The following letter was written by 33 year-old Margaret Vail (Kelley) Lester (1830-1917), the daughter of David Kelley (1806-1876) and his first wife, Charity Herrick (1806-1832) of Danby, Rutland county, Vermont. David Kelley later moved to DuPage county, Illinois. Margaret was married in April 1848 in DuPage county, Illinois, to James Franklin Lester (1824-1899). In the 1860 US Census, Margaret and James were residing in Marengo, McHenry county, Illinois, where James was employed as a farm laborer and a carpenter. An obituary for Margaret (The Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa, June 28, 1918) informs us that Margaret was born at Danby Four Corners, Vermont, and came to Illinois with her parents when she was 15 years old. She had been educated in the Castleon Seminary in Vermont and entered the teaching profession. Once married, the couple had two children—Emma Frances who died at the age of 16, and James Henry who died in 1917.

Margaret wrote the letter to her half-brother, Thomas Benton Kelley who was serving in Co. E, 8th Illinois Cavalry at the time.

What truly shines in this letter is Margaret’s bold articulation of the argument for women’s equality, challenging the status quo with fierce clarity.

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November 26, 1863

My dear neglected brother,

Thanksgiving eve & I cannot rest on my pillow another night before I pen you a few broken lines. I have written so little for a year back. It has become a task instead of a pleasure. Is it a possible thing? I will call it a task. No dear, brother, it is not so. But I have apparently made it so. But noble sir, I am with you in imagination, hour after hour, & many a meal do I feel as if my dear good brothers could share with me.

Oh, I have written many & many imagined epistles to you. I am almost sure sometimes I never will be forgiven for my cold neglect. But a promise for the future. My best wishes to Mary. I expect she feels my cold neglect, but come here & see what I have to pass through with & you would not wonder. I will admit the dust should ought to lay deeper on the toilet & the bed quilt not so closely tucked rather than this neglect.

Oh my dear brother, I must admit I have at times apparently become like adamant hardened to all loved friends, friendship or mankind, and finally towards all mankind. But dear brother, I have nearly overcome that awful feelings. Thank God, I can overcome it. Will do it. While I am sitting in my snug little sitting room & look around me & see the comforts around me. And then I think how wicked & wrong when there is so much suffering & so many noble soldiers dying, laying on the battlefield.

Thou art a brave boy. Fight on until freedom prevails. I am glad to learn that you are enduring soldiery so well. I should have been one amongst you if I had been a man. I hope this dreadful conflict will soon end but I feel as if the North had not as yet felt the blow as the South has, for they have had to have the battles & battle fields amongst them. But for all that, we are losing so many noble fathers & sons & brothers. It seems like exchanging White for Black. But freedom should be [for] all mankind. I am for freedom & Womans’ rights. Why is there not more equilibrium in this world? Look at the man. He will earn his 12 shillings & his 14 shillings & so on, up to 2 dollars for a common laborer, but the woman may labor, yes, on and on she goes, & closely apply her needle, but she will, when the week rolls around, she has earned one half as much per week as the day laborer has earned per day. Why this inequality? Why this bondage? Why man goes where he pleases? Does say what he pleases & a woman must be silent? Why this inequality? God only knows & man must account for this. We were all borne equal beings & I am enjoying myself pretty well, having the comforts of life, am apparently happy, but have to work hard for them.

I will return to my thanksgiving supper. We were invited out to one of our neighbors to supper. Enjoyed it much—the whole family. I hope my dear brother was where he could enjoy the necessary comforts if no more. Be patient, for thou shalt be blessed by well doing. Henry’s folks I hardly have seen or heard from for the last three months as usual. I guess the babe, Jane Charity, has been sick all the fall.

I have one boarder & a great deal company & it does seem as if I never should have any respite. Besides, Emma & myself take in work. She goes to school & her studies are crushing her. She is not very stout. She is very industrious. She often speaks of you & of Mary & Mittie, but she is not at home or she would write. She will write soon. Her correspondence is quite extensive. Emma is one good girl & Henry is another T. B. Kelley right over. He would go to the war & who would blame me if I was old enough. That is him to a dot. I have not seen father for nearly a year. It is a year last fall since I was home. E[mma] & Henry was there this fall. Mother, I guess, carries on the hotel & Father stays on the farm a great deal. E. Parish’s sister says mother has the blues. Gets quite hystericky. I believe Pa is a going to move Annetta back to the depot somewhere. I shall go to Henry’s before long. Come home as soon as your time is out or as soon soon as you can.

I hope you will excuse James for not writing. It is not for any ill will. Pleas accept his best wishes. He has a brother at Fort Jackson. Edson [Sportnoble?] was brought home a corps. He was poisoned by the physician by a sponge that was used by a man with erysipelas which caused his death. The doctor’s brother-in-law wanted his office. From your sister M [ ] Lester. My best wishes to M. E. Jones. Tell him we thank him for his photograph & Emma will write to you both soon. Goodbye.

As to our photograph, I don’t see no way at present. As fast as I can get one, I will send it you.

The following letter was written by an indignant 18-year-old Alexander Derr Peebles (1843-1913), the son of Robert E. Peebles and Eliza Derr from Pana, Shelby County, Illinois. In May 1865, he entered into matrimony with Amy Downs in Shelby County, and in 1882, they moved to a farm in Kansas, ultimately establishing their residence in Eureka, Greenwood County, Kansas.

Alexander wrote the letter to his friend, Pvt. Matthew H. Karr (1839-1862) of Co. B, 14th Illinois Infantry. Most likely Matthew received this letter, but it may have been his last. He died from injuries and exposure on the battlefield at Shiloh on 11 April 1862. His parents were Charles and Jerusha (Harvey) Kerr of Shelby county, Illinois. Mathew’s sister Nancy Karr (b. 1845) is mentioned in the letter.

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Shelby county, Illinois
March 10, 1862

Mr. M. H. Karr—sir,

I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at this time and hope these few lines may find you. the same. John Rhoads was married the next Sunday after you left here. ¹ Nancy is well. I was up there yesterday. I had a fine time with her.

Now I must tell you what happened last night. Dick Riggs was up to see Jane, the God-damned Sarl top. I wish he was in hell. I got the mitten by God from her. He is a God damned greenhorn as well as myself. I wish you had a been here last night and seen the fun. Almon Simmons is here on a furlough but it going back this week to Fort Donelson.

I don’t think Jane wanted to slight me but I think she was put up to it by that God damned pewter bollocks Dick Riggs. If he did that, I will break his neck. He was there all day with her. I thought [it] strange that she was not at meeting with the girls. I began to smell a mice so I went up to see what was up and they all looked as mad as hell. Jane looked like she did not know what to do. When I asked here if I could stay, she could not say at first and at last she whispered no. So I left.

I have not much to write. I will write to you again. So no more at present but write soon. — A. D. Peebles

Direct [to] Pana, [Illinois]

To M. H. Karr

¹ Shelby county marriage records inform us that John Rhodes was married to Lurany Myers on 23 February 1862.

The following letter was written by John W. Dietz (1841-1898), the son of Garet W. Dietz (1812-1889) and Margaret Coon, (1811-1894). From his letter, datelined from Belden, Illinois, in mid-November 1861, we learn that John had numerous correspondents serving in Illinois regiments but that he was tending store and farming in McHenry county—a county bordering the State of Wisconsin. When he registered for the draft in 1863, he was identified as single and with no prior service in the military. I have not found any evidence that he ever volunteered or was drafted. His obituary follows:

“John W. Dietz was a native of New York, and was born in Oswego County Feb. 21, 1841, and was therefore 57 yeara old at the time of his desease which oc- cured July 16, 1898. When a child his parents removed to McHenry County Ill., where he remained until after his marriage with S. Louise Cook in 1863. In 1871 Mr. Dietz came to Iowa and settled at Cedar Rapids where they remained but a year, returning to Illinois. They remained in Illinois until 1881 when they came to Osceola county [Iowa] and settled near Sibley where they remained until seven years ago when they moved to Sibley where they have since resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Deitz were born four children, two sons and two daughter. All of these live to revere an honored father save one daughter who died in infancy. In this demise a wife loses a faithful and affectionate husband, the sons and daughters a loving father, the community a faithful and upright citizen. His associations are of a pronounced character. Those who knew him best thought the most of him.”

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Belden, Illinois
McHenry County
November 15th 1861

Cousin George,

I received your much welcomed letter last Friday and take this opportunity to answer it but you must excuse me with a short letter for I don’t have more than three minutes to write at once. I have nothing interesting to you to write. It is different me writing you than you writing me for there is no body or anything here that you are acquainted with that I can write about but it is not so with you. I am acquainted there and like to hear from you and other old friends. But I find you are all not very punctual in writing. I have written to several of the boys in your place but do not get any answers. I did once get a partnership letter from Bill Every, Add Barnes, John Walley, and two or three others. I answered each one separately the next day but have not heard from them since. I don’t know but they are all gone to the war. If they have gone, [if] any of them write me what company and what regiment they are in, I will write them once more for luck.

I get the war news pretty regular now. I have dix correspondences in the 15th Illinois Regiment, two in the 36th Illinois Regiment. Both are now in Missouri—one at Rolla, one at Springfield. I also have three correspondence in the 8th Illinois Cavalry Regiment now at Washington. They write each one once in two weeks so you see my time is occupied what little I have.

I have been for the past month and a half tending store and have about sick with the ague which I know don’t agree with me. Two months ago I weighed 160 lb. but now I weight only 145 lb. so you can see something don’t agree with me. George, I will give you a faint idea of about how much farming has paid here for the past two years. Wheat has been worth 45 to 95 cents. Now worth 50. It has yielded about ten to 15 bushels per acre. Oats worth from ten to fifteen cents per bushel. Corn about the same although I believe corn has been worth as high as 20 cents in Chicago. This year corn is good. I know places that goes 1.25 bushels ears to the acre about 75 bushels shelled. You may think we cannot make a living at such prices and crop but we do and a good living too. So what do you think when we get from 20 to 40 bushels wheat per acre and from $1 to $1.50 per bushel for it. and oats 75 cents, about 90 cents. Then is the time we make money. We keep a Dutch diary as usual. Got 1 cow, 10 horses and colts, 8 or 10 young cattle, 260 sheep. The sheep pays big although we sold the wool rather cheap this year. Sold for 29 cents.

We think some of trying a hop yard. I thought that will pay. Big hops is worth in Chicago more than that in New York all the time. I must close for the present. Write soon. Your coz, — John Dietz

P. S. George, I will send you a couple papers today. You spoke about sending my likeness. I will as soon as I go where I can get it taken good and have time. Send yours as soon as you can. — John

The following letter was written by Elvira Cole (1805-1886), the 57 year-old unwed daughter of Alva Cole (1774-1846) and Rosemond Freeman (1787-1847) of Cattaraugus county, New York. Elvira lived for twenty-five years or so in Avon, Fulton County, Illinois. She died and was buried there in 1886.

Elvira wrote these letters to her younger sister, Ruba Eloise (Cole) Merrill (1816-1887) who later lost both her husband, Barzilla Merrill and her son, Alva Merrill, in the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863 when they were serving in Co. K, 154th New York Infantry.

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Avon, [Fulton county, Illinois]
August 14, 1862

My dear sister and brother,

My health is very good but somehow I feel dull and bad this morning. I have been out two evenings to war meetings and last night went to the depot to see the volunteers start off. Quite a number went from this place and among them the most prominent members of the church. The recruiting officer had been down the road gathering up his men to go to Chicago on the night train and be sworn in today. There were three or four cars full. This we were told is the winding up of volunteering. Next comes the draft. Rev. Richard Haney, our former presiding Elder is to be Chaplain of the regiment and his son James Haney is expected to be Captain of the company. These men go in so it is believed the moral and spiritual interests of the soldiers will be care for.

When we started to come home last night, a friend told me that he saw brother Samuel ¹ in the cars and spoke with him. He had enlisted and had not time to come to see but I think I shall see him yet before they move from Camp Douglas. Those that have left home suddenly without settling up their business have encouragement of coming home on a furlough of eight or ten days soon after being organized into companies and regiments.

I am going to send Uncle Stephen’s letter to you. He has been unfortunate again in losing his wife for I think he had a very good one. I believe he did not live with her quite two years. I suppose the Ophelia he speaks of to be a niece of his last wife but am not sure. The grandson is Melissa’s son by her first husband.

The prospects here are dubious—war so near and maybe much nearer. Guerrilla parties have done some mischief in Missouri within five hours ride from us. We have martial law throughout the State I suppose to prevent men from running away from being drafted. I don’t know what will be next but enough of this. You will think I am getting the blues but there is no such thing. When I think I am in danger of that, I get the Book and read the 91st Psalm and claim the protection there promised though I don’t know as I have a right to.

Our friends were all well when last heard from. I have not seen Samuel since January nor many of the rest of them. Peter called often during the spring and forepart of the summer but has not for the last month. I thought of filling out the sheet but I can’t see and it is almost train time so I must stop. My love to all. Goodbye, — E. Cole

Do write. I want to hear if I don’t very often. You can both see better than I.

Ebenezer Sanford’s second son was killed in the Pittsburgh [Landing] battle [Shiloh].

¹ Samuel Dill Cole enlisted as a private in Co. I, 72nd Illinois Infantry in mid-August 1862. See 1864: Samuel Dill Cole To Ruby (Cole (Merrill.

The following Illinois home front letter was written by 19 year-old Lucretia Smith (Trickle) Mathews (1843-1910) to her husband Lemuel Fordum Mathews (1840-1889) of West Jersey, Stark county, Illinois. I transcribed four of Lemuel’s letters back in 2014; see—1863: Lemuel Fordum Mathews to Lucretia (Treakle) Mathews.

Lemuel enlisted in Company D, 112th Illinois Infantry in August 1862. Beginning in April 1863, the regiment served as mounted infantry during the Knoxville Campaign, before being dismounted in February 1864.

Lemuel was shot in the upper right arm (or shoulder) at Resaca, Georgia on 14 May 1864. He was sent to a hospital at Chattanooga but gangrene and typhoid fever complicated his recovery and he was subsequently sent to hospitals in Nashville, Tennessee, and New Albany, Indiana. Lemuel survived the war but he lost the complete use of his right arm and, as such, was judged disabled and honorably discharged from Camp Butler, Illinois in August 1864. After  the war, the couple relocated to Elmwood, Peoria County, Illinois and then to Spring Creek, Cowley County, Kansas by 1885.

Mentioned in the letter several times is Lemuel’s brother, Whitfield [“Whit”] D. Mathews (1838-1914), who served in the same company. Whit was married in October 1861 to Mary (“Mollie) Angeline Chaddock (1843-1900).

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West Jersey [Stark county, Illinois]
November 19th 1862

Dear Husband,

I have received two letters from you since I last wrote though it has not been quite a week—one last Friday and one yesterday. I am still at your Father’s but will return home soon. We have been having rainy weather. It rained all yesterday afternoon. Mollie & I went after the mail & it rained nearly all the time we was gone but I got a letter from you & so felt quite well paid for getting a little wet. Mollie received two from Whit last week. Your folks got one from you. They have received two since you left which is all you said you had written. Mollie wrote that letter for your folks. You must not expect to hear any more directly than that for you know they can’t write. They are getting along very well. It is so muddy now that they can’t do much. I wrote how they were getting along with their work last week; they have got that smokehouse moved. Moved it last Saturday. Major Lewis helped them. Your Mother says that she & Mollie get along very well for it was her intention to get along with her when she came & she calculated to get along with her. She intends to bear all she can & humor her as much as possible—that is, as long as she keeps within bounds, not to give up to much to her, and make her comfortable if they can. They do not think she is satisfied but they can’t tell for she don’t say anything. She seems well enough contented but Whit spoke in his letter as if she was not. You need not show this to him or tell him what I write for I mean this letter to most of it to be confidential. I think I know she tries your Mother & Father very much…

I got that letter with your picture in it & so did they. I thought I told you about it. They have got all you sent them. My ink was so pale I thought I would try some of the red ink. I have got only six from you. You said in your last that that was your 7th. If so, I have missed the one between that and the one with those evergreens in….You may expect a small package after while. I can’t tell just when in the course of a few weeks. I will advise you at the time. We have mush & milk here for supper which just suits me. What made you ask me how your mother treats me? You might know she would treat me well enough, & I will treat her as well as I can. She wishes you would not have anything to do with taking sheep, geese, &c. It is nothing but stealing she thinks & you know that is wrong & eating warm victuals the rebels prepare—don’t do it for they may poison you. I want you to be careful what you do to contract any disease for you are liable enough to be sick anyway. It must have been very sad indeed to have followed the body of a comrade to the grave. I hope it may prove an effectual warning to all.

Your mother thinks you ought to set the example of keeping the Sabbath more strictly. You could take your book & go off & read & perhaps others would follow your example, and you might do a great deal of good & be improving yourself too. You know we must watch & pray that we enter not into temptation & that we may not also lead others into temptation. She wants you and Whit to live together as brothers should now you are in a strange country.

October [November] 31st

I have just received your letter dated October [November] 21st & from Big Eagle & will try and answer it if I can. I wish if you please that you would mention the date of the letters you receive from me so that I can tell whether you get them all or not. I am sorry your feet get sore but I know you never were used to waling much. I expect you will have to get used to it now though. Your Father said that he was anxious to know how you stood walking so much. I think I will go over there next week to stay a while. I have not been able to go till now.

Uncle Charles was up after Grandmother this week since our folks went up to C—- but she was not here so he didn’t take her. I have not heard anything more of your folks since I wrote that other sheet full. Lana Eagon is staying with us while our folks are away. She says Tabitha Garner has had only one letter from Henry since he left Peoria. Do you know anything of him? Write all you know (that is, whether they are well or sick, &c.) of the Jersey boys when you write for all ask, have you heard from the boys lately when they see Lizzie & me. I would have finished this yesterday but I got into bigger business. Sand’s little girl is here with her & you know me—must do something to amuse her. So Angie brought down a great lot of old rags & we (Angie & e) went to work to making a doll. I worked all day on it & its clothes. We made quite a presentable looking article. I know you would say so if you saw it for the first attempt on my part. I wanted to get my hand in you know. Angie is making ginger bread. She says she wouldn’t mind shaking hands with you now. I am of the impression it would be easier to take hold than to let go. You will have to be a pretty good farmer when you get back if you raise potatoes enough for our own use if my appetite keeps increasing as it has done for a week back. Pickles don’t go very bad, or ginger bread.

Our preacher, Rev. Elliot, stayed with us last Sabbath night. He did not discover I was married till morn. Then he said, “good morning, sister Trickle!” when I came out of the room. There was someone else in the dining room so I took the liberty to tell him my name was not Trickle but Mathews. He wanted to know how that happened, it was Trickle on the class book. I told him I was married a short time ago & presumed it had not been changed yet & so they they will get married & be given in marriage says he. I said I supposed so & so it would be as long as the world lasted he said. He then inquired “where you was.” I told him in the army. He wanted to know if you was a good man. I told I thought so. Was you a “Soldier of the Cross?” I said yes sir. He said that was the “kind of soldiers was needed in the army.” He next asked “Where you held your membership.” I said you was a Presbyterian. He looked down a minute & then looked up kind of funny. “Well how do you make it?” says he. He looked so comical I could not help smiling as I told him, “We had not made it at all yet.” He wanted to know which had the “strongest influence.” I told him we had not tried to see yet. He talked a while & said he thought everyone ought to so whatever they thought was right under such circumstances & that it was none of his business how we did—only his being my pastor, he felt some interest of course in my welfare and of course did not want to lose one of his members if he could help it though he did not say so. I thought I should do what I thought was my duty anyhow. I do not think it would be best to do anything until you return. Then I think we will try our luck membership in the same church. I, like Mr. E, like to see families united as much as possible on this subject.

I would like to send you a good apple We had between 6 & 700 bushels this year on our orchard.

I have not been home since I wrote & so Angie has not got her letter yet. I expect they are all well. Mother M. says they are baking some mince pies & if you will call over, you may have some. We would be very glad to receive a call from you indeed.