6th Arkansas Infantry, Atlanta Campaign, Battle of Pickett's Mill, Death of Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk

1864: Asahel W. Thompson to his Parents

June 22, 2022 Griff Leave a comment

*The flag under which the 6th & 7th Arkansas fought during the Atlanta Campaign. It was captured on 1 September 1864 at the Battle of Jonesboro.*

These letters were written by Asahel W. Thompson (1838-1864), the son of Asahel Washington Thompson (1800-1872) and Nancy Horton (1809-1899) of Chesterfield county, South Carolina.

According to military records, Asahel enlisted on 19 September 1861 at Pitman’s Ferry, Arkansas. He was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863 and convalesced in a hospital at Columbia, South Carolina, until 9 February 1864 when he returned to his regiment.

Due to dwindling numbers, the Sixth and Seventh Arkansas were consolidated for the Atlanta Campaign which started in May. On September 1, the entire unit was captured at the Battle of Jonesboro but were later exchanged in time to fight at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, and the Battle of Nashville, Tennessee. Private Thompson was not among those taken prisoner, however. He was wounded in the left arm, just above the elbow, on 22 July and he died on 25 August, 1864, at a hospital in Griffin, Georgia. He was buried in the Stonewall Confederate Cemetery at Griffin. Thompson was actually a member of Co. G, 6th Arkansas, though when the 6th was consolidated with the 7th companies C and G of the 6th were consolidated and became Co. E of the 6th-7th Arkansas. So Thompson was a member of Co. E, 6th-7th Arkansas in the Atlanta Campaign.

The first six letters posted here are from my client’s collection and were written while serving in Daniel C. Govan’s Brigade, Patrick Cleburne’s Division, which has often been called “the best fighting division in the Army of the Tennessee” and the “hardest hitting division in the Confederate army.” [see No Better Officer…, by Daniel E. Sutherland] The other letters were found transcribed and posted on the Heritage Auctions website where they were recently sold.

Letter 1

*Addressed to A. R. Thompson, Jefferson P. O. Chesterfield District, South Carolina*

Dalton, Georgia
April 22, 1864

Father & Mother,

This short epistle leaves me well hoping it may reach you the same. This [is the] second letter I have written you since I left home. I have nothing of interest to correspond to you. Sherman are concentrating his forces in front of our army and a battle is expected soon. It is thought if Sherman does not advance on Johnston, that Johnston will advance soon.

Father, I must say something in regard to my transfer and there is not an officer from my Colonel up to General Johnston that will approve of it. Father, I think I can get a transfer from Congress or the Secretary of War as Congress meets the first of next month. I would be glad [if] you could go to see Witherspoon ¹—that is, if he is not gone to Richmond. If you can get to see him and state the case to him, I think he would give me a transfer or tell you how I could get it. You would have to give him the company number of Regiment, Brigade and Division as my officer will not transfer me. I am going to try as long as I think there is any chance as I am not satisfied in my present company.

Answer in haste. Fail not. Give me the initials of Witherspoon’s name.

Address [to] Dalton, Georgia, Company C, 6th Arkansas Regt., [Daniel] Govan’s Brigade, [Patrick] Cleburne’s Division, The Army of Tennessee

— A. W. Thompson

¹ Probably James Hervey Witherspoon (1810-1865) who served as a member of the CSA Congress representing South Carolina.

Letter 2

Camp 6th Arkansas Regiment
May 27th 1864

Dear Mother,

I assume my seat this afternoon to correspond to you the following. This leaves me well.

We are in line of battle in sight of the Yankees. Some heavy fighting going on on some part of the line. Some few killed and wounded in my Brigade today. One man mortally wounded in my company today. I have heard the roaring cannon & the clash of musketry for twenty days.

I am very tired. I must close as time will not admit of writing anymore. We are in thirty miles of Atlanta. Write soon. Fail not.

Address: Dalton, Georgia, Company C, 6th Arkansas Regt., [Daniel] Govan’s Brigade, [Patrick] Cleburne’s Division, Army of Tennessee

Wrote in haste. Listen at the cannon and the musketry.

Letter 3

Line of Battle, 6th Arkansas
June 2, 1864

Dear Sister,

Yours of the 20th of May is at hand & its contents. I received it in due time & read it with great pleasure. This leaves me well but very tired. We have had some hard fighting to do for the last week. Two men killed dead in my regiment yesterday. Our cases have been very small to that of the enemy’s as we fought them mostly behind breastworks. Seven is the most we have had killed & wounded a day in my regiment.

We have been fighting twenty-four days. It is supposed we have killed and wounded forty thousand Yankees since the fight commenced. Our case has been very small. The hardest struggle we have had since the fight commenced was on the 27th of May [when] the enemy charged my Brigade [Gowan’s] & Gen. [Hiram B.] Granbury’s Brigade with six lines of battle which was successfully repulsed with a loss of one thousand killed on the field & five thousand wounded & several prisoners. ¹ Such a slaughter of Yankees I have never witnessed before. You could stand in one place & count fifty dead Yankees. We had them to bury putting over one hundred in a hole together. Such a sight I have never witnessed before.

The front line hoisted a white flag three different times but they had so many lines we did not let them surrender. Oh! that this cruel war would stop. Our line of battle is forty miles from Atlanta. Gen. Johnston fell back from Dalton to draw them from their base. Fighting is got to be very common of night. I was in a hot fire night before last. The enemy fired volley after volley of cannon in our ranks but did not do much execution.

I must close as time will not admit of writing anymore. You must not expose my bad written letter. The cannon are roaring up and down our lines & my mind are wandering. Answer in hate. Fail not. Give me all of the news. — A. W. Thompson

to L. E. Hancock

¹ The Battle of Pickett’s Mill was fought on 27 May 1864. In the battle, Sherman sent Brigadier General Thomas J. Wood’s division, supported by other formations, to turn Johnston’s right flank, but the Federals were repulsed with heavy casualties when they ran into tenacious Confederate opposition. Author Ambrose Bierce, an eyewitness, later wrote an account of the battle titled The Crime at Pickett’s Mill. Cleburne’s division reported sustaining 448 casualties, mostly in Granbury’s brigade. The Union soldiers suffered a loss of 1,600 killed, wounded, and missing. The American Battlefield Trust estimated losses at 500 Confederate and 1,600 Union. Normally, the killed-to-wounded ratio in Civil War battles was one-to-five. In this battle, the number of killed in Wood’s division was extraordinarily high, probably because many of the dead were shot repeatedly. The Confederates found one corpse with 47 bullet holes. Hazen’s brigade lost 467 casualties, Gibson’s brigade lost 681, and Knefler’s brigade lost 250, mainly prisoners. Scribner’s brigade lost 125 of which 102 were from the 37th Indiana and 78th Pennsylvania. About 70 wounded and 140 unwounded Union soldiers were captured by the Confederates. Georgia State Parks credited Union forces with 14,000 troops and Confederate forces with 10,000 soldiers. [See Battle of Pickett’s Mill]

This print of the Battle of Pickett’s Mill depicts the first volley from Granbury’s Texas Brigade into the advancing troops of Gen. William B. Hazen. Hundreds of union soldiers were cut down from less than 20 paces away. One half of Hazen’s brigade became casualties in less than 30 minutes of fighting. (Rick Reeves Studio) See HistoryNet’s article, Simply Criminal.

Letter 4

Camp line of Battle, 6th Arkansas Reg.
June 8th 1864

Dear Sister,

I assume my seat this afternoon to correspond to you the following. Yours of the 28th is at hand & its contents which I received on the 4th inst. Before I could get through reading your letter, I was called upon to go to the front as skirmishers to meet the advancing invader. Though I read your letter with great pleasure, it was filled with news to me. This short epistle leaves me well. I have nothing of definite importance to communicate to you. We are still in line of battle, some skirmishing going on every day and night on some part of our line. The enemy is still maneuvering for advantage of position but so far he has been promptly met. They are still throwing troops on our right but they do not find Gen. Johnston napping. They are trying to flank Johnston but met at ever point and successfully defeated.

Dear sister, we have been one month fighting and marching, changing our position to right, to left & right, to center, & left to center. The most of the time, day and night, we was marching or fighting. Some nights do not sleep any atall though the troops are in good spirits and confident of victory wherever they meet the invader.

I have just written a letter to Gilly Ann. Also one to Mr. Files of Hamburg. The letters will leave this evening by hand. Mr. Files is acquainted with Bro. J. Q. Files is Clerk of the Court of Ashley. I wrote to him for an answer. I am in hopes that Father’s finger will soon get well. Willy, I am glad to hear that you can feed Matchless. You must ride her to church when she gets large enough. Give Charley my address. Tell him to write to me. Also J. P. D. McLaurin is in this army. I saw him the other day. He thought that Bro. William carried his family to Texas and he did not know it to be so. Yours as ever, — A. W. Thompson

to H. F. Thompson

Letter 5

Line of Battle. 6th Arkansas Regt., Govan Brig.
June 16th 1864

Dear Sister,

Yours of the 3rd inst. is at hand which was read with pleasure. This short epistle leaves me well is the best news that I can communicate to you. I was sorry to hear that Father was sick. I am hopes that this will reach him enjoying health & pleasure. Dear sister, we are in line of battle and the enemy are in a half miles of our line of battle. Skirmishing are going on all the time, day and night. While I am writing the cannon are belching forth its war whoop from the invader in front of our lines.

We are waiting for the Yankees to advance on us which we expect them to do soon. It is thought they will advance today. They are maneuvering from the way they throw their shells.

I am sorry to inform you that Lt. General [Leonidas] Polk that commanded a Corps in this army was killed dead on the field yesterday. His left shoulder was torn off with a shell. He was killed on the right of my Division [at Pine Mountain].

I was sorry to hear the death of little Mary Watts but God giveth & God taketh away. He blessed us & five us a brave & noble general but he taketh him away and we are willing to give him up. They are so many old fields and roads I could not understand by your letter where Mary Watts was buried & I am not acquainted with Miley Sowell.

Our rations are not very plenty but we can make out on them. We get nothing but bread & meat. You must answer in haste. Give me all the news. Give Charley & J. P. my address & tell them to write to me. Give me the latest news from the 8th & 6th & 26th Regiments. If you do not get a letter every week from me, it is on account of the mail as it is not regular from here to the railroad. We are on the extreme left of our line of battle & that throws us fives miles from the railroad. Answered in haste. Fail not. — A. W. Thompson

The postage for the buttons was very high but buttons are very high & money is not worth much. Mother, you can give Aunt Wineford some of the buttons if she has any use for them as she is always making new pants. Farewell for awhile.

Address A. W. Thompson, Co. C, 6th Arkansas Reg., Govan’s Brigade, Cleburne’s Division, Army of the Tennessee, Marietta P. O., Georgia

Letter 6

Line of Battle, 6th Arkansas Reg.
June 23rd 1864

Dear Father & Mother,

Your kind letter of the 10th is at hand. I received it in due time. This leaves me well but wearied nearly out. We have been fighting very hard for the last two days. We are in full view of the enemy. They are in four hundred yards of our lines. Father, while I am writing, the balls are whistling all around me. The skirmishers are a few yards of our line of battle fighting. We are in our ditches & we have to stay in them day and night. My company have been skirmishing very hard for the last two days. The loss in my company for the last two days are one killed, four wounded, and one lost his right arm & several others struck with balls. I run some very narrow escapes but I thank God that I am one amongst the living yet.

You will see enclosed the Yankees account of their repulse on the 27th May [at Pickett’s Mill] but they was mistaken about the number of men we had engaged. Govan & Granbury Brig. was all that repulsed them. We had several wounded in the regiment & some few killed.

We are waiting for the Yankees to advance on our lines & when they do, we are confident of victory. It has been nearly two months since we left Dalton & we have been fighting & moving around from right to left, & falling back most the time, day and night. He have heavy rains every day and we have to take it as it comes.

Father, I cannot interest you as times is very hot around me with balls. You should be satisfied to hear that I am living. You must not expose my letters as I had to write in great haste & my mind are wandering. I get very little sleep at night. You must write in haste. Fail not. Give me all the news. Address as before. Yours as ever, — A. W. Thompson

Letter 7

Line of Battle Ten Miles from Atlanta
July 7th 1864

Father & Mother

This short epistle will inform you that I received yours of the 25th in due time & was read with great pleasure. My health is very good except a bad cold & cough. My leg has been a great deal of pain to me for the last week.

Father, we are [with]in ten miles of Atlanta. The two armies are close fronting each other. I have had some fighting to do since the date of my last letter. I spent the fourth of July on the skirmishing line and the Yankees advanced ]with]in seventy-five feet of our line when they received a brisk fire from our lines which made them skedaddle back. I ran a very narrow escape. We was behind very inferior works of old rails & some dirt thrown on them when a ball passed through them with full force, passing so near my head that I did not know which side it went.

Father, I was struck the other day side of my head right in my left ear but being a spent ball, it did not hurt me very bad. Had one ball shot threw my oil-cloth, wounding me, [and then] wounding a member of my company in the leg. Father I feel that GOD is with me. If not, I could not be able to pen out this letter to you knowing what I went through since I left Dalton.

The casualties of my company since we left Dalton is three killed, six wounded, one lost his right arm. Mother, I often think of your table. Our rations are bacon & cornbread. We have to fry it in our plates. I have got so I cannot eat it fried any longer. I boil some in my cup and eat but I am getting very puny as I cannot change my diet, the soldiers are using pea vines, parsley, kernels of wheat, briar leaves & many other weeds for salad. My company uses the above named for salad. The boys are nearly starved out for vegetables but they are like me, cannot help themselves. Answer in haste. Give me all the news from JP & CS. Let them hear from me. I have not time to write to them as there is fighting all the time on our front. — A. W. Thompson

*Addressed to Miss Nancy F. Thompson, Jefferson P. O., Chesterfield District, South Carolina*

Letter 8

Line of Battle in Front of Atlanta
July 15th, 1864

Dear Sister,

I received your benevolent and favorable letter of the 1st & the 2nd in due time. It was received with great pleasure. I have no news to communicate to you that will interest you—only that I am well. Hoping you may receive this short epistle enjoying health and pleasure.

We are [with]in four miles of Atlanta. The Yankees are fronting our line of battle but have not advanced any for several days. They know that General Johnston will not retreat any further & they are come to a halt. When they try to advance on Atlanta the bloodiest battle of the war will take place. Most of the citizens have left the city. The soldiers are in good spirits & we all think that Johnston will hold Atlanta. Gen. Bragg arrived here yesterday from Richmond.

You spoke something about the apples getting ripe. It would be a great pleasure to me if I could spend one week at home to get some fruit and vegetables though I would be satisfied if I could get a few onions to eat with my bacon, but alas I will have to do the best I can during the war. I should be satisfied that I am living. I am in hopes that Charles Norton’s wound is slight when you get the correct news, for I would be very sorry to hear of his death. Let me hear from John and Henry Knight also from the 6th, 8th, & the 26 Regiments.

I got a mess of Irish potatoes the other day which pleased me, the best of anything I have met up with in several days. Onions are selling at one dollar a pound and they are very scarce. It is the most impossible to get any vegetables about the army. I must close, answer in haste, fail not, give me all the news as all you write to me interests me. — A. W. Thompson

Letter 9

On August 11, 1864, Thompson’s father was sent a two page letter from Griffin, Georgia, from a volunteer Army missionary imparting grave news regarding the condition of his son.

Griffin, Georgia
Aug 11 1864

Dear Sir:

I drop you these lines to inform you of the condition of your son, A. W. Thompson, Co. C, 6th Ark. Regiment. He was wounded on the 22nd July in the left arm. It was broken just above the elbow and is now at the S. P. Moore Hospital in this place. He is very anxious to see you. He begged me to write to you which I do with pleasure. To be candid I cannot think from what the Dr. told me that your son will survive unless a change in his present condition. He was thought to be doing well till yesterday but since then he is growing weaker. I will write you in a day or so again & will telegraph you tomorrow or next day how your son is doing.

In the meantime I hope you will be submissive to the will of Providence—whatever that may be. We are doing all for him that can be done & the ladies are untiring in their attentions to the soldier’s wants. I remain respectfully yours, — Wm. H. Pearson, Missionary to the Army

21st South Carolina Infantry, First Battle of Fort Wagner, Fort Sumter

1863-64: Alonzo Adams Vanderford to Cynthia (Moore) Vanderford

June 21, 2022 Griff Leave a comment

These letters were written by Alonzo Adams Vanderford (1834-1864), the son of Charles Frederick Vanderford (1785-1845) and Eliza Duett (1815-1870) of Cheraw, Chesterfield county, South Carolina. He was married to Cynthia T. Moore and residing in Cheraw, South Carolina, earning his living as a merchant at the time of the 1860 US Census.

In December 1861, Alonzo enlisted in Co. D, 21st South Carolina as a sergeant. He was promoted to 2nd Sergeant in May 1862. His military record indicates he was wounded on 11 July 1863 in the First Battle of Fort Wagner and didn’t return to his regiment until the end of the year. He was wounded on 24 June 1864 during the siege of Petersburg and had his leg amputated in a hospital at Petersburg. He died on 28 July 1864.

Letter 1

Fort Johnson
September 4th 1863

My Dear Wife,

This morning I write you a few lines to let you know that I am not very well at this time but I hope this will find you well. I have not done any duty for nearly a week and don’t expect to do any for a few days to come. I received your letter of the 1st of this month yesterday and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you were as well as you are. After you receive this, don’t write anymore to me at this place until you hear from me for I think I will go to the City in a day or two and if I do, I may go to Columbia or to some other place and then I will write to you. Don’t be uneasy. I will take care of myself—or try to do so.

There is nothing new to write about—only I don’t think that our regiment will go back to [Fort] Wagner in some time. The health of the regiment is bad this time, Only about 200 men [are fit] for duty on account of getting wet for three days and nights and keeping on their wet clothes and there are two new Brigades here now and they are now taking their turn at [Fort] Wagner. The old place holds out yet and is still strong enough to keep the Yanks back and we all now think Charleston safe from the water side and enough of men to keep them off from the sand side. But as my house is for sale, I had better not put too good a face on it. I don’t think that they can ever take the place. They may throw shells into and burn some of the houses, but that will not be taking it.

*General P. G. T. Beauregard—“the troops all have strong confidence in him.”*

General Beauregard was over here the other day and seems to be very sanguine of the result but he don’t try much—just looks and thinks. I never saw him before. He is a good man, I think, and the troops all have strong confidence in him. Times look brighter now all round this place. The enemy have spent a great deal of money and lost a great many men since they come here and they have to use their guns at such long range that they don’t last long.

The Eutaw [25th S. C.] Regiment—the one that [R.] Kendrick Liles belongs to—went over to [Fort] Wagner a night or two ago and I reckon by this time he has seen something that he never saw before. I hope that they will all have good luck and none be killed. I can’t think what the reason could have been of Capt. York’s keeping the letter so long. I hope that by this time he has sent you the $210 and the salt that I think will be both enough to last you nearly a year or two. Use it first and the Liverpool salt keep it last. The suit will look very well if it is made up right. I would like to have my measure taken and a cut to suit if I can only get the right kind of buttons to put on it.

Kiss Sallie for me and tell her to be a good little girl and papa will come home again some time and see her. Tell Ma that chickens are worth $3 here now. Tell her to make all the money she can and get rich while the money is going. Tell your Pa that the insurance on the house will have to be transferred if he sells it and I will transfer to anyone for the sum amount I paid. Write as soon as hear from me again.

Your loving husband, — A. A. Vanderford

Letter 2

*Image taken of the inside of Fort Sumter in 1864 when occupied by Confederates*

Fort Sumpter [Sumter]
March 13, 1864

My Dear Cynthia,

I am now in Fort Sumpter. We are all well and getting along very well. Duty is very heavy but we will do it cheerfully. The old fort is badly torn up but I don’t think it will come up to Wagner yet. Captain Torsh and myself are all that are here with the company. We have fifty men with us and all in good spirits. All seem to be willing to do their duty cheerfully.

The Yanks have thrown three shells into the City up to this time today, now 4 p.m. on Sunday evening. When you write again, write to me in this way: Lt. Vanderford, care of Capt. [Milford G.] Tarrh, Fort Sumpter, and write as soon as you get this for the one written on Saturday will not reach me in several days to come.

I have no news to tell you—only I wish that our time was nearly out so that I could go home again. We have a plenty to eat here now but I have to cook it myself. Will get a cook on tomorrow. Our cook started with us but did not get on the boat at Fort Johnson.

This is a torn up place, I tell you, but I have seen worse I think. You must keep cheerful. I will write to you everyday while we remain here and I will advise you of all. I will have to quit writing very soon and go in the bomb proof and take a nap [to] get ready for tonight. Some say that we will have to stay here 12 days. Some say 20 days and others say 24 days.

Some company from our regiment will relieve us and I think in 12 days—that is long enough for anyone to stay here, I think. But others have the thinking to do. I will miss getting my crops cut now until I get out of this place.

Kiss little Sallie for me and write to me as soon as you get this letter and direct to me in care of Capt. Tarrh, Co. D, 21st South Carolina Volunteers, Fort Sumpter, Charleston, and then I will get it the next morning after you write it.

I am well. Nothing more at this time. Love to all at home.

Your loving husband, — A. A. Vanderford

*Interior of Fort Sumter in 1864 when occupied by Confederates*

16th Ohio Light Artillery

1863: Daniel W. Tuttle to Owen Tuttle

June 21, 2022 Griff Leave a comment

This letter was written by Daniel W. Tuttle (1837-11913), the son of Owen Tuttle (1807-1864) and Permelia Cooper (1811-1897) of Galion, Crawford county, Illinois.

Daniel enlisted on 20 August 1861 to serve as a private in the 16th Ohio Light Artillery. He mustered out of the regiment on 5 September 1864 after three years service. Daniel’s brother enlisted with him in September but was discharged for disability in January 1862 and died in 1868.

David’s letter includes a discussion of the soldier voting in the Ohio Gubernatorial Election in the fall of 1863. He also mentions the manufacture of water barrels for the anticipated march into Texas.

I could not find an image of David and his brother Samuel but here are two brothers—James and Pomeroy Mitchell—who served in the 16th *Independent* Battery, Ohio Light Artillery. The image was too good not to use. (Ohio History Connection)

Transcription

*Addressed to Mr. Owen Tuttle, Galion, Crawford county, Ohio*

New Orleans [Louisiana]
October 30th 1863

Remembered Parents,

I find myself seated once more for the purpose of addressing a few lines to you. We have not had any mail for so long that I have pretty near quit writing too. I have not had any letters from you since the 17th of September but I suppose some of our mails have been burnt on some of the boats that met with the firey element.

There is no news here that would be of any interest to you that you do not hear. We have had the privilege of voting on the 13th. There was 61 votes polled in our company for [John] Brough but the poor traitor Val[andigham] could get nary a one. If I had known the names of the candidates for the county offices, I could have voted for them. We have not heard how the election went in the state. The news is ten days old when it arrives at this place but we know how the soldiers vote is cast and from that we an guess who is Chief of Ohio for the next two years.

I believe that our Division is still near Brashear City. General [Francis J.] Herron’s Division and the 3rd has been put together. Herron lost two of his regiments while on a scout up Red River—the 19th Iowa and the 26th Indiana. I suppose George Johnson is a prisoner but 20 of the regiment escaped. They also lost a section of one of their batteries. Their Division and ours has seven batteries and now as the think has been consolidated, there will not be use for more than four of them so that part of us will stay here this winter or be sent to some other command. The reason that we do not go to our Division is on account of getting fresh water for the horses. There has been several thousand barrels made here for the purpose of hauling water for to drink and cook with. There is quite a long march to make that is destitute of fresh water except in the cisterns and that would not go very far towards supplying even drinking [water]. I have not much of a desire to make a march where water has to be dealt out as a ration.

The weather here is quite war and pleasant with very little rain but the mosquitoes the like of them never was in other place except this. We can only get about four hours peace out of 24. It is almost out of the question to do this scribbling. I must close. Until we join our division, direct in this way: New Orleans, 16th Ohio Battery, Care of Capt. R[ussell[ P[eter] Twist ¹

— D. T.

¹ See also—1863: Russell Peter Twist to Nannie (Forman) Twist, published on S&S 7 in May 2014.

30th Georgia Infantry, 39th Georgia Infantry

1862-64: James Archibald Johnson to Handy William Johnson

June 21, 2022 Griff Leave a comment

These letters were written by James Archibald Johnson (1841-1864), the son of Handy William Johnson (1816-1914) and Francis Matilda McKneeley (1824-1898) of Griffin, Spalding county, Georgia. During the Civil War, Alfred’s father—advanced in years—served in the 2nd Georgia Reserves but offered up his four oldest sons to serve in the Confederate army.

Alfred Homer Johnson (1842-1866) the son of Handy William Johnson (1816-1914) and Francis Matilda McKneeley (1824-1898) of Griffin, Spalding county, Georgia. During the Civil War, Alfred’s father—advanced in years—served in the 2nd Georgia Reserves but offered up his four oldest sons to serve in the Confederate army.

According to Confederate military records, James enlisted for one year in Co. C, 39th Georgia Infantry, on 25 September 1861. By May 1862, James had reenlisted for the duration of the war as a private in Co. F, 30th Georgia Infantry. James was wounded in the fighting at Jackson, Mississippi, on 16 July 1863 after the surrender of Vicksburg. He died of his wounds over a year later, on 7 September 1864.

James served with three younger brothers in the 30th Georgia Infantry. Alfred Homer Johnson (1842-1866) was wounded in the fighting at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, on or about 27 June 1864, survived, but died of his wounds a couple years later. William Gilben (“Gip” or “Dill”) Johnson (1845-1920) received a foot wound in the fighting before Atlanta but survived the war. O. Sidney Johnson (1847-1864) enlisted with his older brothers in May 1864 but died of illness in a hospital in Atlanta on 30 June 1864.

*A post-war image of William G. Johnson and his family. William was the only one of four brothers to serve in the 30th Georgia Infantry to survive the war and live to an old age.*

[Note: These letters are from the private collection of Josh Branham and are published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Letter 1

Camp Barto
May 1, 1862

Dear Father, mother, brothers and sisters,

I seat myself to drop you a few lines which leave me well at this time, hoping when these few lines come to hand they may find you all well and enjoying the good blessing of life. Mother, I don’t want you to be uneasy about me. I am a coming home as soon as I can get off. I don’t know how [long] it will be before I can get off. We all have reenlisted for a year longer. We will draw money again tomorrow if nothing happens.

Pa, I want you to take care of my colt for me. I want you to make her fat for me if you can. I want you to tell children that I want to see them mighty bad. It looks like it has been a year since I have been at home. Tell the children not to forget me for I will get to come home some time or other if nothing happens to me. I have nothing more at present more than you all must write often and every chance.

Direct your letters to the 39th Regiment Georgia Volunteers, Savannah, Box No. 800

To all of you, — James A. Johnson

Letter 2

[partial letter, probably sometime in July 1864]

Camp 30th Georgia Reserves, Camp Smith, near Atlanta

…the trouble that I am seeing is more than I can stand. It seems like that I would not care how soon my time may come and after all of the rest. I heard that Alfred and Dill—both of them—was wounded seriously. I want to know whether there was any of you with Sidney [when he died] or not. I would be glad to hear some more than I have learned. It is very effecting to hear anything and not know the particulars about it. I only know that he is dead and Alfred ad Dill was wounded. It seems like to me that I hant got a friend in the world. I am here by myself. I hant heard from home since Pa left here. I don’t want you all to forget me. I hope you will all write every chance that you have.

….and heard that William was at home. I hope that may be so and I want him to stay there as long as he can. Mother, I want you to let trouble never pester you. If we all get killed and die, let us go. I don’t want you [to] study anything about the troubles of this world for you can’t stand up under everything.

Sis, I want you to write to me. I would be glad to hear from you. I am well at this time. — James A. Johnson

[to] H. W. Johnson

30th Georgia Infantry, Battle of Charleston, Battle of Jackson

1863-64: Alfred Homer Johnson to Handy W. Johnson

June 21, 2022 Griff Leave a comment

These letters were written by Alfred Homer Johnson (1842-1866) the son of Handy William Johnson (1816-1914) and Francis Matilda McKneeley (1824-1898) of Griffin, Spalding county, Georgia. During the Civil War, Alfred’s father—advanced in years—served in the 2nd Georgia Reserves but offered up his four oldest sons to serve in the Confederate army.

*I could not find an image of Alfred but here is one of an unidentified Georgia infantryman (LOC)*

According to Confederate military records, Alfred enlisted for one year in Co. C, 39th Georgia Infantry, on 25 September 1861 and was elected 2nd Corporal. By May 1862, Alfred had reenlisted for the duration of the war as a private in Co. F, 30th Georgia Infantry. That summer and fall he was detailed as an ambulance driver. There are no other details in Alfred’s records until he is identified as being one of the wounded in the fighting at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, on or about 27 June 1864.

Alfred served in the 30th Georgia with two brothers, both of whom are mentioned in these letters. His older brother, James Archibald Johnson (1841-1864), was wounded in the fighting at Jackson, Mississippi, on 16 July 1863 after the surrender of Vicksburg. He died of his wounds over a year later, on 7 September 1864. His younger brother William Gilben (“Gip” or “Dill”) Johnson (1845-1920) survived the war. Though Alfred survived the war, he may have died prematurely in 1866 as a result of his wounds received in front of Atlanta.

In the fourth letter, Alfred mentions the death of his younger brother, O. Sidney Johnson who had entered the 3rd Regiment Georgia Reserves as a private in Co. K. in April 1864. His age was not given in his military record but he was enumerated in the June 1860 US Census as a 12 year-old in his father’s household so he was probably only 16 in April 1864. A month later, in late May 1864, perhaps just having turned 17, Sidney enlisted in Co. F, 30th Georgia, to serve with his older brothers. His descriptive list described him as standing 5′ 9″ tall, with light hair, a fair complexion, and blue eyes. Sidney died the 30th of June 1864 in an Atlanta hospital.

*Descriptive List for O. S. (“Sidney”) Johnson. 17 year-old Sidney could not sign his name; only make his mark.*

[Note: These letters are from the private collection of Josh Branham and are published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Letter 1

Johnson wrote his letter on 8 April 1863, the day after “The Great Fight at Charleston” of 7 April 1863 waged by nine ironclads under the command of Admiral Dupont and the Rebel forts in Charleston Harbor.

Camp Near Charleston [South Carolina]
April 8, 1863

Dear Father and Mother,

I seat myself to drop you all a few lines to let you know how we are getting along. We are well. I hant got any news to write—only we are here waiting for a fight. We are expecting to be ordered to the battlefield every hour. The Yankees has 9 ironclads inside of the bar now and 40 standing just below the bar now and 75 transports down in the river. That is the news we get out here. I don’t know how true it may be.

We left Gip at Savannah. He is well. We will go back to Savannah just as soon as the excitement is over here at Charleston. We are here beside the big road without our tents or anything to cook in. The only one good thing—we have nice weather, and I don’t mind it as long as we have fair weather.

Pap, Jim says to tell you to [paper creased] horse and raise him a colt. Pap, write how you are getting along with your crop and how all of the things are gettin along. I will close. I hant got anything to write. You all must write as soon as you get this letter and let me hear all the news of our home. Mother, direct your letter to Charleston, South Carolina and write as soon as you get this. I don’t know how long we will stay here. Nothing more. — A. H. Johnson

To you all at home.

Letter 2

*A scene depicting the Battle of Jackson that took place on 13 May 1863*

Camp Vaughan Station, Mississippi
May 23, 1863

Dear Father and Mother,

I take my pen in hand to drop you all a few lines to let you know we are all well at this time and I sincerely hope these few lines will come to hand and find you all well and doing well. I hant got anything to write that will interest you—only there has been a fight at Jackson. We was there in time of the fight. I can’t say that we was in it although all of the boys think we was in it. It is true we was on the battlefield. I only shot three times and if they had come in sight of me, I would have shot more but I wanted to see them. The [ ] and balls fell very thick around us. I was not scared a bit—more than if it had a been hail. James was not there in the time of the fight, nor Gip. I sent him off in the rear. The Yankees would have taken every one of us if we’ens hadn’t got away just as we did. General Johnston did not intend to fight there. Our force commenced retreating in the night before the fight came next morning. We was left there to hold them in check so our force could get away.

We lost everything we had at Jackson—our clothes, knapsacks, and blankets. We hant got anything, only what we have got on. We lie on the ground every night by the fire. I done about as well with[out] blankets as I done with them. We will get some clothes and blankets I reckon before long. We have been marching every day since we have been here through the mud and it has been raining a great deal. The water is bad and hard to get.

The Yankees got three of our company—William Johnson ¹ and William Willis ² and Arch Head. ³ It is some spoken that Head let the Yankees take him on purpose. I can’t say whether he did or not. Mother, we passed [with]in ten miles of Uncle Alfred’s house, Gip stands the trip very well. He pressed a mule and rode four days.

I hant got anything to write that will interest you all. Look over [my] bad writing and spelling. I have a bad way to write and this paper is so bad that I can’t write on it. Mother, you must write all the news you have. Let us know how all the things are getting at home. You mustn’t be uneasy about us all that we are faring bad—not as bad as some has, I reckon—but this is bad. Worse than I like. I don’t feel under any dread whatever.

I will close for this time. Tell all of the children I want to see them all. Write as soon as this you get.

Direct your letter to Canton, Mississippi, the 30th Regt. Georgia Volunteers, in the care of Capt. R. J. Andrews, Co. F, Col. T[homas] W[oodward] Mangham, General Walker’s Brigade

— A. H. Johnson

Alfred H. Johnson

¹ William Johnson of Co. F, 30th Ga. Infantry, was taken prisoner at Jackson, Mississippi, on 14 May 1863. His name appears on the list of exchanged men from Demopolis since 17 August 1863 to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s Headquarters.

² William Daniel Willis of Talbot county, Georgia, served in Co. F, 30th Ga. Infantry. He was admitted into the 1st Mississippi CSA Hospital at Jackson, Mississippi, on 14 May 1863 suffering from acute diarrhea. He was returned to duty on 27 May 1863. He was among the remaining members of the regiment who surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, on 26 April 1865.

³ Archie T. Head did not enlist in Co. F, 30th Georgia Infantry until September 1862. He was captured at Jackson on 14 May 1863 and his name appears among the paroled prisoners in camp at Demopolis, Alabama, on 5 June 1863. Archie returned to his regiment and was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga later that year.

Letter 3

Camp near Morton
August 18, 1863

Dear Father and Mother,

I take my pen in hand to drop you all a few lines to let you know we are well and Dill is well. Mother, we got the letter that you [sent] by George McElhenney. We was glad to hear from you all but was sorry to hear that some of the children was and had been sick. But I do sincerely hope these few lines will come to hand and find you all well. I hant got anything of importance to write. Times are very peaceful here.

I hear this morning that there was a little fight at Canton yesterday but never heard the result of the fight yet. The loss is not much on either side, I don’t reckon. We have been stationed here ever since the fight at Jackson. I hope that we won’t have to do much more marching this year.

Mother, I want you to write and let me know how much wheat you made and whether you think that you will make enough corn to do you next year or not and I want [you] to let me know [how] the horses look and oxen and cows ad the sheep and hogs and whether you think that you wil have hogs enough to make your meat next year. Be sure and let me know how my colt looks and how he is getting on. Let me know how all the stock looks.

James said to tend to his filly as well as your colt. I will stop that subject and tell you how I want to be at home to get peaches and watermelons to eat. I would give most anything in the world to be at home to get some milk and butter. Mother, I know you would cook me something good to eat if I was at home. Mother, I want to be at [home] to get something good to eat worse than anybody in the world, I reckon.

Mother, I will tell you what we have to pay for peaches—one dollar and a half, pies two dollars, watermelons from two to ten dollars, and peaches one and a half dollars, apples two a dozen. Dill received a letter 3 or 4 days ago. Mother, I send my love to you all. Tell the children I want to see them all mighty bad. Mother, I will close for what I have wrote won’t interest you. Write as soon as you get this letter. Direct to the 30th Ga. Regiment, Wilson’s Brigade, Walker’s Division. Goodbye to you all, — Alfred H. Johnson

To you all. write soon.

Letter 4

Hospital, LaGrange, Georgia
July 14, 1864

Dear and beloved Mother and Father,

I seat myself to drop a few lines which will inform you of my troubles that is inflicted on me. The solemn and sad news that has come to my ear is this—that I have lost one of my brothers. I heard today that Sidney is passed from time to eternity. Oh! that the poor boy is better off than he was before. He departed from this life to another world. I was impressed that the poor boy could not stand a camp life. I hope the poor boy is better off. I hope he is where there is no war and trouble to be with him.

— Alfred H. Johnson

Not something you see everyday. Among the Johnson papers there remains a Surgeon’s slip issued from the Hospital at LaGrange, Georgia, dated 24 July 1864, testifying an examination of James A. Johnson (Co. F, 30th Georgia) by Asst. Surgeon Edward Milhous Vasser. The surgeon was checking the small pox scar of Johnson’s arm to make certain that it was “perfect” and didn’t require additional vaccination.

Letter 5

Mr. Johnson,

I will send you a word about your boys. I brought a letter from Lieut. J. M. Wise last night. Dilly are wounded in the foot very bad—left foot. Alfred in the face. Sidney are dead. He died on the 30th of June in Atlanta. — L. J. Foster

*Grim news sent to father of the boys, undated cryptic note.*

Battle of Lookout Mountain, Bragg's Army at Chattanooga, Supplying Union Army at Chattanooga

1864: George R. Payne to Friend Buck

June 20, 2022 Griff Leave a comment

*I could not find an image of George but here is one of Lewis Campbell of Co. H, 134th New York Infantry. (Photo Sleuth)*

This letter was written by Orderly Sergt. George R. Payne (1841-1864), Co. E, 134th Regt. New York Volunteers. George was a resident of Richmondville, Schoharie county, New York, when he mustered into service on 22 September 1862 at the age of 22. He was killed in action at the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, on 8 May 1864.

The entry for George in the New York Town Clerk’s Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War states that George was “taken prisoner at Gettysburg & recaptured a few days after. Afterwards shot dead.” One source says he was a Lieutenant when he was killed but I see no evidence of a commission.

George was the son of William Payne (1799-1863) and Gertrude (“Gitty”) Crapser (1802-1885) of Schoharie county, New York.

Transcription

Lookout Valley, Tennessee
February 1, 1864

Friend Buck,

You must imagine the satisfaction it gave me to receive a letter from you. I have been anxious to hear from you, but was in rather a worse fix than you were, as I had no idea where to address you; and I want you to continue directing letters by guess to me, if they all come through in time like the one in hand. I have often thought of you and the pleasant, though short, association we had together. Although our acquaintance was short, I believe our friendship is as permanent and lasting as life itself, which I would wish, if possible, to enjoy in a more personal manner than with a pen.

I am sorry that you had to stop in Washington. I was in hopes to hear from you in California or the West: at least I was in hopes you would go to Philadelphia., Newark, or some other northern city. I believe if you were in either of the above-named places you would enjoy yourself and be contented. As for me, I am better satisfied and contented than I was at the hospital. And more healthy also. You would hardly know me I have fleshed up so.

When I reached here (17 Dec.) I did not find the regiment. They with the Corps were gone up to relieve Burnside of Longstreet, but they returned the same night and you can bet we were glad to see each other. I did hardly else for a couple of days but talk over matters and events that transpired since I left them. They had been gone since the Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga fights, which was about four weeks, during which time, as they left their knapsacks behind, they had no shelter or blankets and marched 240 miles. They were barefooted, ragged, and lousy, and that in December during some of the coldest weather we have had. Some of the boys marched over a hundred miles barefooted. They drew no rations and what they had was picked up along the rout. The whole army were on short rations from the time they came in here (that is, when Rosecrans took Chattanooga) until the cars came through from Bridgeport to Chattanooga, about two weeks ago. Previous, all our supplies were fetched up on boats which were insufficient to supply the whole army. Since I have been here, we were two days without a ration. Before Hooker opened the way from Bridgeport to Chattanooga, Rosecrans’ army was on the point of starvation for the rebs had possession of this valley and wold fire on the boats and wagon trains on the other side of the river and nearly stopped transportation.

The Western Army were glad to see them come, and were surprised that they came through right under the guns on Lookout and the Valley, which also has minor mountains on which were reb’s breastworks and infantry. Our boys say it is nothing but fun to fight Bragg’s Army; they do not fight like Lee’s. The western troops highly applauded our boys for taking the Valley and Lookout. There were only fourteen wounded in my regiment; none killed.

Today is like spring and has been so for three or four weeks—sometimes too warm for comfort. I do not know what it will be in the summer. On the other hand we had a week of very cold weather and it snowed about half an inch. It is probable that we will have rain soon, but we are prepared for it, having first rate stockade tents and good fireplaces. We built these soon after I came back and have enjoyed ourselves first rate since.

We are right in view of Lookout Mountain and three miles from Chattanooga and presume we will remain along this railroad this summer, as the western generals think Old Joe has won laurels enough. This is a very mountainous country and it is surprising how we drove the rebs off from them. Lookout is a second Gibraltar. I have been up on it and is only accessible on this side by the assistance of ladders; on the other side, a road leads up by tacking along the mountain. On the opposite side of the Valley is Raccoon Mountain. I was on this also the other day hunting. I only shot a rabbit and came very near getting a shot at a deer. Four other fellows that were hunting also shot at it but did not kill it. There is once in a while a bear and wild hog shot. There is hundreds of acres of woods on these mountains and plenty of the latter.

The next morning after I got here, the Captain saw the Colonel and appointed me orderly of my company. When it was read off on dress parade, it said, “promoted for meritorious conduct.” Is not that a compliment? I have it very easy now as the company is small and we have a commissary sergeant. Our regiment numbers only about 200 at present and the Colonel and Major are trying to get it filled up but I am afraid they will not succeed. There are a great many enlisting in the counties in which our regiment was raised but cannot get them as we have no recruiting officer there, although the Colonel has tried to send some.

We had a pretty tedious time coming from Washington and were two weeks weeks on the road. We went to Camp Chase, Ohio, where we expected to stay awhile but remained only one day and started for Cincinnati where we stopped two days, giving us a chance to look around the pork metropolis, which is rightly named from the quantity I saw there. From there we took a boat down the Ohio River 150 miles to Louisville, Kentucky, remaining there one day. Then our course lay directly south across the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, passing through Nashville, to Bridgeport. Alabama, from which place we came afoot—a distance of thirty miles. Ohio is a fine state and well cultivated but Kentucky and Tennessee, being equally fine, need Yankee enterprise to make it the finest country in the world. They are about half covered with heavy timber and I hardly saw a frame house and the log houses were miserable things—not as good as our tents. They do not appreciate good buildings or have the ingenuity to build them. And if the ladies I saw are specimens of “southern chivalry,” where else no real beauty and symmetry is found. I think the sooner they are got rid of the better for as the boys say, they will all firk. One of the “chivalry” said, “we’ens think it no harm down here, as you’ens do.”

I would like to give you a more minute description of my journey here but have already wearied your patience and think I hear you say enough, enough. So I forbear and suffice it to say, I felt well repaid for the tiresome side of sixteen hundred miles.

I am glad to hear and see so many old regiments reenlisting for the war or three years. It is a severe blow at the rebellion, discouraging to them and greatly encourages us. I hope this administration will be [successful] getting out the 800,000 new recruits; then I think we can walk through anywhere. I hope Congress will repeal the commutation clause and allow no money substitutes, but it seems they are doing nothing. I hope to hear from you again soon and believe me as ever, your sincere friend, — G. R. Payne

Direct to Sergt. G. R. Payne, Co. E, 134th Regt. N. Y. Vol., 11th Corps, Nashville, Tenn.

15th Iowa Infantry

1862: William Spates to Robert Spates

June 19, 2022 Griff Leave a comment

*I could not find an image of William but here is one of John Davenport who also served in the 15th Iowa Infantry (Roger Davis Collection)*

These three letters were written by William (“Bill”) Spates (1842-1863), the son of Thomas Purnell Spates (1799-1864) and Levica Scott (1805-1854) of Oskaloosa, Mahaska county, Iowa.

When William enlisted in Co. C, 15th Iowa Infantry in January 1863, he gave Indiana as his birthplace and Rose Hill, Iowa, as his current residence. He entered the service as a private and had been promoted to corporal prior to 6 June 1863 when he was detailed for Orderly Sergeant of Co. B, Tenth Louisiana Colored Volunteers (later designated the 48th US Colored Infantry Regiment). According to the muster rolls of the 48th USCT, William was never mustered as the Orderly Sergeant because he died on 25 June 1863 of fever at Goodrich Landing, Louisiana.

To read other letters published on Spared & Shared by 15th Iowa Infantry soldiers, see:
Cyrus E. Ferguson, Co. A, 15th Iowa (1 Letter)
Cyrus E. Ferguson, Co. A, 15th Iowa (9 Letters)
John A. Wheelock, Co. A, 15th Iowa (2 Letters)
John A. Wheelock, Co. A, 15th Iowa (2 Letters)

[Note: These letters are from the private collection of Mike Huston and are published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Letter 1

Headquarters 15th Iowa Infantry
Camp near Bolivar, Tennessee
August 13th 1862

Dear Brother,

I once more seat myself to inform you that I am well and when these few lines reach you, I hope they will find you enjoying the same blessing. I am on guard today and I thought I would drop you a few lines to let you know how things are at present as far as I can. We are still camped in the same place where we was when I wrote to [you] last. There has been nothing of any importance occurred yet and I am in hopes there will be none. We are a building forts here now. There is 6 forts a building or being built in a round here. I was on fatigue duty yesterday a having to go to build a magazine for Fort England. We go a foraging every other day and get peaches and apples.

Henry Hiatt is at our camp this morning and he is as fine a looking soldier as I ever saw in my life.. I believe he belongs to the 17th Illinois Regiment and they drawed their pay 4 or 5 days ago and he says he intends to send his father $25 or $30 dollars. I think it will be a good idea if he does.

You wanted to know how we lived. We live sometimes like gentlemen and some times like hogs. We draw flour and ham and pickled pork every five days and beef every morning. We have built a bake oven and we have bread that is fit to eat and as to our officers, we have as good officers as any company in the regiment. There never was a better man than Capt. [James A.] Seevers. ¹ But as to the lieutenants, I will whip the Second Lieutenant if we ever live to get back to Oskaloosa. That is John D. Kinsman. He used to clerk in the Recorder’s [Office]. He is a perfect tyrant since he has come in command of the company. ² Capt. Seevers is Acting Major and Lieut. John D. Shannon is detailed on the court martial in session at Bolivar. If I ever live to get to Oskaloosa, I will give Lieut. Kinsman a good licking.

I don’t know as I have anything to write of any importance any more than I want you to give me a full detail of all that is going on and about the draft but I will advise you to stay at home for you will never stand it at all. So take a fool’s advise and stay at home. write soon and oblige your brother.

— Bill Spates

To Robert Spates, Esq.

¹ Seevers, James A. Age 29. Residence Oskaloosa, nativity Virginia. Appointed Captain Dec. 31, 1861. Mustered Dec. 31, 1861. Resigned Nov. 27, 1862, Tennessee.

² Kinsman, John D. Age 20. Residence Oskaloosa, nativity Iowa. Enlisted Oct. 17, 1861, as First Sergeant. Mustered Dec. 31, 1861. Promoted Second Lieutenant April 23, 1862. Killed in battle Oct. 3, 1862, Corinth, Miss.

Letter 2

Headquarters 15th Regt. Iowa Vols.
Camp No. 14
September 17th 1862

Dear Bob,

I seat myself to drop you a few lines. We received orders to be ready to march by 3 o’clock Friday morning and started from Bolivar to Corinth and was two days and a half on the road. We are camped about 2 miles and a half from Corinth—a little east, and a supporting the Tenth Ohio Battery. We are camped close to the picket line of Company C, 7th Iowa. Bruce Jarvis ¹ has not come down here yet. Walter Tanner ² came to camp yesterday and said hat Bruce Jarvis started down when Johnson came down to St. Louis to get his pay. If he is strapped, it is not my fault for if he has been gambling and lost his money, I can’t sympathize with him for it. I don’t know when we will get our pay but I could not care if we did not draw our money while we are in the service.

I received your letter the other morning as we was a starting for Corinth. I received them papers you sent. I wish you would send me a few more stamps for I fell in the Tallahatchie River and got them wet and they stuck together and I lost all of them nearly. I will try and give Miss [ ] a flourish with the pen if I get a chance. I would give her a flourish with something else.

Bob, I am afraid this Union is about gone up or as our byword is, “played out” for ninety days. Our Generals has not done anything in the East.

I will close. Give my respects to all of my friends. Send me something good to eat if you please. Farewell and excuse my writing for I have one of the meanest pens you ever saw. I have run out of gas.

Your humble servant, — Bill Spates

I will send you some wild grapes seeds. The Tennesseans call them Muscadines. They are as big as a snail’s egg. I want you to have them a bearing by the time I get home.

¹ There was no Bruce Jarvis on the rolls of the 15th Iowa Infantry.

² Tanner, Walter A. Age 25. Residence Hopewell, nativity Ohio. Enlisted Oct. 17, 1861, as Third Corporal. Mustered Dec. 31, 1861. Killed in battle Oct. 3, 1862, Corinth, Miss.

Letter 3

La Grange, [Tennessee]
November 29, 1862

Dear Brother,

I take the present opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know where I am. I arrived at La Grange yesterday evening. The Regiment left yesterday morning for Holly Springs and I and 4 more of the same regiment are here. I don’t know when I will get a chance to go to my regiment. The whole army is on the move and I expect will have a fight before a great while. There was about 70 thousand troops on their way to some place, God only knows where for I don’t.

I am well or about as I was when I left home. I think I will get a discharge when I get to the regiment or at least I intend to do my best towards getting one. I had not time to call on you for money so I gave Johnson a draft on you for $15. I suppose it will make no material difference to you. It did not cost me a cent for me to come down here. I came down to St. Louis with the 33rd Regiment and then I got a Transportation to my regiment.

Give my love and respects to all y old friends and especially to E. J. Shipley. Write soon and often. Your brother, — William Spates

To Robert Spates

96th Ohio Infantry, Siege of Vicksburg

1863: William Henry Scarbrough to James Scarbrough

June 19, 2022 Griff Leave a comment

This letter was written by William Henry Scarbrough (1842-1903), the son of James Scarbrough (1807-1896) and Elizabeth Breckenridge (1816-1904) of Liberty, Knox county, Ohio. The Scarbrough family were farmers and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

William enlisted on 12 August 1862 to serve in Co. B, 96th OVI. Prior to his promotion to corporal in April 1863, he participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bluffs and Fort Hindman. He was with his regiment in the rear of Vicksburg when he wrote this letter in mid-June 1863 but became ill and was sent to the hospital on 4 July where he remained for a couple of weeks. He returned to his regiment and participated in the battle of Grand Coteau where he was wounded in the left index finger, was promoted to sergeant in December 1863, and and participated in the battles of Sabine Crossroads, Fort Gaines and Morgan, Spanish Fort and Mobile, Alabama.

*William H. Scarbrough of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Photographer L. K. Oldroyd w. tax stamp. (Paul O’Neill Collection)*

*Advertisement for Oldroyd’s Gallery in the Mt. Vernon Republican, December 1864.*

For a great article on the early war experience of the 9th OVI, see Grapes and Catawba Wine on the Ohio: The 96th Ohio Defends Cincinnati, published in March 2021 in Dan Masters’ Civil War Chronicles.

See also, “An Ohio English Teach Went to Fight in the Civil War and Got his First True Taste of Battle,” by James Jewell on HistoryNet.

Previously published Spared & Shared letters by members of the 96th OVI:
Albert S. Coomer, Co. C, 96th Ohio (3 Letters)
Alfred Alverson Thayer, Co. C, 96th Ohio (3 Letters)
Joseph C. Arnold, Co. E, 96th Ohio (3 Letters)

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History houses a collection of 51 letters by William H. Scarbrough of Co. B, 96th OVI.

Transcription

*Addressed to Mr. James Scarbrough, Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio*

Rear of Vicksburg, four miles on the Battlefield
June 17, 1863

Dear Parents,

This beautiful morning finds me seated for the purpose of writing you a few lines. However, I do not owe you any letter but if I did not write when I only received letters, I would not write very often. Since last writing you, nothing of interest has occurred more than usual. Last Sabbath morning as Orderly Lore and myself were laying in the beautiful shade with our Testaments in our hands and talking of home and the pleasant times we have had and soon hope to enjoy again, we were called—or rather aroused—by a Rebel shell which soon brought us to our feet and instead of reading our Bibles, had to lay in the rifle pits the balance of the day. Such is the theme of war. You do not know from one minute to another what you will be called on to do. Persons not acquainted or used to the Army would think it a strange place. I do not mind the hardships of war anymore for tis of no use. I thank God for sparing my life through so many dangers and hardships and good health. Since coming here, many of our boys have taken sick with disease, chills, and fever. Consequently the duty we have to perform (which is very heavy) comes harder upon those that are well.

John Law is not very well at this time but is now improving slowly. I wrote a letter stating that I would like if you could send me a couple of good woolen shirts—something of good quality. I am nearly out of anything in the shirt line and do not like the army shorts. If you have any chance, send them, or if you think it safe to Express them.

If you want to see a map of Vicksburg and of the charges [that have] been made and where the Federal Army lays and even [the] 96th [OVI], look in Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper. It is being made and will be sent to him soon. You can see the position of all out forces and 20th, 96th, or any regiment you wish to see. I have nothing more of interest to communicate. I hope to hear from you all soon.

Send me postage stamps. I am out and will have to frank this letter. My love to all friends after reserving a share for yourselves. Yours topographically and fraternally, — William H. Scarbrough, soldier boy.

[to] James and Elizabeth Scarbrough

Direct to camp near Vicksburg, Miss., 96th Regiment OVI, Company B, Care of Capt. Joseph Leonard

I could say many things concerning the army but will be useless for the papers can and will give you a better statement than myself. I hope to hear from you soon.

17th Massachusetts Infantry, New Bern, North Carolina, Trenton Bridge

1862: Henry Augustus Cheever to Mehitable (Felt) Cheever

June 18, 2022 Griff Leave a comment

*1Lt.& Adjutant Henry Augustus Cheever, 17th Massachusetts Infantry (Memorial History)*

This letter was written by Henry Augustus Cheever (1839-1905), the son of Ira Cheever (1798-1876) and Mehitable Gardener Felt (1802-1882) of Chelsea, Suffolk county, Massachusetts. He was captain of the Chelsea Wide-Awakes in the Lincoln Presidential campaign and also served as a member of Co. F, 7th Mass. Vol. Militia before the war. Henry received a commission as a 1st Lieutenant early in the war and was assigned to the 17th Massachusetts where he was appointed adjutant.

Later in the war, Adjutant Cheever was severely wounded at Batchelders Creek in North Carolina, He was wounded on the morning of 1 February 1864 and was taken prisoner but survived the surgery and recovered to return home. He went into the mercantile business after he war but eventually went to work for the Treasury Department and processed pension claims.

In this May 1862 letter, penned from New Bern after the Union occupancy, Henry tells his mother about the skirmish at Trenton Bridge that took place on 15 May 1862. He also shares his views of the New Bern inhabitants, their customs, farming methods, and the weather in general in the South. He includes some details of a long conversation held with Rebel officers during a flag-of-truce.

Transcription

Picket Station near New Bern, [North Carolina]
Sunday, May 18th 1862

Dear Mother,

As a few moments are at my command, I will write you a few lines to let you know that I am in the land of the living (also Rebels) and am well—never was in better health in my life. Think that upon the close of the present war, I had better enlist in the Regular Army, hadn’t I? I received a letter from you a few days ago and it seems that you had only received one letter from me. I have written several but I presume they were lost as the mail arrangements are not the best in the world. So you must make up your mind that some of the letters I send you will never reach home.

We still remain here in the same place but we have frequent skirmishes with the enemy. On Thursday [15 May 1862] of the past week quite a force went up 15 miles above our camp to a place called Trenton. We had 800 cavalry [3rd N. Y. Cavalry], 2 pieces of cannon, and the 25th Regt. Massachusetts Vol. and our [17th Mass.] regiment. [We] started about 2 o’clock in the morning and came within two miles of Trenton and the advance guard of the cavalry ran upon the enemy and a terrific fight took place. The enemy were double in force to our men, they having 75 or 80 men to our 37, but our boys drove them from the field and they left in double quick for town where they set fire to the bridge and then evacuated the town. There were 7 Rebels killed, 2 wounded that we got, and one prisoner, while on our side were 2 wounded and 1 Lieutenant taken prisoner. The Rebels left on the field 13 horses killed and we three.

One of our wounded was the Major ¹ of the [3rd New York] cavalry who in the skirmish was taken prisoner three times but got away by the help of his men. The 4rd time his captors looked at him a moment and then cooly told him that he must be a dangerous person and that they had better shoot him on the spot. The Major had discharged his revolver but when this was told him, quicker than thought, he raised and threw it at the speaker. It hit him in the mouth and knocked him from his saddle. Another Rebel who helped take the Major raised his saber to cut him down, but at this moment one of our captains struck the Rebel with his sword and cut his right arm off so it hung by the skin. In consequence of this, the Major got away. He is a nice man and a very powerful one. All this took place in less time than I have written. The rest of the cavalry and troops were a mile behind the advance guard but we came up on the double quick to give them a volley, but were too late.

I was in command of the Pioneers and was ahead of the regiments and in rear of the cavalry. After we halted three of our companies were sent out to search the woods and C. C. had a skirmish and killed 4 more. After remaining here a while, we started for home, having marched 30 miles in less than 12 hours and through mud and water up to our knees. The object of the expedition was to capture and steal a lot of horses as this department is greatly in need of them. But they got the alarm and took them away.

Father wished to know concerning the people, habits, customs, &c. I should be very happy to inform him but as there are no people here save negroes, I can’t enlighten him much. When the town was evacuated, the people left also. Some few have returned but not many. There are poor whites here but they are far worse than the negroes for they are so lazy that they won’t work and the consequence is that they steal and starve.

The weather is at the present like our July weather. We have frequent thunder showers. I have read and heard tell of a thunder storm in the Southern States but I must confess that my imagination was not strong enough to conceive what a storm could take place. A person must experience one in order to realize the beauty of it. Peaches and plums are fast ripening, strawberries in quantity, only we hardly dare venture into the fields to gather them for fear that the Rebels may pick us up. It is a sad looking sight to look over the broad fields of the plantations and see their barrenness for no one has planted anything save the negroes who only look out for themselves. Let a hundred live Yankees come down here and in three years time they could make a paradise out of this now neglected country. There is no care taken of the land, merely to drop the seed into the ground and let it grow—is the Southerner’s principle—and it is well carried out. In everything they are 100 years behind our time. Their houses would amuse you. On all of them the chimneys are built upon the outside and contain brick enough to build a common-sized house. Then they are all old style and in such comical shape that it is really amusing to ride a few miles to merely look at the houses. I should not like to settle in this part of the state unless there be a colony of Yankees here.

There was a Rebel Lieutenant Colonel ² and Adjutant here last week came up with a flag-of-truce. They say that the western part of the state is much more pleasant—it being on higher ground. Speaking of these officers, I went up two miles outside of our lines to carry their escort some rations as they brought none, expecting to return the same day but did not. There were 20 of them. They belonged to the 1st North Carolina Cavalry. I was with them three hours and had a jolly time. They had many questions to ask and I answered all that were proper. They are sick of the war and wish it over. They talk it out. They felt anxious to know my opinion on the matter and they felt or acted pleased when I told them tht I thought it would close virtually in two or three months. I carried up 30 papers which were eagerly grabbed at for they cannot get the true state of the case from the Confederate papers.

I gave one of them a New York Herald in which was a editorial which stated the fact that if Yorktown and Norfolk were taken, that the contest was decided. One of them read it and came along to me and told me it would certainly prove so. I asked him if he did not know that they had already been captured? No, he had heard nothing of it. He supposed they were still in their hands. They were very much surprised at learning the fact. When I parted with them, I told them I hoped that if it was my fate to be taken prisoner, I hoped I might fall into their hands for I felt sure the would treat me well. They gave me the prices of their uniforms. Overcoat $35 (worth $5), pants $17 (worth $3), boots $20 (worth $5), coffee 150 and 200 per pound and other articles in the same proportion.

But I must close. Please tell Electa Brown that I will answer her letter very soon. Also convey my compliments to Anna Misley and say I should be very happy to hear from her. If I had any photograph, I would send her one. Also Electa. But I have none and there are no means of having any taken here so I shall have to wait until I arrive in some Northern City. Give my regards to my friends. Remember me to Sarah Young & Fred. Please write soon. From your son, — Hen

¹ The name of the Major is never given in this letter but the Regimental roster indicates that the Major at the time was 35 year-old George W. Lewis of Elmira, New York.

² The Lieutenant-Colonel of the 1st North Carolina Cavalry at the time was James Byron Gordon who later became a Brigadier General in the CSA.

Confederate Election Ballot

Confederate Election Ballot for Jefferson Davis as President

June 18, 2022 Griff Leave a comment

The following handwritten document is a very rare Virginia electoral ticket endorsing Jefferson Davis for president and Alexander H. Stevens for vice president. It also lists John R. Edmunds of Halifax and Allen T. Caperton of Monroe “for the state at large,” and various other men “for the districts.” The election took place on Wednesday, 6 November 1861. This election was the only presidential election under the Permanent Constitution of the CSA. Jefferson Davis and Alexander H. Stephens had been previously elected President and Vice President only under the Provisional Constitution.

This ballot was signed on the verso by James F. Ross, the voter who cast the Virginia ballot. Most likely the voter was 40 year-old James Franklin Ross (1821-1894), the son of John W. Ross (1788-1876) and Susannah Thomas (1794-1831) of Loudoun county, Virginia. James was married in November 1851 to Mary Jane Gochnour (1832-1929). Sometime after 1870, the Ross family relocated to Geary county, Kansas.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History houses a similar ballot that was cast by William Fern but it was a printed ballot, as were most of the ballots. It was only when the pre-printed paper ballots were depleted that electors submitted hand written ballots.

Transcription

For President, Jeff Davis
Vice President, Alex H. Stevens [Stephens]

Electors

[At large]

Jno R. Edmonds [of Halifax]
A[llen] T. Caperton [of Monroe]

[Districts]

Joseph Christian [of Middlesex]
C[incinnatis] W. Newton [of Norfolk City]
R. T. Daniel [of Richmond City]
W[illiam] F. Thompson [of Dinwiddie]
Wood Bouldin [of Charlotte]
W[illiam] L. Goggin [of Bedford]
B. F. Randolph [of Albemarle]
James W. Walker [of Madison]
Asa Rogers [of Loudoun]
Sam[uel] C. Williams [of Shenandoah]
Sam[uel] M[cDowell] Reid [of Rockbridge]
Henry A. Edmundson [of Roanoke]
J[ames] W. Sheffey [of Smythe]
H[enry] J. Fisher [of Mason]
Joseph Johnson [of Harrison]
E. H. Fitzhugh [of Ohio]