The following letters were written by Cornelius Shanafelt (1839-1906), the son of Peter Shanafelt (1800-1875) and Elizabeth Funk (1801-1863) of Greentown, Stark county, Ohio. Cornelius enlisted as a private in Co. L, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry in September 1861 and transferred to Co. F in February 1863. He later reenlisted as a veteran in the regiment and did not muster out until 11 September 1865 at St. Louis, Missouri.

After the war he married Talitha McMacklin (1840-1906) and moved to Jeffersonville, Wayne county, Illinois, where he farmed for a time before moving back to Ohio.

Cornelius’ letter from Cassville, Missouri, in July 1865 contains an interesting mention of the refugees (Whites & Negroes) drawing aid from the government’s Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.

Letter 1

Somerset, Pulaski county, Kentucky
June 25th 1863

Dear Brother,

I take the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to inform you that I am well at present and hope when these few lines reach you, will find you all in the same state of health. We have very wet weather here now. It commenced raining night before last and rained all day yesterday and last night & is still raining yet. Today is the first day that I have been off from duty for two weeks. There was a squad of sixteen men detailed to go to Bunkcom on picket ten miles west of this place. We stayed eight days. We lived first rate. We had all the biscuits and butter and honey to eat we wanted. The citizens used us like gentlemen. They would invite us to come and take dinner with them. They would not charge us a cent. No more of that.

Last Saturday the whole command started across the Cumberland River on another scouting expedition. We went as far as Traverseville, Tennessee—four miles across the line, but did not get to see one Reb but we seen plenty of mountains & rocks and most awful poor land. The people have most all left their homes. They don’t raise no crops of any account. What little there is hain’t worthwhile cutting it. So we started back for Somerset [and] arrived here a Tuesday. We have been across the river three different times before this and had some pretty hard fights with them. I don’t know as there is any use of saying anything more on that subject. I suppose you know more about it than we do. You get the papers & all the particulars about the fights.

Oh yes, one more thing. I forgot to tell about our frolic we had at Bunkcom. The girls wanted us to get up a party. We were all agreed so we got a few cans of oysters [and] the boys & girls all got together. There were twenty girls at the party. We had lots of fun with them.

The 104th is up at Mount Vernon twenty miles from here. I think of going up there some of these days if I can get a pass. I was sorry to hear that Frank was sick. I am glad that you took him home. It is better for him. He will recruit up much faster at home than he would if he would have stayed in the hospital.

I must bring it to a close, this leaving me well and all the rest of the boys. Give my best respects to Frank and to all the boys. My best respects to you. Please write as soon as you get this. Let me know all the news. No more at present. Yours truly, — Cornelius Shanafelt

[to] H. Shanafelt

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Letter 2

Camped at Cassville, Missouri
July 19th 1865

Dear Brother,

I take my pen in hand to write you a few short lines to let you know that I am well and enjoy good health. Hope when this comes to hand, [it] will find you all enjoying the same good health. This is Thursday morning and a very warm one it is. Yesterday we had a heavy shower of rain. It rained nearly all day. The ground in which we are camped on was overflowen with water in their tents last night, but the majority of the Boys had bunks put up in the tents which keep them dry. So this morning the water has all drained off. The ground is perfectly dry again.

There is only but two companies of us here now—that is L and F. The regiment is at Springfield. Our Colonel is commanding the post there and the regiment is all split up now so I don’t think it will be together again for some time. There are two companies stationed at Lebanon and the rest at different points. We will probably remain here for some time to come. There is no telling.

Tomorrow is the day for the refugees to come in and draw rations again at this post. Three hundred refugees draws rations here at this post. I presume there will be quite an excitement in town here tomorrow. This war has been dreadful rough on the people of this state, but, however, the most of the farmers through this part of the state has pretty good crops of corn & wheat out this year—enough so that they can live well when it is ripe. We could have pretty good ties here now if we had money so that we could buy vegetables of different kinds as there is plenty in town and about town. I have not been paid since I left home.

I thought when I got back to the regiment that I would get pay but the regiment has not been paid yet and there is no telling when we will be paid. Henry, I wish you would lend me $20 in the next letter for it would be a great [ac]commodation to me if you will. I have now twenty months pay due me. I think it would look much better if Uncle Sam would pay some of his troops more regularly than he does. I presume the 104th Ohio is at home by this time & the 105th also. I presume they are having some bully old times. Tell them to think of us when they are having such good times. I will have to bring my letter to a close. This leaves me well. Mart is well. My best compliments to you and all the rest.

Please write soon. From your affectionate brother, — C. Shanafelt

Direct to C. Shanafelt, Co. F, 2nd O. V. V. C., Springfield, Mo.