendid view of the Bay with all its steamers & ships & boats of all kind. Also the city. The duties are guard duty, there being a good many prisoners here of all kinds. 1
I saw a Rebel hung this morning. He was a bad character and was a guerrilla up in Virginia & Maryland. His name was [Andrew] Leopold. I had a good view of it being about 30 feet from the gallows. But I will give you all the particulars when I get home.
We have good quarters here and I would like to be stationed here. I don’t know where we will be placed as there is three or four forts around here. The once across the Bay from us is Fort Marshall. Federal Hill is almost in the city. I see lots of persons I am acquainted with. The 7th Ohio National Guard from Cincinnati is here at the fort. I see Ed Stevens, John Seldon, and others. Ed is first rate. His quarters are right close to mine. Seldon is a 2nd Lieutenant.
Cincinnati illustrator Thee Jones made a drawing of scenes of life at Fort McHenry in July 1864 during the Civil War. NPS
This fort is one of the best we have. There is over a hundred cannon in it—some large enough to throw balls that I can’t lift. It is not an enclosed fort. The cannon are all outside on a kind of hill, there being two tiers.
I wrote to you from North Mountain on the 19th. When you write, let me know if you received it. If not, I will write part of the letter over as it was relative partly to business.
I am well fixed with plenty that a soldier should have to eat and can if I wish buy almost anything. The summer is further advanced here than at home. There is green peas, strawberries, &c. here in market, oysters and fish are cheaper than meat and plenty.
Baltimore is quite a city, I think bigger than Cincinnati, but being under military rule, I don’t think it is doing the business except in a military point of view. I will try and write often as we are now about fixed up. So goodbye for the present. Children be good and mind your mother.
From your dear husband and father, — John E. Kinder
Direct to Company D, 131st Regiment, Ohio National Guard, Baltimore, Md.
1 Fort McHenry was never attacked during the Civil War. Its most important role became that of a prison. The fort’s first major influx of prisoners of war came in the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, fought in the western part of Maryland. Fort McHenry soon became a much-needed space to house captured Confederate soldiers who were eventually transferred to larger facilities. Fort McHenry’s new role as a transition site for POWs was established and just about any Confederate POWs captured in the eastern theater of war would pass through the site at some point. The largest surge of captured Confederates came following the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 in which 6,957 prisoners were held at the fort at one time.
Letter 4
Fort McHenry Baltimore MD Thursday Eve, May 26th 1864
Dear Wife & Children,
I again write you a letter. This being the fourth one since I left home and as yet I have not heard from you but am looking every day for a letter. I am as yet quite well and doing first rate. We got to this place on last Sunday. I do not know how long we will be kept here but as there is several forts around Baltimore, I would not be surprised if we were kept here about our full time. The duties are garrison & guard duties. We practice on heavy artillery drill as well as Infantry. Our guard duties are at present pretty heavy. There is two or three prisons here and they contain all kinds of prisoners—some sesesh, some are deserters, and political prisoners. The Fancy Cincinnati Regiment commanded by Mayor Leen [Leonard] Harris is all here with two companies of our regiment. The other 8 companies are about two miles off; four are at Fort Federal Hill & four at Fort Marshall.
I am having easy times I think. I have been detailed by the commandants to act as Post Master for our two companies. I have to go to town every day with the mail & bring back all the mail for the boys. I am exempt from all guard and drill—in fact, I am nothing but Post Master. I have quite a walk of it, but in going I save all but one mile by taking the ferry & street cars at my own expense. I generally get my dinner in the city so I fair well. I have a pass from Gen. Morris which passes me in all the forts and get to see all the sights of the city & surroundings. I have been all over the city and up on the top of the Great Washington Monument where there is a splendid view. I will try and get a view of the city and send it to you so you can form a better idea how we are situated.
The Washington Monument in Baltimore with a splendid view of the city and harbor from the top. (Circa 1850)
We have some fine dress parades here and splendid music. Our quarters are very comfortable and clean. Philip Harmann & Philip Schwartztlrauber cook for our company. I am in the tent with Capt. [John] Rison, [Wm’] All. Mays, and Barn [Bambridge] Miller, [John] Pete Lease, George [S.] Hoff, & Nute [Newton] Catrow are next to us.
I have wrote to mother & George since I have been here. I will write to Uncle Jo and Rachel next. I will write to you again day after tomorrow on Sunday but hope to get a letter from you before then. I bought a Baltimore paper and mailed it to you this morning. I find the Eastern papers not as interesting as our Cincinnati ones and feel quite lost by not getting the Commercial. As for war news, we hear less of it than you do at home although it is all soldiering here. To tell the truth, a common soldier gets to find out very little and don’t know what he will be ordered to do or to go to ten minutes ahead. All he is required to know is to obey his officers. The company officers are just as bad off. They don’t know what they will be ordered to do.
But I must close by hoping this will find you by the blessings of God—all well and getting along satisfactory. I am gaining every day. Our company are all well and about. Tell all the enquiring friends I am well pleased with the business. Kiss the children for me and here is one for you. Yours truly, — John E. Kinder
Letter 5
Fort McHenry Baltimore, Maryland May 29th 1864
Dear Wife & Children,
Your letter of Wednesday night came to hand yesterday morning. I was exceeding glad to get it to know that you were all well. I am quite well and am having every comfort I need to go to the City every morning with the mail for our detachment and meet the Regimental Post Master at the post office and get our letters. The labor is not heavy. I walk about 6 miles a day. I am exempt from all guard & drill duty except Dress Parade at 6 o’clock in the evening but as that is a pretty thing, I would rather do it than not.
This is Sunday afternoon and it is a very fine day. I went to the city P. O. this forenoon and got back at 11 o’clock. After dinner I took a nap and then I took a walk around the fort, got a good drink of well water and sat down to write letters. I am glad to hear of our garden doing so well. The season here is about 1 month in advance of Ohio. The wheat is headed up well and cabbage in market. The fruit here is going to be plenty. Cherries will soon be in market. We have plenty of strawberry at 12 cents a quart. The peaches here as large already as almonds and if we are kept here, we will live well.
The Post Master Business is not a paying thing to me for I go to town every day and see so many good things to eat I will have some. Only two members of each company can get out of the fort each day so I am always accompanied in town. I go out and in without a pass. I have a general order from old Gen. Morris, the commander of the fort. On Saturday, [musician] Albert Blossom was to the city with me and we each got our first letter. Well we broke out side and on the grass, down we went and there we read & read over at least twice apiece. But I will change the subject.
I think you had better sell nearly all of that pickle meat and buy beef stake with the money as I will eat sufficient sow belly for the whole family. Let Mr. Smiff take it on. I am glad to think that the children still think of their absentPa. The garden I hope will soon commence yielding you some benefit. Tell me in your next how all my vines are doing—especially my little elephant. Also how the Pie Plant [rhubarb] is doing. I am sorry the Clark’s are disappointed in our visit but I guess as you will be kept at home all summer we will take a visit out there soon after I get home. I received a letter today from George. I wrote to him last Monday or Tuesday and got an answer.
I will close by sending my respect to all enquiring friends. I will write to Michael & Rachel yet this evening and then I will stop writing for a day or two. Dear children, be good to your mother and take good care of Little Mary. Dear wife & children, good bye. Yours truly, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 6
Fort McHenry Baltimore, Maryland Wednesday evening, June 1st 1864
Dearest wife & children,
I again write you a letter to let you know that I am still well and having good times considering the business I am at. I still carry mail and act as post master for our company. The other company of our regiment left here this morning and are stationed in the City doing patrol duty. The men are stationed in squads of 5–10–15–and 20 at a place guarding public property and arresting deserters & Butternuts &c. I do not know how long we will be kept here at Fort McHenry but I am satisfied we will not be likely to leave this neighborhood soon as it requires all the men hereabouts to do guard duty and man the forts.
I am extraordinary well pleased to get your letter this morning of Sunday the 29th. Also one from Mother of the same date. I also made about one half the company glad by getting them letters. It was about the first letters we had got. It was funny to see the boys run to me when they saw I had a good mail and of 40 letters, I delivered all in about 3 minutes.
I am sorry our pickle meat has spoiled as I expect to live on fat pork when I quit soldiering. We have plenty to eat and good. I get things every day in the City and four of us have an extra cook. I do the marketing. We had fresh shad for supper & breakfast. We have eels & all kinds of fish, oysters, and other water products. I saw plenty of cherries in market this morning. Also strawberries in abundance at 10 cents per quart. I am glad to hear the children are well and good and I hope they will not neglect their studies although it is vacation. Anna you must learn Charley and Charley you will learn Mary, and Mary will have to try and learn the little pigs to talk.
The health of our company is very good although it is very hot through the day. We have pleasant nights. The air is pure & generally a good breeze so we get along first rate. I generally get back by noon from the city and have nothing to do in the afternoon except Dress Parade which is at 6 p.m. and it lasts but half hour.
We have two of our company in the Post Hospital but they are not dangerously sick. One is Ream [Reamus] Anderson. The other is a substitute from Dayton named [Andrew D.] Jackson. The hospital here is very well arranged and as clean as a new pin. But I have about filled my half sheet and will close by sending my respects to all my friends and my love to you and the little dears. Your husband & father, — J. E. Kinder
I have received four letters since I left home as follows. Two from you, 1 from mother and 1 from George. Direct to J. E. Kinder, Company D, 131st Regt. O. N. G., Baltimore, Maryland
Letter 7
Fort McHenry Baltimore, Maryland June 2nd 1864
Dear Anna & Charley,
I have wrote several letters to Ma. I will now write one to you for I know you will be glad for Pa to write to you. Well, my little dears, I am very well and am seeing lots of pretty things in the City as I go there every morning. Anna, I see so many pretty dolls and other pretty things which I would like for you to have but I cannot send them to you but will try and bring you something when I get home. Charley, I wish I had you here awhile. There is so many pretty things to see and so many ships, brigs & schooners, and yachts and steam packets & propellers. You would like it. And you would laugh to see so many little niggers, some with hardly any clothes on, but they don’t get tanned any. The City is full of negroes—some slaves and others free. You can’t tell the difference except the slaves are the best dressed and cared for.
I like Baltimore very well and am not surprised at Uncle Nathan’s thinking so much of the place. The City is under the strict military rule and is kept as clean as a new pin. The streets are swept ad boxes set before the doors of the houses for folks to put all the trash & stuff in and wagons comes along and empties the boxes in the wagons and hauls it off away out of the City. There is a large water works on a big hill and pipes leading the water underground to the houses. They have hoes and put them to the water pipes and wash the sidewalks and streets clean. The streets are all laid with stone & the sidewalks with large flat stone & bricks.
There is a great many churches and the City is full of high steeples and monuments. The most of the churches are Catholic. There is a great many Catholics here also—lots of people from all countries—French, Italians, Spaniards, &c., but in parts of the city there is nothing but Negroes. I must not write all or I will have nothing to tell you when I come home.
Charley, you must be a good boy and try and learn to read good so you can read about the places your Pa has been. Anna, you must practice your writing so you can read my letters and write to me. You must get Ma to take you to Cassaday’s and let her show you on the map the road we came and the place we are at.
Laura, you must be good and I will not forget you. I always think of you too when I write. Take good care of the children & don’t worry Ma for she has enough to trouble her by me being away. Little Mary, you sweet little angel, I would like to have a kiss from your little lips today. Don’t forget Pa.
Dear Wife, I wrote you yesterday. I close this by wishing you all that a loving husband can think of. Be of good cheer. God rules for the best. Trust in Him for my safe return and don’t fret. Your loving husband & father, — J. E. Kinder
Address J. E. Kinder, Co. D, 131st Regt. O. N. G., Baltimore, Maryland
Letter 8
Fort McHenry Sunday, 1 p.m. June 5th 1864
This being Sunday afternoon and I have done my days work of going to the Post Office & had my dinner of coffee, bread and butter, beef stake & green peas. I feel that I cannot spend the afternoon better than to write to you. I have about read the dailies through. The Journal of Dayton is here of Thursday which is about the latest news we get. I got your letter of last Sunday the 29th on Wednesday morning. It takes two or three days for letters to get here and some are longer.
Well, we are still here. This is two weeks today since we got here & three since we left Camp Chase. The time seems long but it don’t go as slow as it did. This week has gone fast and I could not think it was Sunday until I got to the city. It is very quiet today as they don’t allow anything sold or any business house open. The streetcars and other cars are all stopped. The people are all dressed up and going or coming to church. It beats all places I ever saw for churches. There is several beautiful parks in the city and most of the streets are lined with shade trees and smooth broad pavements so crinoline has plenty of room (the people are extra well dressed & the ladies handsome but don’t take the least notice of soldiers unless they wear shoulder straps so you can feel easy on that point).
Well, I had just got this far when in walked Michael and you better believe I dropped the pen. I had no idea that he was here. My back was to the door. Well, I will now tell you what we done. He had hired a boat to bring him out and take him around be Bay so Capt. Rison, Michael and me to[ok him on a] visit around the fort here. He seems to think we are having a good time and in a fine place. After spending an hour looking around, he started back. I accompanied him out of the fort and went with him to Fort Marshall. We crossed the river and walked up. This is the first time I have been to Fort Marshall. It is on the opposite side of the river and I judge about 1.5 miles. I don’t like it so well as I do here on some accounts but others it is better. They are on a pretty high hill which overlooks the City & also the surrounding harbor and country and I suppose it very healthy. Lt. Col. Waltz is in command of it. It is a new fort adn made something like the Federal Hill Fort nearer the City. They have both been built since the war commenced. There is several more smaller ones also in the neighborhood.
Well Michael and I stayed with Col. Waltz about half an hour and returned to the boat along with Mr. Lowes, his neighbor. Michael let me out on the ferry wharf and I returned over to this side and he returned to his hotel—the Barnum’s City Hotel. I will take dinner with him tomorrow there. He will try and visit the fort here again before he goes home. If so, the boys will send letters by him as they think they will go sooner than by mail. I had a nice view today of the different ships and schooners as we moved about the harbor in our skiff. It is a pretty sight.
Well, my dear, I will now try and reply to your kind letter that Michael brought me which did me good. It was almost like being hime to be reading your letter & hearing Michael talking at the same time. I am glad to hear that the garden is doing fine and I hope you will not work in it yourself this hot weather but get Frank to do all the work. The garden will be valuable this fall. As gold goes up, so will everything else. I asked Michael if all my children were with you. He said I would have thought so if I had seen him house when he started to see the little ones as thick as bees.
I am sorry you sent me the money as I don’t need it a bit. I had some fifty dollars when I left and have 35 or 40 yet. I have lent Brewer five dollars and two others 1 each. I now spend more than I did on account of four of us having separate quarters, and a cook. We send to market for extras we want so we live as well as at home. I am perfectly satisfied here and doing service, as by us being here, we have sent the old soldiers to the front that were here. The 8th New York was here two years and were good soldiers and were in all the last fights under Grant. They met heavy losses and are quite distinguished. Their Colonel was killed and several of their other officers.
But I will close this and write again soon. My best love to all and a kiss for the little dears. Adieu sweet wife, — J. E. Kinder
Address as usual.
Letter 9
Fort McHenry Tuesday eve, June 7th 1864
Dear Wife & Children,
I again write you a short letter, more to let you know that I am well than anything else for I have nothing new to write about. I went to town yesterday morning. I met Michael at the hotel and he wished me to stay with him for dinner but I had a large lot of mail for the Boys and did not like to keep them awaiting. And another reason, I did not feel like eating an extra big meal and then coming down again. And another, I believe our fare is the best for health that can be had. I left Michael at 12 yesterday. I may not get to see him again but he can tell you how I fare and am situated.
I saw all the big men today at the Convention and I never saw a finer set of men. I hope they will do what is right.
I send by mail today a record of our regiment which you will be careful of in opening it as I wish to keep it for future remembrance. I will send you a paper occasionally from here. By it you can sometime see what our regiment is doing. We are the only company of our here now [at Fort McHenry] and are attached for the present to Col. Harris’s Regiment. They are good fellows and I find lots of them I know. Loder is with them as a substitute. I don’t think he is [worth] much. They had him in the guard house the other day. Our company officers are extra good to me and I live and fare with them. We still have Sam Lershert to cook for four of us.
I will now close by sending my love to you all. Good night and God bless you all is my prayer. — J. E. Kinder
Address as before.
Letter 10
Fort McHenry June 11th 1864
My Dear Little Pets, Anna, Charley, & Mary,
I take up my pen this evening to write you a letter. I wrote Ma one night before last and yesterday morning. I was glad to hear of your all being well and hope you will be when you get this. Anna, I often see little girls in the city that looks like you. I pass a large school house every day just as school is out at noon. The schools here let out at 11 o’clock and 5; take up at 8 and 1. Charley, every little boy I see that is your size, I call him Charley. Mary , all the little pets like you have nasty Black girls to take care of them and I know they don’t do it as well as Laura would.
I got a letter from Aunt Rachel Funk yesterday. She says she has done lots of farm work and has lots more to do. Tell Ma to sell the pups as soon as they will do to wean for what she can get. Don’t forget Philip Benner. Tell Charley Miller to write to me in English or Dutch and I will get Philip Harmon to read it for me.
I wrotet to Uncle Jo but as yet I have not received any answer. I would like to hear from the Mill and how they are getting along about the Dam. I would like to be there about a week to help fix it.
In your letter you did not tell me how our potatoes and corn looked. I expect they grow slow on account of the cold spells we have had. I have not heard from Michael since last Monday. I expect he has returned. He can give you all a good idea how I am doing better than I can inform you by letter. He will amuse you by his description of our quarters and the way we live. I fare as well as I wish to and I am well satisfied with our being here. It is better than any place I have seen. It is kept as clean as a pin and I am satisfied this has a great deal to do with the health of the soldiers. The seeping and cleaning is done all by the prisoners under guard.
There is a great many visitors here from Cincinnati. The friends of the Seventh. Our friends are few, this being the only company of our regiment here. We are hardly worth coming to see. We had some Dayton ladies for dinner. Capt. Turner’s wife was with them. I have visited all the noted places around here. I had the advantage of the rest. I can go in and out when I please, not having any duty to do except attend to the mail. All. Mays is the Company Clerk and also has easy times. I will finish this in the morning.
Sunday morning, June 12th. I add this post script to let you know that I am as usual having rested well and had my breakfast. There was an alarm on account of some deserters breaking out of the prison. The boys was out with guns in fast order. They catched all but one in a few minutes. One, I believe, got away.
But I must close by sending my love to all from your dear Pa. Kiss Ma and Mary for me. Yours truly, — John E. Kinder
Letter 11
Fort McHenry Monday Afternoon, June 13 [1864]
Dear Wife,
Having been to the City as usual and had my dinner & afternoon nap which I generally take, not having anything to do, I got up and took a walk around to see how the Boys are getting along. I find some reading, some writing, some sewing on buttons & rents in their clothes, and about half dozen fishing. We have plenty of amusement here to keep us up. You can form some idea of the life that is here when I tell you there is about one thousand men here [with]in call of me—none further off than from my house to Metherds. We have good music and singing of evenings and a regular concert one night a week. There is a chapel here and preaching twice every Sunday.
The only thing we miss here is ladies. There is a lot of them in the barracks—the wives of the soldiers who left before we came here for the front. Alas, some of them are already widows. The poor women only parted from them about two weeks before they got news of some of them being killed. This is a very comfortable place for ladies and if I was to be kept here regular, I would have you and the children here. But a soldier in times of war does not know at what hour he will be called on to move, and he cannot attend to his Family.
I have had no letter from you since last Friday and that was wrote on Sunday the 5th. I looked for one this morning but was disappointed. I feel like I was going to get one tomorrow. There is a picnic outside of the fort this afternoon. I believe I will go out and see what they do here and maybe I will be able to introduce something new when I get back to the B[ ]
Well, this is evening and I went out to the picnic but only stayed a few minutes. I was there long enough, however, to see that it was a hard affair. It was like some at Forest’s Grove, only more so. Most all the men were drunk & fighting and the woman being of the Fancy, they not much behind. I don’t want to see any more picnics here.
I will state I had a visitor this afternoon from Fort Federal Hill. It was Sidney D. Maxwell. He is in the Colonel’s Headquarters and has all the writing to do. I have found out that education is a great advantage to a person even in the army for there is always some person detailed for office orderly & other light work.
I enclose in this a laurel ring I made while on picket at North Mountain. It is a laurel root and I made it with my knife. I have two larger ones yet that I will bring home. I want to gather a good many relics and mementoes of the several places I will visit but the carrying part will prevent me from bringing large specimens.
I took the market basket along today. I paid 25 cents per lb. for ham stake, 50 cents pound for good butter and 20 cents for mutton chops & 25 cents for cheese. Vegetables and fish are cheaper—about the same as home for vegetables. There is plenty of everything here.
But I will close. Kiss the children for me and write often. From your fond husband, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 12
Fort McHenry Wednesday, June 15th 1864
My dearest wife & sweet little ones,
I received your letter of Sunday this morning and was well pleased for I had almost become discouraged. I do wish you would write about twice a week, say Sundays and Wednesday evenings, if you can, and oftener if anything happens. I will try and do that well if not better. I know I am a great deal better fixed than you for writing and could write every day but I have nothing new to write—the same old thing, all well, &c.
I am getting very hearty and black for this is a good place to tan one on account of the sun reflecting on the water. I am glad the children’s letter so pleased them and I will write to them again. I received the papers sent but you need not send any more as the Cincinnati Regiment here gets hundreds of them sooner than you can send them. I get to read them about two days old. Your will is good and I am thankful. I have good times and I am satisfied. I fish some and catch eels and bass. The fish are plenty here. Meat is high. Some things are cheaper & others dearer than at home. I would not advise you to go to Clark’s until I come home for I know I would enjoy the visit more than you and so you can wait for me to go with you.
I do not wish you to work the lot but get Frank to do it. Tell him I will settle with him when I come home. I am sorry to hear that it is so dry. I hope it may be yet a good season. I would like to have Rose here to catch rats for they are plenty enough here to keep her busy.
I have not as yet got a letter from Uncle Jo nor I don’t think he will so you can tell him I still feel interest in the business and would like to hear from the mill and hear about the dam.
I would like to hear from some of the gents about town—say for instance Book or Schnorf or Sumington but as yet I have not received any but from our own family. I will close this by saying that all the Boys are well and enjoying the life first rate. Give my respects to the neighbors and receive my love and best wishes yourself. Kiss the little dears for me. Your true and loving husband, — J. E. Kinder
Thursday morning 16th. All well. Tell the children and Laura to be good and smart, and try and make you as comfortable as possible. They must not eat green fruit and get sick for they cannot have Pa to attend to them. But I must close this and start for the P. O. Goodbye, — J. E. K.
Letter 13
Fort Federal Hill Baltimore, Maryland June 17, [1864]
My Dear Wife & children,
I take advantage of the present to let you know that we have moved to this place. We came here this morning early. It is about two miles from Fort McHenry, being in town or in the edge of it. We now have six companies of our regiment here, three at Fort Marshall, & one in the city doing Provost guard duty.
The duties here are different from at Fort McHenry, there being no prisoners here. The duties are transient—this being a camp of distribution. We are sent with prisoners & deserters & stragglers to different points—some to Washington, New York, Philadelphia, & Fortress Monroe, &c. I have not as yet ascertained what I will do now as there was another postmaster here and I am not wanted. The Colonel told me he would find something to suit me. I think I will get the place here as postmaster for the fort which will be a good situation. There being six companies, I will have a regular office. The distance is about three fourths of a mile to the P. Office. I will have to go twice a day. I will not have anything else to do. If I don’t get that, you may rest assured I will get something equally as good.
The company are all well pleased with the change. The quarters here are splendid. I still go with the Captain & All Mays. Barn Miller left us yesterday for Annapolis. He is appointed Judge Advocate on a court martial. I have no idea how long he will be kept away but should not be surprised if the full balance of our time. You can tell his wife but I suppose she is already informed.
We have a few sick in the company but none anyways bad. I guess by a couple of days all will be fit for duty. I will write again Sunday. I close by sending my love and a kiss to you and the little ones.
Your husband & father, —John E. Kinder
Letter 14
Fort Federal Hill Baltimore, Maryland June 20, 1864
Dear Wife,
I received your letter of Wednesday morning on Friday. I would now say that with the exception of one of your letters, I have received all in good time—some in two days and others in three. I am obliged to you for the papers but as I now have access to Headquarters whenever I please, I get to read all the Cincinnati & Dayton papers sooner than you can send them to me. You need not send me any stamps as I have them for sale. I buy them by the hundreds. You need not send me anything to eat as we do first rate in the eating line. This is the best market I ever saw and we can live as well as at home if we have the money. I still have plenty of that. I am satisfied to last the 100 days out. I have loaned some the Boys who were out but I will get it again.
I wish you would go a visiting more than you do. You will not be so lonesome and will learn more news so I will get some. I don’t get any gossip at all from you and I am afraid Mrs. Shaffer has not visited you. Can’t Mrs. B….tell you any news? I am satisfied the Burg is dry for I hear a great many letters read and they are all the same. The Captain received a lengthy one from Jack Zimmer but it contained nothing new.
We were sorry to hear of the loss of some of our Boys in Georgia but such is was and some will get hurt.
I would now say that I have received the appointment of Post Master of the Fort which is a good place. We have six companies here. I have to go to the P. O. at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. It is about three-quarters of a mile from here. I like it here as well as Fort McHenry. All Mays and myself paid a visit to the old place yesterday to see the Boys we left behind at the hospital & on detached duty. We found the Boys in the hospital doing well. Three of them will be sent here today as fit for duty—namely Jerome Wertz, James Carroll, and Johnson. The last two are from Dayton and were substitutes. All the Burg Boys are well. We also called on the Cincinnati Boys that we became acquainted with. They were glad to see us. Among those were Ed Stevens, John Selden, and others.
Did you ever get my shawl of John Bechtler? I forget if you ever wrote that you did. I have not got anything to say about Heckers having the house until I hear from Shehan. I would rather they would leave it to Mrs. Clark as she is more interested than I am and closer to hear from.
I will close this by sending my love to all the friends and a kiss to the children and one for yourself. All well. Your husband, — J. E. Kinder
Direct to J. E. K., Co. D, 131st Regt. O. N. G., Baltimore, Maryland
Letter 15
Headquarters Fort Federal Hill June 24, 1864
My dear wife & children,
This is early Friday morning and as yet the Capt. & All is yet asleep. I thought I would write you a few lines to let you see that I am not only well but an early riser. I received your letter yesterday and also one from Charley Miller. I was glad to hear from you and the little ones. I think about you almost all the time and I hope that the time will swiftly pass so I can get to see you again. I am doing as well as possible. I have the mail to attend to for this fort. I have the mail for 6 companies and headquarters. Also for the transient soldiers as this is the Camp of Distribution. I have been favored by the whole of the Regimental Officers.
I rode the Surgeon’s horse to the P. O. yesterday and having plenty of extra time, I took a nice ride around the suburbs of the City. The other officers have tendered me the use of their horses whenever I wish to ride out.
I am glad to hear of your having a nice rain on Monday. I hope you may have a garden yet. I have been pretty busy this week helping All and the Capt. getting up the new set of company books and muster rolls. We are now working on the pay rolls.
Barn Miller is not with us. He is acting Judge Advocate on a court martial at Annapolis and I don’t expect he will get through before the end of our term. The rumors you hear respecting our being ordered away, you need place no confidence in because I am sure that we will stay here our full time and as for the ones who wrote home such stuff, they write every day and of course must write something, and as the truth has all been told, they have commenced on the other thing.
The health of our company is good. We have a few complaining but one of which is considered bad. His name is Nathan Weldy. Remus Anderson has been sick the longest but is fit for duty. He has had the chills and fever.
But as I have no news, I will close by sending my respects to Charley and all the rest of he neighbors. I will send my love to the children and tell them Pa loves them dearly although away off. All’s well. Goodbye. Yours most truly, — John E. Kinder
Letter 16
Headquarters Fort Federal Hill June 26 1864
Dear Wife & Children,
This is Sunday afternoon and as I am all alone, I thought I would pass away my time in writing to you. I will first state that I received your letter of last Sunday and also Charley Miller’s on Thursday. Was glad indeed to get two such interesting letters in one day. Charley’s gave me all the news from the mill & some political and other general news. Yours as usual was a good and true family letter. I will not try to write such long letters as you do for there is nothing of interest to you here. I see a great deal of life here as I visit the City twice a day but it is not of note worth writing so I will have something to amuse you and the little ones with my big stories when I get home.
This last week I saw a man—a layer and a good citizen—instantly killed by being run over by the cars. Also a large Italian Brig burn up close by the fort. She was loaded with 16 hundred barrels of coal oil. She caught fire at 10 o’clock in the morning and burnt all day and all night. The light at night was beautifully grand. The fire engines could not do any good. As the barrels exploded, the oil would come to the top of the water and burn. The wood was so saturated with the oil, water had no effect. The day it burned, it produced the largest and blackest smoke I ever saw. Something like fifty blacksmith shops combined. There was no air stirring and the smoke hung over the city like a cloud and I suppose people in the distance thought Baltimore was all being burnt.
Setting the River on Fire—A letter from Baltimore written on Saturday, says: “Our harbor has been on fire for the last 24 hours, literally on fire. The surface of the water for thousands of square yards has been a perfect flame, caused by the destruction of the Italian ship Juliana which took fire while lying at the wharf and loading with petroleum. She had on board one thousand eight hundred barrels and had to be towed over to the opposite side of the [ ] to save the surrounding property. As the barrels would burst, the oil spread over the water in a flame. Thousands assembled to witness the beautiful sight.” —Boston Daily Advertiser, 30 June 1864.
I will now here say that I received your letter of Wednesday eve and Thursday morning this morning. I went to the P. O. as usual but at a little earlier time. The office is only open on Sundays from 9 to 10 a.m. I generally start at 9 or 9¼ and get back at 11. Then at ½ past 4 & get back at 6. This is all I have to do but I have considerable mail to attend to. I am in a place that it requires care and expertness. Capt. Rison was sent to Washington yesterday in care of a detachments of stragglers. He will be back this evening.
Barn Miller came up from Annapolis to spend the Sunday with us. He likes the appointment. He was very well. I was glad to see him again. All Mays and him went out to Fort McHenry today to see the Cincinnati Boys and see if there was any letters or express matter there for us. I like this place better than I did Ft. McHenry on account of this being with our own Regiment and acquaintances. I am in comfortable quarters—better than those we had at McHenry. We have—that is, Capt., All, & me—a large room with four large windows and although it is very hot here, we have a good healthy breeze and at nights it is comfortable.
There was a lot of new wheat in the market last week. Since I wrote the above, we have been treated to a fine rain—the first we have had for two or three weeks. It was quite a storm. It was a great sight from up here. The dust was so thick in the City as to make it almost lost to sight. The wind blew a regular gale. The lightning was vivid and close. I thought of you and imagined how you will be fixed up in case of a thunder storm.
I will close this as it is after 4 and I must soon start to the P. O. I am glad to hear of your having a good shower and that the grapes are growing so well—especially the Little Elephant. Do you know where Uncle Jo Baird is? If so, write and I will write to him. The 100 days are beginning to get towards going down hill. The time is counted by the Boys and I often hear them telling how long yet. I have been more fortunate than some but none have been in any danger. I will say I have discarded undershirts but still wear drawers on account of my pants scratching my legs. I bought 1 white short for extra occasions and have bought a dozen paper collars. We get our washing done without any trouble. There is a lot of old Negoes that come around and take our clothes and bring them back clean. It only costs 5 cents a piece. I change often and keep quite clean. Boots blacked every day and look quite a fancy soldier for one of my age. But enough for the present. I am as well as ever and feel first rate. Kiss the children for Pa & the children must kiss you for me. Your loving husband and father, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 17
Fort Federal Hill Baltimore, Maryland June 29th 1864
My dear wife & sweet children,
I again write you that a short letter to let you know that I am well and getting along fine. I still have the post office for this fort which is about a good a place as I could ask. This is a very healthy location and our Boys are all well and getting used to the fare. Now we have none on sick list except Nute Catrow has a sore foot. Reme Anderson reported himself here fit for duty from the hospital at Ft. McHenry. I took a trip to our Boys at Locust Point yesterday between my mail times and had lots of fun fishing. I caught 8 fish in a short time and had them cooked for my dinner. There is 8 of our Boys there guarding some government warehouse containing oats and hay. It is about three-quarters of a mile from here and about half way to Ft. McHenry. We have 8 men at West Hospital guarding.
Our company have improved a great deal and is one of the best here. I have not done much drilling and no guard duty since we first arrived here. Still I can get along with any of them.
In your last you ask me about my tooth. I would say that it has not troubled me inn the least for over a month nor have I had any other complaints. I am very fortunate not even having had a cold but I attribute all to the care of which I take of myself. I will close this and start for the office as I have no news to write—only I am well. Your husband and father, — J. E. Kinder
I expect a letter this morning as the letters of Monday generally get here Wednesday.
Letter 18
Fort Federal Hill Friday evening, July 1st 1864
My dear Wife & Children,
I will now write to inform you of my good health and spirits. With regard to the way I am situated, I can not complain. I only wish to be with you and children. I am a great deal stronger and healthier than when I started and feel as though this trip will do me good. I received your letter of Sunday the 26th on Wednesday and was glad to hear from you but the tone of it was not comforting to me as you seem to be a little downcast on account of ill health. I had hoped you would have been spared from any ills or troubles in my absence.
The heat here is great but not oppressive on account of the general breeze and cool nights we have here. It never is so hot but that we have to use a blanket over us at night. I sleep first rate and feel well in the mornings. I can always eat a good breakfast.
We made a new arrangement this morning in regard to our boarding. We have gone in a mess of 8 and have a regular cook. The rations almost keep us as we sell enough to buy our extras. We have milk for our coffee. Also butter and other little fixings like peas, fish, cheese, &c. The Colonel told me yesterday if I wanted to go to Washington or other places, I could go at any time. I think All. and I will go down to Annapolis next Monday to visit Barn Miller as it will be the 4th and the court will not be held on that day.
There is no news here to write. The company are all well and everything goes fine. If you hear anything like rumors, don’t place the least importance for the camp is always full of such and they never turn out true. I am in a situation to find out all reliable news better than any of the company.
We are all getting to count the days and speculate about going home and what we will do &c. I hope none will be disappointed in the enjoyments they anticipate. The friends of the soldiers cannot send them anything more agreeable than letters. I love to get big mails to see the happy faces. I send a newspaper this morning to Anna & Charley which contains two new two cent pieces. I don’t know if any have as yet been circulated in the Burg. They are new here. I got them at the Post Office.
I hope you have had rain by this time. We have had two good rains this week. I saw a letter from Jo Githens. He is in the same regiment I think Uncle Jo Baird is. They have had some heavy marching. He wrote from Fayetteville, West Virginia. I think we were about the most fortunate of the 100 days men as we are in good quarters and can get the best of everything for money. The most of the company is about out of that but I believe we will get two months pay soon as we were mustered for pay yesterday. I will now close this dry epistle for I had nothing worthy of writing to commence with and it is hard to write a letter without material.
I am well and hope you will all get through the hot weather safe. I close by sending my best and dearest love to you and children. — J. E. Kinder
Letter 19
Fort Federal Hill, Baltimore Sunday eve, July 3d 1864
My dearest wife and sweet little ones,
I again write to you to let you know that I am well and in good spirits. I received your kind letter of Thursday yesterday. I got two the day before, one from D. Bookwalter and one from Mother. I have been quite fortunate in getting letters and cannot complain.
This has been a beautiful day. I got back from the Post Office at 10 this morning and Capt. Rison and me took a long walk out in the country. We got lots of dewberries and raspberries. In about a week, there will be plenty of huckleberries and blackberries here. We enjoyed the trip exceedingly. It reminded me of home—that is, the walk, but the country was altogether different. We went across the Patapsco in a boat and wandered along its banks. As we came back, we visited the celebrated [Ross] Winans Ship Yard and saw the peculiar cigar-shaped iron rams. They are the oddest looking crafts I ever saw and was worth a long walk to see. I do not think I would like to ride on one as they have no place to see out and when you are inside you can’t tell whether you are under the water or on top.
The cigar shaped vessels built by Ross Winans
All. Mays and I expected to go down tomorrow to Annapolis to spend the day with Barn Miller but as there is to be a big time here in this City, we have concluded to go some other time. We are situated in the best place we could be to see the fire works which is to be right close to us, just outside of the fort on the south side. We can have a splendid view from our windows. All the forts will fire a national salute at 12 tomorrow. All business will be suspended and I know from the arrangements made it will be a grand sight. I will only have one trip to make tomorrow as the Office will only be open 1 hour.
We had a fine Dress Parade this evening. There was a great many visitors here and are at this time. This is a great resort of Sundays for the City folks. Citizens are allowed to come in and out through the day at pleasure. We like it here first rate. The Boys could not be better fixed and if a man has to soldier, a regular barracks is the place he then can have anything he wants but a transient soldier can’t carry anything to make him comfortable.
You speak of my duties being heavy here. In that you are mistaken for I think them easy. The only thing is I have to be punctual to time. The reason I don’t write every day is I don’t have anything to write about that’s new and as it is very hot, I can’t get at it. I fix up a nice place and lay and read and sleep. I a m a good sleeper as usual, but I can’t sleep unless I can lay down. The health of the Boys is excellent. They are all getting acclimated and used to the weather here and the diet. I don’t hear anymore complain of anything.
I wish the Burg people could see us here. It would surprise them to see at what expense of money & labor the government has been to have things substantive and convenient for the men, and the protection of them in case of an attack. As you are afraid of the powder here, I will state that we have fore proof magazines built under ground & they are never opened except by men used to them, and in a salute only 1 load is taken out at a time. I will write the balance of this in the morning.
Monday morning, the 4th of July
Dear wife, I will finish my letter. This is a glorious morning and the City is all alive. The rising sun was greeted by the sound of hundreds of bells. I was up to enjoy it and I never expect to hear the like again. You cannot imagine the sounds produced. It was truly grand and while I write, it is nothing but one continuous sound of firing of pistols, guns, and shooting crackers. I suppose it is similar to the noise of a battle.
I am glad to hear our garden is doing some good for I am satisfied everything must cost lots of money, and I am doing very little here to provide for the coming winter as my wages will not amount to but little in proportion to our expenses. But I shall trust to God and try and be satisfied with what comes to hand. Tell little Charley I have learned lots of funny stories for to tell him when I get home and I can tell Anna. I will tell her how the little girls look and dress here this big City. I would like to have you all here to see the grand sight as I will get to see them. I want you to keep in good spirits as the time will soon go now as it is more than half passed.
I am contented and life the life, if it was not for being away from you and the little dears. My health is excellent and all goes well. But I will close by sending my respects to the neighbors and my love to you and children.
All. and the Capt. have gone to breakfast and I will be late. I will write soon again. Yours truly, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 20
Federal Hill July 7th 1864
My Dear Wife & Children,
I hasten to reply to your letter of the 3d & postscript of the 4th which was received yesterday, but firstly I will state what has transpired since my last of the morning of the 4th. Well on that day, All. and I went to the P. O. in the morning to see how the City looked. We found all business closed and houses trimmed up with flags &c. We came back at 11. At 12, the cannons being all loaded, the firing commenced—first at Ft. McHenry, as that is headquarters, then at Marshall, then at this place, then on board of the different gunboats & ships in the harbor. I tell you, it was a time. All the bells in the city were a ringing at the same time.
After dinner we took a nap. At three, All. & I went out to the great Druid Hill Park. It is the largest park in the United States, containing six hundred acres of land. There was over 25 thousand persons at it in the afternoon. We stayed there until near sundown, then come in the City & got a fine supper. Then started for the Fort. We got here just as the fire works commenced. We had a grand view. They were of all kinds and the City was all ablaze with them.
Well on Tuesday I carried mail and in the evening got to go to Washington. We took down some stragglers from here to go to their regiments. We got down there about 9 o’clock. We all got up early yesterday morning and visited the public buildings and also the White House. I saw old Abe & his boys. Went all through the property, then visited the Army & Navy department, then the Treasury Department, then the Smithsonian Institute, then the Post Office Department, then the Patent Office, then the different parks, then the great Capitol—the different rooms &c.
We started back for Baltimore at 3 p.m. [and] got here at 5 p.m. I could not begin to give you a description of what I saw as it would take a week to tell it, let alone writing it. Well on my arrival I found your letter on the mantle and I hardly took of my gun and accoutrements until I read it.
All. carried the mail for me yesterday. There is some little excitement here the last few days on account of a raid up the railroad and they are sending up troops to Harpers ferry fast. There was four regiments sent up from Washington day before yesterday. Some of our regiments were up there with a squad of stragglers. They went out Saturday evening and we thought they were taken prisoners, but they got back last night all safe. They were with Sigel two days on Maryland Heights. They report it something like a Morgan raid. I think it will turn out so and that they will not be able to get back again to Dixie. Gen. Wallace is out in person and is gathering quite a force. I will send you papers that will give you an idea of the situation better than I can write.
I will answer your letter tomorrow as I find I have not as yet noted its contents in this. I will close by saying I am in excellent health. Yours ever, — J. E. Kinder
My love to the children & a kiss.
Letter 21
Fort Federal Hill Friday, July 8 1864
Dear Wife & Children,
I again write to you to let you know that all is well. We are in the midst of considerable excitement as the Rebs are not far off, but we are prepared for them. There is quite a moving of troops here to the points out the city on the different roads & railroads. Yesterday and last night there was several large steamers came here with troops who are taking the cars this morning out the Harpers Ferry Road. We have all our cannons loaded and are ready for any attack. We are in hearing of the cannons of the fighting at Fredrick and other places. The troops here have all been sent out except those in the forts. We are busy practicing on heavy artillery and our boys done first rate. We are well protected and will give some of them fits when they are in range of our guns.
I see by the amount of troops a landing here that the Rebs must have a large force or they will be gobbled up. They have torn up the Baltimore & Ohio Road for 40 or fifty miles so our mails have to go by Harrisburg & Pittsburgh, so you may not be uneasy if you don’t get my letters regular. They may make a raid on this rout also. If so, our next chance will be by Philadelphia but I hope this will soon be over and things will soon be settled down again.
We are to be paid today for one month & 17 days which at 16 per month makes 20 dollars and 6 cents each private. I am well and feel first rate. The weather is very dry and hot here and if it don’t rain son, it will be very hard on the boys that have to march. I still go to the post office. The passes are suspended and I am about all the one that gets to go outside of the fort.
Did you get the paper I sent the children with the two new two cent pieces in it. I also send you other papers and will as long as this excitement lasts as they will give you more news than I have.
The boys are all well. They seem anxious for a little fight and may get it, but I think we in this fort will not be molested as the rebs have no heavy artillery. And as for Infantry & cavalry, they cannot get to us without being subject to a heavy fire of grape & canister. Also our infantry and hand grenades.
In regard to home matters, I hope George had a nice visit and would like to have seen him. I got a letter from Mother. She spoke about that——–what Rachel talked of. I have no objection and hope all will be for the best. But I will close by sending my love to you and the little dears. A kiss to you and them. Your husband, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 22
Fort Federal Hill Saturday Morning, July 9, 1864
My Dearest Wife & Sweet Little Children,
I again write to you knowing that you will hear by the papers that there is a raid here by the Rebs and of there being some danger. You naturally will be alarmed, but you may rest easy for I am satisfied the danger is over for them to meet with success in this department. There is lively times here and it looks like war to see the large steamers arriving with old troops, and landing them and to see them go out on the cars one train after another.
The newspapers don’t say anything about it but I can say that the arrangements here are complete to whip them out of the state. Also to get the most of them, if they have not already left. We are all kept ready for any emergency. The cannon are all kept well loaded with grape & canister. Also our rifles. We are not allowed passes out of the fort except me and I still go to the P. O. to get the news as usual.
Well, yesterday was pay day for our regiment. The privates got 25 dollars & six cents each. I enclose the 6 cents as a keepsake, being the first money I ever received of government for soldiering. They are new and came from the Treasury Department and have never changed hands.
I will make this short and write often. I am very well and in good spirits. I am beginning to count the days like the rest of the Boys. My love to you all and a kiss, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 23
[Fort] Federal Hill Sunday morning, 10 July [1864]
Dear wife & children.
I write to you again to let you know that all is well with me as yet and hope will remain so. We are in the midst of excitement owing to the news that Gen. Wallace was worsted in the fight yesterday and was retreating this way. All is activity and a general getting ready for what turns up.
I feel very calm and am willing to trust to the Great Almighty for my safe return to you knowing that whatever happens it will be for the best.
This may not get to you as soon as common or not at all as the enemy are making raids upon our railroads and telegraphs so I will not write much. As for the news, you will get it by telegraph in the papers sooner than I can send by mail. So I will close by sending my love to you and the children.
Your dear husband, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 24
Headquarters Co. D, 131st Regt. O. N. G. Fort Federal Hill, Baltimore, Md. Monday, 9 a.m. July 11th 1864
Dear wife & children,
I write you this hasty not to let you know I am still all right, well, and in good cheer. I have just returned from a long walk with Charley Allen to the Depot. He is on his road home. I expect you will hear from him of our situation before this reaches you. I am in a hurry as it is my time to go to the Post Office.
I will cut the latest news out of the morning papers and enclose in this. Excuse this writing as it is done in two minutes. Yours truly, — J. E. Kinder
P. S. The latest news the Rebs are retreating back over the Potomac. It is well for them as there is a strong force of Union troops arriving here. — Jack
Letter 25
Fort Federal Hill Tuesday morning, 12th July 64
My Dear Wife,
I received your letter of Thursday last yesterday and was glad to receive it. I don’t expect to get one as soon for the Rebs have sent out squads of cavalry & cut off our railroad communication to Harrisburg; also to Philadelphia. They burnt the bridges north & east of the City. Our mail now goes to Philadelphia by steamboat which will make it about one day longer to go. We will, I suppose, get our mails by that rout.
The excitement here is high. Our army is making preparation for an attack. They are just outside of the city and are throwing up fortifications & rifle pits. The citizens are arming themselves and going out by thousands. It is a good deal like when Kirby Smith invaded Kentucky & threatened Cincinnati. I have no Idea how this thing is going to end but hope for the best. We have now in the fort about 8 hundred men—about half old soldiers. The balance our men. Lieut. Col Finch of Cincinnati is in command. Col. Lowe is at Ft. Marshall.
The Boys are all well and are ready for the fight if it does come. I don’t believe that we will be attacked because we are strong enough to hold our position and the Rebs are not inclined to go in to a fight where we are fortified. The idea with them is to get plunder & supplies and run it off south. But I will close this. Yours truly, J. E. Kinder
Letter 26
Fort Federal Hill Wednesday morning, July 13 [1864]
My Dear Wife & Children,
I again write to you to let you know we are all safe & in good health & spirits. Although we are cut off from railroad communication with all places, we still have water left. Our troops & mails come from Philadelphia by steamboat.
The excitement here has been high but is down a little this morning. The heaviest part of the Rebel army is down towards Washington. We have only a few guerrillas north and west of us and they have about done all the damage they can do. There is a great many soldiers coming in this morning from Philadelphia & other places up north.
I see that Charley Allen was on the train that was captured Monday morning as he was starting home. I have not as yet heard from him and don’t know if he was robbed or not. He had a good deal of money with him, taking home for the Boys here. I hope he managed to conceal it so as to save the most of it. We did not receive any mails yesterday but expect one today by water. We still send the mails that way.
I will close by saying you need not be alarmed for me as the Rebs will not now try us as we have been reinforced and they know it for they have spies here in the city and are kept well posted. I will still write often as long as this excitement lasts. Goodbye. Your loving husband & father, — J. E. K.
Letter 27
Fort Federal Hill Thursday morning, July 14th 1864
Dear Wife & Children,
I know that there is at present great excitement at the North & I suppose at home in regard to the invasion of this state by a strong force of Rebs. Consequently I take advantage of every mail to let you know that I am well and thoughtful of your uneasiness in regard to my safety. I will state in this that although we were small in numbers here at the outset, we have now been reinforced and feel perfectly secure. We have at all times felt able to hold the forts notwithstanding the City might be taken. But the Rebels know of all our arrangements to receive them and have left the vicinity. The loss of men has not been great on either side but as the Rebs were the attacking party, they suffered the most. After making raids around this city and burning a few railroad bridges, they worked down toward Washington hoping to find it poorly guarded, but although there were but a small number of our soldiers, they were good ones and repulsed the attack handsomely.
The latest intelligence is that they are working themselves out of the state as they came in. The excitement is all over here and things will soon take their usual course. The cars came in last night from Washington and I expect in a day or two they will be running on the other roads. Our mails now go to Philadelphia by water but they are only kept back about a day longer. I have nothing more to write this morning, but remain your husband & father, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 28
Fort Federal Hill Friday, July 15th 1864
Dear Wife & Children,
I again write to you to inform you that I am well and that the great Rebel invasion is played out. The latest news is that they had crossed the Potomac on the retreat. I will now state that through all the excitement, I did not feel any alarm and predicted that the Rebs did not intend to fight where they could help it.
The great object was supplies for Richmond & Lee’s Army. They only fought Wallace at Fredrick & Monocracy to get him away from the Potomac in order to get their spoils safely over. The object of threatening this city & Washington was to get us to draw our men here & at the Capitol—that is ,for us to act on the defensive until their trains of captured cattle, horses & supplies were safely run off down the Shenandoah Valley. Then they would safely cross and follow in a consolidated body and keep us back which they could successfully do as they had a good strong force and we could not gather in time a sufficient number to overhaul them.
They were disappointed in getting the large train that they wanted—the one that Sigel was starting from Martinsburg for Hunter. It was first sent to Frederick and from there here. It now is safe under the guns of our three forts, between this & [Fort] McHenry. It was a grand sight to see it pass us. You can imagine it—say five miles of teams of six mules, all loaded. Also two thousand head of beef cattle. The government stores here in the city were all loaded on steamers & ships and sent out in the Bay for safety so if the Rebs did get in, they would get nothing but private property. No doubt but they have got a large amount of supplies through the country as they took everything they could find from friend & foe, but from their friends they paid well in greenbacks as they robbed Union men of all the money they had.
Their leader and most of the principal scouting portion of them were Marylanders and knew the roads well and the political status of all they visited. When I tell you that this state is very little over half Union, you will know that it is not much trouble for Rebs to go about. I am told that Baltimore has more men in the Rebel army than in the Union Army.
While I write this, I am hearing sweet music from a brigade band. We were serenaded last night by the band of one brigade and another came and are staying with us. They are the bands belonging to the troops that came here from the South to help us. I believe these soldiers are down after the Rebs about the Potomac. Our fort & the City has assumed its usual quietness and all goes on as usual.
I have learned a great deal from conversing with these men & officers from Grant’s Army in regard to the way things are and the prospects ahead, but as you are no politician and not a soldier, I cannot make it interesting enough to write it. But I can tell you all when I get home.
I expect a letter from you today but may be disappointed as our mails are yet a little out of gear….My dear wife, keep in good cheer and trust to God He will govern for the best. May His will be done. Your loving husband, — John E. Kinder
Letter 29
Fort Federal Hill Sunday, July 17 1864
My Dear Wife,
I take advantage of this quiet Sunday afternoon to write to you. I will first say that I am in excellent health & spirits and am passing my time very agreeable, there being but one thing that I long for and that is to be with you and the children. I am not to say homesick but I wish for the time to soon come that I may embrace you with the warmth of a true and loving husband, and to fondly kiss those little dears of ours with a Father’s loving kiss. Still I should not complain as I am not more than other men of whom thousands have left those dear to them without the same prospects of an early return. I as yet am not sorry I made the sacrifice of the comforts and pleasures of home to come here as I consider myself well paid for coming in the way of what I have learned & seen, not taking in account what I have benefited my country. I cannot tell as yet what time we will be home but am satisfied that it will not be far from the 20th day of August. It may be sooner (but I don’t thin kit will be later). Our place here I suppose will be filled by the 100 days men now being raised in Philadelphia and Massachusetts but it will be 2 or 3 weeks before they can be organized and brought here sufficiently drilled to take hold of these responsible places.
Our being frilled and under good discipline is what got us in here, for which we should be thankful. We are treated with respect by citizens & soldiers as our boys are all gentlemen and behave well to all. I suppose the people at home were somewhat excited about our situation last week as they could not get any telegraphic news from us for two or three days. I will reserve my description of events here until I get home as I can make a long story out of it. The raid is now over and everything is going on as usual with very little to show that anything out of the usual course had happened. I enclose you some views of the city for the children. They (4) are taken from Washington Monument. I have been on it twice. The view is fine. The view from Federal Hill here is also a fine one. I have a large colored lithograph of Federal Hill which I will bring home or send. I am using it for a sample as I am selling them to the regiment. I can make ten cents each by getting a hundred subscribers. They are like the little one I sent but large and painted.
The Boys are all in good health they are getting satisfied as the time grows shorter and are beginning to count the days and speculate on what they will do &c. when they get back to the Old Burg. We live very well now as we have a good cook. We have plenty of cucumbers, cabbage & tomatoes. Also pies. Our cook gets up first rate pies out of blackberries & huckleberries & green apples, &c. We have eight in our mess—Rison Mays, & me of our company; the other five are regimental officers. We have lots of fun at our meals and if you could see us you would be forced to laugh too.
I must close by sending you my dearest wife, all the love I have, for my sweet little dears the same. May God bless you all you all. Your absent husband and father, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 30
Fort Federal Hill Tuesday Evening, 19th July [1864]
Dear Wife,
I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know I am in excellent health and am doing the best I can to make the time pass fast with me. I am having as good times as I could wish for. The excitement here is all over and all is quiet and nothing to disturb the usual routine of our camp, or rather fort.
I receive your welcome letters regularly and they cheer me up. I am anxious to see you all and be at home again. This trip will satisfy my curiosity for travel for a long while and if I go a soldiering again, it will be because there is no way of getting out of it.
I will do soldiering for Ohio but will do it close to home. This was all done voluntarily and I am satisfied, but I am also satisfied to let others do as they please hereafter and I will do the same.
My love to the children and a sweet kiss for you and them. Your devoted husband, — J. E. Kinder
P. S. I thought a little letter better than none so excuse this. — Jack
Letter 31
Fort Federal Hill Sunday morning, July 24th 1864
My Dear Wife,
I now take pleasure in writing to you to let you know that I am all right and getting along first rate. I have been very busy this last week in going around to see all the sights. As our time is getting shorter, I want to put in the time as agreeable as I can. I went fishing on Thursday and out after blackberries & huckleberries on Friday. So you see, I have good times. I getback from the Post Office at half past ten and then I can go where I please so I get back here again at half past four.
I had a fine time out in the country and a fishing. The chaplain & sergeant & several of the officers went on last night. I volunteered to go on patrol. WE send out 60 or 70 men every night through the City to pick up stragglers—that is, soldiers without proper passes. We go to the theatres and shows, &c. I should have asked your pardon for not writing to you oftener the last week but I was on the go—or sleeping all the time or busy at something. I was glad to get your letter from Carlisle and to know you had a good long visit. I hope the little dears enjoyed the trip. I got your letter of Thursday yesterday and was also pleased to hear that you got home safe and found everything all right.
I am sorry the garden is drying up as I have not had very plenty of vegetables this season. In regard to our coming home, I think I was about right in the time I wrote. You may not expect us until about the 20th of August. It may be a few days more or less. If there is anything known, I get to hear it as I am at headquarters a good deal and keep posted. As regard to what any of the men write home, you need not pay much attention to as I will write to you as soon as any when we get orders to move.
I suppose Mr. Shuey and Lena will make a match. His son here spoke about it some time ago.
I got a letter from Mother some time ago about her expecting and am perfectly satisfied with what she does as I think she is capable of judging what is best for her. I want her to be happy and comfortable and if she succeeds, all will be well.
Well, Anna, I hope you think of your Pa. There is a little girl that lives close to the fort I see everyday. I think she is like you and is quite a favorite with us. I will soon be home to you again.
Charley, my boy, when I come home, we will have a good time going around to see the people. Mary, you little dear, I will play with you. My dearest wife, keep in good spirits. I will soon be home to you to stay. I am done soldiering. I close by sending my love to you all from your true and loving husband. – J. E. Kinder
Letter 32
Fort Federal Hill Tuesday Morning, July 26 1864
My dear Wife and Children,
I again write you a letter to inform you that I am in good Health. We are still at the Hill and getting along first rate. We pass the time very agreeable and are all getting anxious for our time to expire. I don’t suppose there ever was a regiment of soldiers that contained as many married men as this does, nor one that was as temperate considering we are at a large city that is full of all the iniquities and temptations that flesh is heir to.
The time is passing very fast although we still have some time yet to serve, they have decided that our 100 days count from the 14th of May. Consequently our times are not out until the 22d of August, and if they keep us here until that time, it will be near the last of the month before we get to our homes. But I hope we will not be detained so long as they are now receiving lots of 100 days men here from Pennsylvania and New York. They are just commenced coming in.
There is a rumor here this morning that the raiders are coming back again and are at Martinsburg on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Our forces under Hunter are at Harpers Ferry. I suppose we will have another big scare. You need not be alarmed if you here that all communication is cut off here as 50 men can travel on horses at night and cut our telegraph; also burn a bridge &c. But as we have water communication, it will only keep our letters back about one day longer.
There is nothing new in regard to news or myself. Keep of good cheer and trust in God for my safe return. Although the time seems long, it will come. My love to you, dearest wife, and children. I close this and prepare for my trip to the Post Office. Gove my respects to all the neighbors. From you absent husband and father, — John E. Kinder
Letter 33
Fort Federal Hill July 28th 1864
My dear wife & children,
I again write to let you know that we are all well and having fine times. Yesterday morning we were agreeably disappointed by receiving two welcome visitors—Charley Allen & Fred Fox. It is the best thing we can have for a Ohioan to visit us. All the Boys flock around to hear them talk of home & things there about. Fred & Charley are messing with us and making it their home. Allen is going to his regiment today. Fox will stay with us about a week.
I and Al. Mays & a man from Co. C went out after blackberries yesterday. We had a fine time. Got about 5 gallons and also very tired. We are living very well having a good cook and plenty to eat. Nothing new to write—only that I did not get your Sunday’s letter as usual but expect it sure today.
My love to you and children. The time is going fast. I will soon be home. Keep in good cheer. Your husband and father, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 34
Fort Federal Hill July 28th 1864
My Dear Wife,
I wrote you a letter this morning & sent it by mail but as I have a chance to send this direct by All. Mays, I thought I would send it. I am sorry that All. has received such bad news from home as I will miss his company very much for we have been together ever since we have been here. The dispatch he received stated that his mother was quite bad and bordering on insanity, and that most of her grief was caused by the absence of her boys. It is hard to get a furlough here but by Capt. Rison & Col. Lowe’s influence, the Old Brigadier granted them furloughs for 10 days. I hope they may find things at home not so bad as represented which I think will be the case as none of the letters received today speak of it. All. has promised to call on you when he gets home and give you all the news, &c. He can tell you all what I have to do and how we live. I am sorry I cannot go home with him but I believe I would not like to come back again so I had better stany and finish out the time for good.
I will now say I received your letter of Sunday and Monday this forenoon and was sorry to hear of Mr. Sub’s afflictions. I hope God will spare our little dears to us, for I don’t know ow I could bear up under a severe loss. It is all for the best and let God’s will be done, not ours. I hope that I may be able to meet you all well and cheerful. You speak of your good Sunday dinner and wished I could have been there to eat with you. As far as the dinner went, I guess it don’t beat ours much. Today we had a large roast of beef, roasting ears, new potatoes, sugar house molasses, tomatoes sliced, blackberry pies, and rice pudding with other things. There, what do you think of that? I suppose you think I will not starve on that kind of diet. We now have ten in our mess—all good men. Our expense is not heavy as we draw our rations and have a mess fund for our cook to get the vegetables & extras with. All. & I was out yesterday and got about four gallons of berries. We had to walk about three miles in the country to get them but as it paid well, we did not regret getting a little tired.
The captain went to Washington today with 20 guards. He took a hundred stragglers down. Fred Fox and Charley Allen went down there today.
Well, little dears, I have nothing to write to you but that you will be good and mind Ma. Papa will soon be home to you again. Then we will have a big time. I will get the big carriage and two grays and take you down to Franklin and Aunt Rachel’s. My good dear wife, keep up your spirits. The time is growing short. Then all will be well. Laura, I suppose you are getting to be a great big girl. I hope you are good to the children & to Ma. I send my friends my good wishes and love to you all. Your absent husband, — J. E. Kinder.
Letter 35
Fort Federal Hill Sunday afternoon, July 31st [1864]
My Dear Wife & Children,
I again take advantage of the present opportunity to write you a letter. Firstly I will say that I am well and getting along as usual. There has been no change in affairs here as yet. With regard to the news, the excitement here is not near so great as it was during the other raid for the reason that we are stronger and better prepared, and that the rebs show no signs of visiting this locality.
The heat here is very great. Yesterday was by far the hottest day of the season and I for the first time suffered with it. Today it is very little different except we are having some little air stirring. As a general thing we have quite a breeze here but it now dry and hot. We suffer some from mosquitoes & bed bugs but as they don’t entirely disable and never kill, they are not much noticed. The captain and me had quite a time last night killing bed bugs. The floor looked this morning as though murder had been committed. Tonight we will keep a candle lit and one stand guard awhile the other sleeps. But I guess we will get through.
The health of our company is good. We have not one now in the hospital. Nute Catrow & Weldy & Reme Anderson are all about again but not fit for duty. The captain says they shall not try to go on duty anymore. I think we have the best record of health of any company in the service. The regiment has been remarkable healthy. Fred Dox is going to start home on Monday or Tuesday and I will send a letter by him. Fred has been all around and seems to enjoy his visit very much.
I will here say that I was disappointed by not getting your Thursday’s letter yesterday or today, as I have been getting them so regular. I could always count on them as sure, but I won’t blame you for I am sure the mails were at fault. I hope I will get one in the morning. The latest I have received was the one wrote a week ago today. I wonder now if you are not writing to me at this time.
As to our return home, I have nothing new on the subject and I see no reason to change my time which is between the 20th and 25th. As to the time when we will start from here is not yet known. I think they are commencing to get the things fixed for our relief. The 137th are to be sent from Ft. McHenry to Ft. Marshall tomorrow. Our men there are to come here. We will then have all but one company here. The 137th will start about 4 days sooner for home than us as they were swore in on the 10th and us on the 14th. The 29th from Zanesville is also ahead of us. It was swore in on the 9th. They are out in the outer fortifications. Also the 144th & 149th but I don’t know when the last two were cussed in, but I know they have had a hard time. They have been doing all sorts of guard & other duty and have also had severe loss in killed & wounded. They were in the Monocracy fight.
As soon as the 159th & 137th leave, we can then give you some idea when we will move. The camp will be full here after the companies get here from Ft. Marshall but we are fixed for them. This fort is fixed for a garrison of one thousand men and our full regiment does not number quite 900. The boys are all getting in good spirits and are all joyfully anticipating the happy reunions that await them in which I hope they may not be disappointed as all are worthy of a grand reception. Tis true we have done no fighting, but we have done all that we have had to do and done it well. It is the general talk throughout the city that our men have been more orderly and kept better order in the city than any troops that has ever been in these fortifications. But enough of this. I will close by sending my best regards to all the neighbors and my dearest love to you, my dear wife and sweet little children. Write regular as usual. Your absent husband & father, — John E. Kinder
Letter 36
Fort Federal Hill Monday evening, August 1, 1864
My Dear Wife and Darling Children,
Again your absent father husband and dearest of all addressed you a letter to let you know that he is well and thinking of you. I have an opportunity of sending you a letter by Mr. Fred Fox as he is going to start home tomorrow. He has had quite a visit here and I hope enjoyed himself. He has three brother-in-law here. Also his brother Dan, and he knew most all the regiment besides. You write as though you were afraid of me being picked up by the bushwhackers in my country excursions, but I assure you that I have not run the least risk and also that I have quit going out. The weather is so hot that I only do what I am compelled to—that is go to the post office.
This is another hot day and I have felt somewhat the effects of it, but I still feel very well and cannot complain. I suppose you would like to know my opinion of the draft. I will now say that I am done soldiering. I am satisfied I will be exempt. Also if I should not, that I would pay any price for a substitute. My family are dearer to me than my party as I am satisfied party has brought on this war and party keeps it up.
I received your letter of last Thursday this morning. Was glad to get it. Sorry to hear that Jack Simington’s wife was sick and pray that she still lives. I read part of your letter to her brother George. I am sorry to hear that it is sickly at home and hope we may be spared from afflictions as I am not with you to help & comfort you. But come what will, God is with you. Trust in Him and all will be well.
We had quite a time here this eve. The three companies of our regiment from Ft. Marshall came here. We are now all here and there is quite a good time in camp. The Boys are happy as they are thinking that soon they will see their wives and sweethearts. I am like the rest in good spirits to know that the time is getting short. I hope you keep in hood heart and keep lively for I would not rest if I thought you troubled yourself and were not happy.
August 2nd. Nothing new. The fort is all life now. Quite a crowd. Your loving husband and father, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 37
Headquarters Fort Federal Hill Thursday, August 4th 1864
My dear wife and children,
I again write to you to let you know that I am well and in good spirits although I am far from you and those I hold most dear. The time is getting short now that exists between me and you, my loved ones. But still long enough for great things to transpire. I hope I will be spared to meet you all and find you enjoying good health which seems a blessing when I think of the afflictions of our neighbors. Poor Mrs. Simington. It is hard to realize that she is dead. Also Bill Eagle. But such is the case and we must learn to know that the Lord ruleth and that all things are for the best. You write to me of a great deal of sickness and death. I suppose you will admit now that God is with us and protects us from sickness and death—the same as if we were at home. Still the winged angel of death has visited our regiment again. We lost one of our fellow soldiers last night. His name was Cornelius Young of Co. I. He came from Centreville but was a native of this state near Frederick. They have got a splendid coffin for him and will take his remains to his friends today.
This is the day set apart by the President for humiliation and prayer and there is preaching &c. here in the fort by the chaplain. It is like Sunday—nothing being done except what is really necessary. I was glad to hear that All got through safe and called to see you. I know it did you good to see one who had been so lately with me. I expect him back this week as his furlough will be out on Saturday. There is no much news here.
There was a large fire last night not far off from us which was a grand sight. It was a lumber yard and some small buildings. It commenced at 8 p.m. last eve and is not yet entirely out. They are still throwing water with one or two stream engines. I went past it in going and coming from the post office.
Our company is all here from Ft. Marshall and I have an assistant in carrying the mail. I go in the morning and he in the afternoon. He did carry for the other companies and the Colonel said as the time was so short that we both could act as post masters and not have it so hard.
There is no one of our company sick now in hospital and only three or four that is not fit for duty. The other companies are not quite as fortunate. As to going home, I have nothing new to write, as I don’t know anything that will change my mind as regards to time which is between the 20th and the 25th of this month. We have plenty of fine fruit here such as peaches, pears, apples, plums, watermelons and in fact, everything of good things. I am sorry you are not here to get some.
But I will close by saying I received a letter from Mother yesterday in which she tells me that she has concluded to change her name about the first of September. I also got a letter today from Michael. He write that they will move on the farm again in October. They are all well. I close by sending my respects to all my friends. My love to you and children. From your devoted husband and father, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 38
Fort Federal Hill Sunday afternoon, August 7th 1864
My dearest wife and sweet little children.
I again take up my pen to let you know that I am still through the blessings of our great heavenly Father, well and enjoying excellent health. The health of our regiment is good but all very anxious to get home. The news from home is very bad for a great many of our company, but thank God I am still left from the pains of hearing the saddest news. I feel for those here that have lost dear ones at home. The news you send in regard to the mill and Uncle Jo is bad but of a kind that will not trouble me as I cannot help it now. I am satisfied if you are all spared to me.
All. Mays and George arrived safe here yesterday eve. I was looking for them and also for your welcome letter. My dear wife, I appreciate your dear letters. I generally read them over two or three times and then save them. I have all that you have wrote me. I am very anxious to see you and hope that the time will soon pass for us to meet again. I feel for you in these sickly times knowing your nature to anticipate the worst but I hope God will give you strength to keep up through all your trials.
I understand from Mays that everything looks sad and gloomy in the burg, that politics and the draft are not spoken of. The people are all concerned in the health of the place. I hope that before this reaches you that there will be an improvement in the health.
There is no news to send from here. We are all being gathered together again and no passes allowed for the officers or men to go out of the fort unless on very urgent cases. Then the pass has to be sent to Fort McHenry and be approved by Gen. Morris. I and Antram, the late P. M. of Ft. Marshall, who is now here, are the only ones that can go to the city. We both carry the mail—I for the Headquarters and Camp Distribution, and he for the companies. I go in the morning and he in the afternoon. So I have it easy. The whole companies are having it better as there is so many here that guard duty is light now.
Our mess is broke up on account of our stove and room being taken to accommodate the three new companies from Ft. Marshall. We now eat with the balance of the company with what extras I bring out from town. We have plenty here and fruit and vegetables are very cheap. I would like to send some home to you but the cost of sending things 690 miles is heavy. Also the time would take so long that they would spoil. I got nice peaches for 30 cents per peck. Watermelons and muskmelons are cheap. Potatoes are large and sell at 75 to 100 per bushel. Tomatoes and other vegetables are cheaper than I ever knew them at home.
I have five dollars just left. I loaned to Ed Stevens. I will not however get it until we get to Camp Chase and paid off. So I will make the 5 do me until then. I will close by sending my dearest love to you all, — J. E. K.
Letter 39
Fort Federal Hill Thursday morning, August 11th 1864
My dear wife,
I received your letter of Sunday & Monday morning yesterday and in reply I will say that I am in my usual health and getting along as well as I possible could to be a soldier. I am getting very anxious to get home but I do not worry or feel homesick. As you know, that is my disposition. I look at things square and have made up my mind to be satisfied and also to take it as it comes. In regard to when we will be home, I still see nothing to change my opinion as to the time, which will be between the 20th and 25th, We do not yet know what day we will leave here but it will be in a short time. You mat write your letter of Sunday to this place. After that, direct to the 131st, Columbus, Ohio. I think we will start from here about the 16th or 17th. We go home by the Harrisburg route over the Pennsylvania Central Railroad. The Colonel asked Gen. Wallace as a favor to be sent that way which he granted.
The weather here is still warm and dry but we have splendid nights to sleep owing to the good breeze from off the Bay. The mosquitoes and bed bugs are somewhat blood thirty and are keeping us from sleeping too long at a time but I have, however, taken the advantage of them and take my afternoon nap which sometimes lasts from 1 to 5 so you see I get my sleep in two installments.
As regards to the report that they talk of keeping the men over the 5th of September, there is nothing in it. We expect the government to keep good faith with us and discharge us at the end of our 100 days. If all the 100 days men—and there is about 40 thousand from Ohio—feel as this regiment does, it would affect the election of Mr. Lincoln to detain us over our time. Also prevent the O.N. G. from ever rallying to the call again. You know the sacrifice our men are making and we are but a fair average. All of the regiments are composed of the best, reliable, and productive of our people.
I was sorry to hear of Laura’s having the flux but hhope she has recovered. You at home have had a serious visitation of disease. Here is is very healthy and I only wish I could have had my dear family here but the army is no place for woman as men are careless of speech adn actions, and also reckless at times.
I am sorry to hear of the deaths you wrote about and hope that we may be spared from affliction and troubles. But I must close by sending my love to you and children and hope this will find you all well. Your true and loving husband, — J. E. Kinder
P. S. As soon as we receive orders relative to our moving, I will write.
Letter 40
Fort Federal Hill Tuesday morning, Aug 16th [1864]
My Dear wife,
I suppose you were disappointed in not getting a letter from me any sooner so I will tell you how I have put in the time and where I have been.
Well, I got detailed on Saturday evening to go with a guard to Fortress Monroe which is one hundred & eighty miles down the Chesapeake Bay. We started on a large steamboat at 6 p.m. & got to Fortress Monroe at 8 a.m. Sunday. When we got there we was ordered to take our recruits to City Point, up the James River. We started up at 10 a.m. and got there at 5 p.m. We was then at the front. Gen. Grant’s Headquarters are there and it is the Great Military Point, being at the mouth of the Appomatox river. I was hardly off the boat until I could hear the booming of the cannon and noise of distant fighting. The first thing yesterday morning was the distant sound of cannon and roar of musketry. I rolled over in the tent and took another nap. I slept with the officers of the 148th Ohio N. G.—a regiment from Marietta. They treated us well; got us supper & breakfast. There is a great many soldiers there as it is the great point for shipping soldiers. Also large Hospitals for sick & wounded. I saw a place as large as half of the Burg covered with hospital tents and also thousands of horses, mules & cattle—and wagons. But my dear, I will not undertake to tell you in this what I saw. I would not have missed the trip for 50 dollars.
I got here this morning at 6 and found your letter of the11th which came to hand after I had started. I was glad to hear of you all being in good health. Also that the general health was getting better.
My Dear, I will now speak of our starting Home. As yet the time is not known but from general indications, I think we will start on Thursday or Friday. The 137th started yesterday and we are only 4 days behind them. You may write one letter to Columbus direct 131st. I will write again from here as soon as we are ordered to move. So I must close. My love to all. Your affectionate husband, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 41
Fort Federal Hill Thursday afternoon, August 18th [1864]
My dear wife & children,
I take pleasure in writing to you to let you know that I am well and busy getting ready to start home tomorrow morning.
We will get to Columbus about Sunday and will be home about Thursday or Friday. It will be owing to how long it will keep us to be mustered out and paid off. The Boys are all in good spirits and having lots of sport. I am still attending to the mail. I have not got your Sunday’s letter yet but expect it this evening. I will close and write again from Columbus. Yours, — J. E. Kinder
Letter 42
Columbus, Ohio Sunday noon, August 21st 1864
My dear wife,
We arrived here all well at 11 o’clock today. We are yet at the depot awaiting orders. I suppose we will be ordered out to Camp Chase this afternoon. We had a pleasant trip here. We were in Pittsburgh from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. yesterday. We got a good start early Friday morning from Baltimore. We came by Harrisburg, Pa.
I can’t tell when we will be home. It may be three days yet but I am very thankful to be so near home, safe and sound. I did not receive your last letter. I will look for one here when the office opens. If you get this Monday eve, you can write Tuesday morning. Direct to 131st, Columbus, O.
All of Company D are here and well. Yours in haste, — J. E. Kinder
Spared & Shared 23 