This letter was written by Calvin Marshall Bragg (1836-1924) who served aboard the USS Michigan as a private in the Marines beginning in 1858. He later served aboard the USS Sabine, the USS St. Louis, the USS Rhode Island, and then back on the USS Michigan again. Apparently when the USS Ozark was commissioned in 1864, he was afforded the opportunity to transfer to the Navy and given the rank of Acting Ensign. The Ozark was a unique, wooden hull, ironclad river monitor with a single turret added to the Mississippi River Squadron under Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter in time for the Red River Campaign.

A pension record was found for Bragg that provided us with some biostatistics. He was born in 1836 in Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio. He stood 5′ 6″ tall, had blue eyes and dark brown hair. He was married once in 1883 to Ellen Vanduzen in Boston, Massachusetts, but later divorced her (date not stated). They had no children. He served many years in the Navy after the Civil War, finishing out his career as Chief Master-at-arms. When he retired, he settled in Jefferson, Ashtabula, Ohio. His death in Cleveland, Ohio, on 15 July 1924 was reported to the Pension Bureau by his niece, Mrs. Jennie S. Dodge.

A family tree in Ancestry.com informs us that Calvin’s parents were Solon Bragg (1803-1860) and Sarah Rose (1806-1901) of Ashtabula, Ohio. He had a younger brother names Charles P. Bragg (1838-1921) who he refers to in the letter. Another brother, Albert C. Bragg (1840-1863) served in the 2nd Independent Battery, Ohio Vol. Infantry, was wounded in the Battle of Port Gibson on 1 May 1863, and died two weeks later in Grand Gulf, Mississippi.

Calvin’s letter describes the death and burial of his shipmate, Acting Ensign Thomas W. Roberts who signed on with the USS Ozark on 25 June 1864 and died on 17 August 1864. He was originally buried on Acklin’s Plantation in Louisiana, but his body was later removed to the Natchez National Cemetery. He directed the letter to Robert Roberts, a brother of the deceased, whom I believe was a former shipmate aboard the USS Michigan. I have not been able to learn anymore about the Roberts family.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Off Red River
U. S. S. Ozark
August 18th 1864

Mr. Robert Roberts,

Dear sir. It becomes my painful duty to write to you at this time to inform you of the death of your brother who departed this life yesterday at about three quarters of an hour after four o’clock in the morning. Your brother had been sick about three weeks altogether. None of us thought him dangerous till about one week before his death. I hardly know what to term his disease. The doctor said that it was more the trouble of the mind than the body. From the first he seemed to give up easily. When spoken to about how he was getting along, he would always answer that he was doing well and seemed to think he would get well.

Mr. Roberts was buried yesterday. He had a decent burial, having a very good coffin and burial case besides having a head and foot board with his name, rank, and age carved on the head board. The funeral was attended by nearly all the officers of this vessel. He was buried on the left bank of the Mississippi River looking toward New Orleans or down the river.

I understand that your brother leaves a wife and some small children. His death will be felt very severely by them as well as yourself. To them and to you I offer my kindest sympathies for the death to them of a husband and father. Also you of a dear brother. There are a trunk and some clothes here belonging to him which I suppose our paymaster will send to his wife together with what money that is coming to him. Enclosed I send you a small lock if your brother’s hair which I had clipped off a short time after his death knowing how much you would prize such a memorial of your late brother.

When you get this, please answer that I may know that you got my letter. I have been out here over a year. Charley, I suppose you have heard ere this, was taken prisoner up Red River. My health is good and I am doing well. The next time you see Capt. [John C.] Carter [of the USS Michigan], please remember me kindly to him. It was through this kind, good old gentleman that I owe my present position in the Navy. ¹

The weather here is pretty warm some of the time. This week the thermometer stood 108 degrees in the shade. Remember me to the [USS] Michigan Boys when you see them. But I will close. Direct to Acting Ensign, — C. M. Bragg

U.S.S. Ozark, Mississippi Squadron.

¹ The USS Michigan was the Union’s only warship on the Great Lakes during the Civil War. It was tasked with patrolling Lake ERie and guarding the Confederate Prisoner-of-war camp on Johnson’s Island.