The following Illinois home front letters were written by William “Houston” Mann (1820-1907), the son of John Beattie Mann (1796-1881) and Albina Bloomer Balch (1797-1882) of Randolph County. Houston wrote both letters to his brother, 41 year-old John Preston Mann (1822-1908) who served from 31 August 1861 to 27 October 1865 in the 5th Illinois Cavalry along with another brother, 30 year-old Calvin Anderson Mann (1833-1902). Both brothers were officers, Calvin rising to the rank of Captain of Co. K. During the seige of Vicksburg, Capt. Calvin Mann led a detachment of 40 men on a daring raid behind enemy lines that resulted in his capture. See Mann’s Raid. Houston was married in 1843 to Martha Pettit and lived until 1884 on the homestead near Kaskaskia he fondly called “Pleasant Ridge.” He afterward moved to Salina, Kansas, where he died in 1907.

Letter 1

[Editor’s Note: William “Houston” Mann wrote this letter to his younger brother, John Preston Mann (1822-1908) who served in the 5th Illinois Cavalry with another brother, Calvin Anderson Mann (1833-1902). John P. Mann was married to Nancy Clendenin Mann (1829-1912) adn they lived in Liberty (now Rockwood), Illinois on the Mississippi River 70 miles south of St. Louis. John served in the 5th Illinois Cavalry from 1861 to 1864, rising to 2nd Lieutenant, Company K, and regimental commissary. Because he saw little action and was stationed only a few days’ journey downriver, John Mann was able to preserve all of Nancy’s letters. These letters offer scholars a chance to study all aspects of life on the homefront from the perspective of a woman who watched the war’s traffic steam past her front porch. Nancy kept John connected to their four daughters and consulted him about the family finances. She also depicted political tensions in a town where many families had southern ties, while their neighbors provided shelter to runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. Nancy’s letters to her husband are preserved in the Mann Family Papers at the Southern Illinois University archive in Carbondale.]

“Pleasant Ridge” [homestead near Kaskaskia, Randolph county, Illinois]
June 24th I863

Dear Brother [John Preston Mann],

Yours of 14th of June came to hand in due time and was gladly received. We had heard that you had left Helena but had not heard where you had gone to—only that you had gone down the river. Was glad that you & Calvin [5th Illinois Cavalry] escaped so well out of that skirmish & that the Rebs have learned to fear the “Yankees,” “Northern Hordes,” “Lincoln’s Minions” &c. Hope you & Calvin will trade horses until you get mounted on the best. To be sure, you are right and in a [illegible]. I believe you both have the true grit & if only well mounted, would go as far as the foremost. Your Major could not have been well mounted or he——-

But you must respect your superior officers. I hope Gen. Grant will succeed in taking Vicksburg as soon as possible. I have no doubts myself that he will finally succeed, but many of the copperheads seem impatient at his slowness. I only fear that Johnston and Beauregard will get reinforcements sufficient to break up the siege & if so, the Northern traitors, K. G. C’s [Knights of the Golden Circle], Copperheads, & discontents generally would give oyster suppers, send greetings, & have a good time generally. I think that the traitors of this country have knocked under and are lying mum—even at Evansville, the rankest Secesh hole in the county they are quiet. They have found out that Union men have been holding private meeting as well as public & they are not invited to attend. Neither is anyone permitted to go into them who would reveal the objects & plans of the Union men.

They have also learned that the Union men are arming themselves, having heard a report that two wagon loads of some mysteriously covered commodity left Sparta six weeks ago & came down in direction of Preston and Harmon settlement, which is often confirmed by them talking to our men about it when our men “looks wise and speaks doubtful” and in some instances showing the handle of a revolver. This is done for effect as they are not armed except with the usual hunting rifle & shot guns that they have been accustomed to use on their farms. The Union men around Preston have procured some forty or fifty revolvers, individually, & I suppose they carry them at all times when they leave home. This is done to be prepared to meet an organization of K. G. C.’s at Evansville in which a proposition was made to raise a bushwhacking company to kill Union men & destroy their property. In that lodge, Chestnutwood, Alex Hood, & 36 others did form & organize a company for that purpose & elected their officers, Jim Richey (Bill’s son) and Blair (Sandy Dunn’s brother-in-law) opposed it to the bitter end. They said they were Democrats but they never joined the K. G. C.’s for that purpose and would not go into it. The result was they had a fracas in meeting & since then Jim Richey has left for California.

News from Vicksburg to the 4th—Good! Good! There is to be a Grand Demonstration here this evening, firing of the cannon, illumination &c Good! Good! Thank our Maker.

July 7th I863. Since writing the foregoing we have finished our harvesting. Alfred’s pretty good My own very light. They had a meeting in Chester which was large. The Union men seemed to have the majority. The Chester copperheads went to Evansville as there was to be a pay dinner there, the proceeds of which was to go to assist in supporting the Picket Guard. Poor thing! It is not able to support itself & has to be supported upon fashionable charity. There was a very large celebration in Lively Prairie of Union men. Other parts of the county is not heard from.

We have all been enrolled for the draft. No trouble. In Kaskaskia, William Crawford was appointed to do it. His manner at the commencement led some of them to think that he was afraid & they played off a joke upon him & got him so alarmed that he backed out. A copperhead told me that if he had went at it & done it, there would have been no trouble about. Bob Gant enrolled all of the township east ofthe river including Reily’s and Roberts’ neighborhood & if he had his [illegible], it would all have been done by this time.

We have just heard of a heavy battle in Pennsylvania & hope it is as well for us as reported. We are looking for [brother] Jonta [Jonathan Balch Mann, 80th Illinois Infantry] to come home on furlough. His address is Murfreesboro, Tennessee Field Hospital, Tent No. 9. But it is no use for you to write him as he will be moved if he don’t come home. — Huston

[Brother] Clinton’s ¹ address is Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Care of Capt. Nevill, 22nd Regt. Illinois Vols.

¹ Robert Clinton Mann (1824-1863) served in the 22nd Illinois Infantry and was wounded in the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863. He died of his wounds on 2 October 1863.

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Letter 2

Pleasant Ridge
January 29, 1864

Dear Brother,

Yours of the December last came in due time and answer delayed in hopes of seeing Luther but on account of the cold weather he has failed to come up. I am engaged in teaching & cannot go down there to see him. Therefore, I will write without waiting further. Papa, Alfred & I agree in thinking that the McLaughlin debt is the only debt that is crowding us now & that it ought to be settled as soon as possible. Enclosed I send an account of the indebtedness to him with the amount of of credits. I will consult Luther the first opportunity & I think you may safely entrust him with it as he has been in tight places himself & has always managed to get through.

Boyd’s cannot crowd for two years yet, unless they can get something on you personally. I suggest that you send Papa & Mother a five or a ten once in a while as they have nothing to make pocket change out of and they often would get little comforts that they don’t ask Alfred for & do without.

You wrote Papa that you had no account of the particulars of Clinton’s death. Neither have we. He was wounded in the shoulder and taken to the hospital which the rebels succeeded in getting possession of & he was with them till the morning that he was exchanged & we do not hear of any of our men that saw him alive but suppose that he died about the time he was brought in. He is buried in Chattanooga. Jnta [Jonathan] saw his grave. Poor brother! Blasted in his earthly ties. We hope he is now at rest where he can enjoy that happiness that is lasting as eternity, free from all malice, hatred, envy, strife, and sedition.

Mrs. Pettit is very sick & has been for two months. The rest of the neighbors are well. There is nothing new—only one of my scholars dared to put on the secesh badge a few days ago in school which when I found out, I took occasion to reprove & forbid in future. The lassie went home in high dudgeon at the infringement of her rights & I understand that her father is [in] great perplexity & doubt how to proceed. Such an insult to the South is not to be borne at all. If Jeff Davis was to hear that such conduct was tamely submitted to on the part of his professed friends, he would class them as no better than an Abolition Schoolmaster.

J. H. Nelson is dead and what a twitter there is in the Union ranks. Many Union men think that as they are for the Union, they are entitled to the suffrages of the people. Many more are Union men for the sake of the offices (the court house including a certain butcher). I do hope that the Union will lay aside all private friendships & bring out men that are honest & well qualified & leave out all of the old wind broken, shavened, stage horses that are but a hundrance to the cause. — Houston