The following letter was written by John H. Moore (1840-1910) of Belmont county, Ohio, who served in Co. A, 1st W. Virginia Infantry. He wrote the letter form their camp near Alexandria, Virginia, shortly after the humiliating defeat at 2nd Bull Run in which they had fought under Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell’s 3rd Corps in Pope’s Army of Virginia.
It is with pleasure that I write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present and hope you are all enjoying the same. We are back at Alexandria again but don’t know how long we will stay here. We have had some very big fighting out here—another Bull Run scrape. We lost eight men missing and three men wounded—namely John A. Foster in the shoulder, Frank Dietrich in the hip with a piece of shell, Hezakiah Clark in the left side and arms. The others were taken prisoners. I got off safe.
We have not got any mail for three weeks nor couldn’t send any letters away. I heard that Thomas had enlisted. I want you to let me know if he has or not. We are laying here at Alexandria now. The day we came here we only had 160 men in the regiment. I don’t [know if] we will go into any more battles very soon. I have not go time to write any more at present as I send this with Major [Isaac Hardin] Duval who is going home to be Colonel of the 13th [9th] Virginia Regiment. Write as soon as you can.
No more at present. From your son, — John H. Moore
To James & Catharine Moore, Bridgeport, Ohio
Direct to John H. Moore, Care of Capt. Meddle, Co. A, 1st Reg. Va. Vols. Infantry
The following letter was written by Adin V. Cole (1844-1862), the son of Kimball Cole (1810-1902) and Mary Stockwell (1819-1909) of Whitefield, Coos county, New Hampshire. He mentions a younger brother, Martin Marshall Cole (1849-1925) in the letter.
Anxious to fight for the Union, Adin enlisted when he was 18 in Co. C, 5th New Hampshire Infantry on 26 September 1861, but did not live long enough to see his first battle. He died on 8 March 1862—just two month after this letter was penned. He lies buried in the US Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery in Washington D. C. (Site B 2031)
The author has placed a black arrow in the general area where Camp California was located. The map is an 1861 map of the Defenses of Washington reprinted in the “Atlas to Accompany The Official Records of the Union and confederate Armies.” Camp California was under the shelter of nearby Fort Worth (misspelled as Ft Wohth on this map). Referring to Fort Worth, one Irish Brigade soldier wrote home that “in our front there is a very strong fort that would send very destructive messengers to any approaching enemy if they were to come within range of its long and heavy guns.” General Sumner reportedly camped in a Sibley tent near Mr. Watkins’ home.[Source: Civil War Washington D. C.]
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Camp California January 5th 1862
Dear Parents,
I now answer your letter which I received last Thursday and was very glad to hear from you for it had been three weeks almost since I had heard from you. There is about an inch of snow on the ground this morning but it won’t stay long for it is coming off warm. I went out to drill this morning and I felt a little sick so I went to the Captain and asked him if he would excuse me and he said yes. It is the first time I have been excused from duty since my ankle got well. It has got so well that I can’t tell where it was hurt. It is as sound as the other now.
I will now answer some of your questions. First, about Oscar, tell Mr. Huntoon’s folks that he is doing first rate and is faithful to his duty. He has to be or else he must look out for himself. The best way is to be faithful and do your duty in good earnest and you will get along well enough. I have not had one bit of trouble with an officer nor anyone else since I enlisted, nor I don’t mean to have.
Ezra is getting along nicely. He does not have any trouble at all. His Captain like him first rate and as long as he keeps on the right side of his Captain, he will get along well enough. Those boots—I lost one of them when we moved from Concord to Washington and the other is most worn out. I shall have to get me a new pair of pants. Lately they are made of good cloth and I guess they will wear well. The rest of our clothing is good yet.
We sleep warm nights for it is not very cold here yet. You wrote that if three was anything I wanted you would send it to me. I don’t want anything now but shall by and by. Tell Martin I shall write to him before long.
One of our men got three of his four fingers on his right hand shot off the other night while on guard. I guess you have heard it was two but it was three fingers. His name you have heard before this I presume. If you hain’t, you will before long. Write as soon as you get this and put on the time you wrote the letter before and then I can tell if I get them all.
I must close so goodbye. From your son, — Adin V. Cole
The following letter was written by 19 year-old Owen Jones (1842-1921), the son of Isaiah Jones (1812-1888) and Matilda Darrah (1812-1888) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Owen enlisted in Co. K, 3rd Pennsylvania Reserves (32nd Volunteers). This regiment was organized at Philadelphia and moved to Easton, Pennsylvania, on 20 May 1861. They remained in “Camp Washington” at Easton until 22 July when they moved to Harrisburg where they were mustered into the US Service on 28 July. Owen was promoted to corporal on 1 March 1862 and then discharged on a surgeon’s certificate on 2 December 1862. After the war, Owen was employed as a police officer in Philadelphia.
Owen’s letter was written on 1 May 1863 from Falmouth during Gen. Irvin McDowell’s advance on Fredericksburg with 30,000 men. Their objective was to gain control of the town and potentially cross the Rappahannock River to continue their march on Richmond. Stonewall Jackson’s maneuvers in the Shenandoah Valley, however, disrupted this advance and forced McDowell to withdraw.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Camp near Falmouth May 1, 1862
Dear Mother,
I received thy kind and welcome letter on the first and was glad to hear from thee and to hear that thee got the money and my [ ]. Thee said thee thought I would get tired of reading thy letters. The more thee writes, the better I like to read them. The more the merrier.
We have made another move. We are only 60 miles from Richmond. We are only 3 miles from Fredericksburg. We are along side of the Rappahannock river. It is a nice place. We expect to cross the river as soon as the bridge gets done. They are making a bridge. We can see the rebels on the other side of the river. We have had a hard march these two weeks.
Thee wanted to know if I dressed any different to the rest. Not a bit of it. Just the same. I have to go on picket but don’t stand post. We have to do the same as the rest of the men—only we have two [corporal] stripes on our arm; that’s all big thing. Can’t see it.
It looks like rain today. Things is very dear here. We have to pay 15 cents for a three-cent loaf of bread. That is awful. We have to pay three prices for anything we want big thing and we see it. I was very sorry when I heard such bad news about Bill Rook. I hope Pap will try and do the best he can. I think I will have to stop for I don’t know what to say. It is one thing all the time. We are under General McDowell. He is over McColl. We expect to cross the river very soon.
Give my love to grandmother and all the rest of the folks. Write soon. I think thee will see something in the papers about us soon. I hope so for we have done nothing yet but tain’t our fault. The men was always ready to go in. You will bet they was just so. Give my love to all, Pap, Em and thyself the most.
Direct thy letters to me, 3rd Regiment, Company K, Capt. [William] Brian, Col. Sykes commanding, Washington D. C., McCall’s Division. and then they will come all right. Write soon. This is from thy dear son, — Owen Jones
I could not find an image of James but here is one of Martin Luther Werkheiser who served in the same company.
The following letter was written by James Peter Tilton (1841-1904), the son of Charles Tilton (1807-1891) and Charlotte VanFossen (1813-1895) of Easton, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. James wrote the letter to Sarah “Emily” Wirebach (1844-1947) with whom he would later marry.
James was one of the first in his county to enlist in Co. C of the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry, serving from 20 April 1861 to 24 July 1861. A year later, he re-enlisted in Co. K, 129th Pennsylvania Infantry—a 9 month organization—from 11 August 1862 to 18 May 1863. It was while serving in the 129th that he wrote this letter from their camp near Stoneman’s Station in Virginia. It was several weeks following the Battle of Fredericksburg in which the regiment lost 142 in killed and wounded. In less than a month they would participate in the Battle of Chancellorsville though their losses would be fewer and most that remained were able to return home as their time expired.
Stoneman’s Station, Virginia
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
New camp near Falmouth, Virginia And one mile from Stoneman’s Station February 6th 1863
Dear Emily,
Your letter came to hand last Monday and I was glad to hear that you were all well as that is all I care about hearing and as long as I hear such news, I am satisfied and in a few months if we all keep our health, we can have joyous times as the merry and joyous spring will lighten our road home and I long for its appearance for then I will be free from bondage.
Oh! I must tell you about the feeling towards “George” the Baptist. The Boys say if they would be home now, they would give him so long a time to leave or have a coat of tar and feathers. And Jim is so angry that he says if he would have him hear that he would show him what a soldier is. He said that he would not care so much about it if “Sue” [?] did not belong to another church. I did not say anything to Jim about what you. told me and I would not say a word for the world so you can rest assured that what you tell me goes no further and trust to you the same to this letter and all others. What I write to you, I don’t mean for others, and I know you do the same. And you can rest assured what you reveal to me shall not be revealed. You must not get angry at me for the way I talk.
Well, Emily, I would like to of heard that dutch singing and another thing, I would like to hear “George the Baptist” just to see and have a little fun. I think he is doing more sin than good around home, but if he wants to do good, let him come to the army and there he might do some good as we have very poor preachers out here. They preach once a month about and get $60 a month for doing nothing but walk around and act the hypocrite. 1
I must bring my letter to a close but you must not forget to have a picnic and when we get home, we will join in and help get it up. Give my best respects to the home circle and likewise to John and Bell and Aaron an Salome. This little pin lace I got at Fredericksburg out of the house of Dorry Chimney in Charles Street and I though it would be something for you to remember that City by so I will enclose it as a relic. No more at present but I remain yours truly, — Jas. P. Tilton
1 The chaplain of the 129th Pennsylvania from August 1862 to May 1863 was William Henry Rice (b. 1840), a student in the Yale Theological Seminary when he volunteered to serve.
The following letter was written by Walter G. Jones (1840-1909), the son of Rev. Aaron Baldwin Jones (1801-1889) and Lydia Pickett (1804-1857) of Smithville, Broome county, New York. Just prior to the 1860 Census, Walter and Lola L. Nusom (1838-1901) were married and enumerated in the household with Lola’s parents in Triangle.
Muster rolls inform us that Walter was mustered into Co. C, 8th New York Cavalry as a private on 30 August 1862. At that time he was described as a 5 foot 10 inch tall married farmer with blue eyes and light hair. He was mustered out of the regiment as a private on 15 June 1865 at Washington, D. C.
Being the son of a Baptist minister and undoubtedly raised in a religious environment, Walter clearly possessed a strong conviction that God would safeguard him in battle: “…soldiering is a challenging endeavor for a man until he becomes accustomed to it. I believe I have acclimated and been hardened by it, to the extent that I now fear nothing except the bullets. Yet, I place my trust in God, confident that He will watch over me for the next eight months as He has for the past two years and four months. At times, I find it miraculous that I have been spared for this long, but God has declared in His holy word that if we ask, we shall receive, and He has kept His promise to me in this regard, for which I am deeply grateful.” In light of this, the image below of Walter alongside the Bible he carried in in his breast pocket that provided him protection is all the more poignant. In 1896 Walter attended a National Encampment in Boston, and he took along his treasured war souvenir. He was offered $200 for it. “I am a poor man,” he said, “but $5,000 wouldn’t buy it today.”
Note: This letter is from the private collection of Greg Herr and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Headquarters Co. C, 8th Regt. NY Vol. Cavalry Camp near Winchester, Virginia January 8th 1864
My dear sister Sarah,
As my comrades have all gone away today and left me alone, I thought I would answer your letter which I received a few days ago. I was very glad to hear from you and hear you was well for it had been a long time since I had heard from any of you. I am well and hearty and so is all the rest of the Boys here. I got the box that [my wife] Lola sent me the other day all safe and sound. The boots come very acceptable, I tell you, and all the rest of the articles.
I had a letter from Robert the other day. He wrote that he had been sick and never had no fever in his life, but was better when he wrote to me. If he lives it through and gets well, he will probably be tough after it, but soldiering is tough business for a man till he gets used to it. I think I have got use to it and toughened by it, so much so that I fear nothing now but the bullets. But I trust in God that He will watch over me for the next 8 months to come as he has through the past two years and four months. I sometimes think it a miracle that I have been spared as long as I have, but God has said in His holy word that if we would ask, we should receive and He has fulfilled His promise to me in that respect for which I am very thankful.
This cdv of a Union trooper was sold with the letter. He is unidentified and was presumed to be Walter but he wears stripes on his sleeves indicating the rank of a corporal or sergeant. It may have been a comrade of Walter’s in the 8th NYC.(Greg Herr Collection)
You say Augustus has got home alive. A few days before I got better, we got a letter from our Sergeant Major who was taken prisoner and he gave the names of all our regiment who was there when he left. He said Gus was a prisoner and in Richmond yet. I was about to write to our folks about it when I got your letter stating he had got home. Kershief [?] has shown himself and it is not the first time either. I would like to meet him here on the battlefield some time. I believe I would be a doing justice to shoot him before shooting a rebel, and I believe I could do it as easy too. But you may think these very hard words for me to use against a brother-in-law, but it is from the bottom of my heart sincerely, and I can never help them as long as they live together. It may be they [ ] happy for them, but if she would have no more to do with him at all and let her children out to someone, she could take care of herself and I should feel more at liberty to help her then. Out here it [ ] up by a miserable glutenous drunkard. But enough of this.
I got a letter from Lyman and [sister] Theodossia the other day. They were all bully when they wrote. I have not heard from our [ ] in a long time. I wrote to them a long letter some time ago but have received no answer. I inquired in the letter if he ever had a brother by the name of William or not. I wish you would find out…He says his father’s name was William Jones and used to live in Cortland County. He thinks that he and I are cousins. His name is Henry Jones. The name of the fellow who tents with me is Robert [B.] Lyday. There is three of us in the tent. Now Sarah, write to me often and all the news and [ ]… I remain your brother, — W. G. Jones
I could not find an image of Cyrus but here is one of Patrick O’Toole who served in Co. I, 9th New York Heavy Artillery. (Ancestry.com)
The following letter was written by Cyrus B. Tanner (1834-1893) while serving in Co. L, 9th New York Heavy Artillery. It was addressed to his wife, Mary Augusta (Quick) Tanner (1836-1911) who was at home on their farm northeast of Brutus in Cayuga county, New York with their two young children, Frank and Hetti. Cyris was the son of Seldon Bulkley Tanner and Polly Wheaton.
When Cyrus enlisted on 17 November 1863 at Auburn, he was described as a 29 year-old, 5′ 7″ farmer with hazel. eyes and light hair. He was discharged from the service on 29 May 1865 having just previously spent time at Satterlee Hospital in Philadelphia.
After the war, Cyrus relocated his family to Iowa, where he engaged in Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) activities and secured employment as a hired man at a hotel situated merely a block from the State House. The hotel was previously owned by John Crummey but acquired by the Schaedler family, who prudently renamed it from the “Crummey House” to the “Schaedler House.” Tragically, Cyrus’s life came to a sorrowful end, as detailed in the following newspaper notice under the heading, “Died Because of Drink”:
The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 21 July 1893
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
[Washington D. C.] January 1st 1864
Dear Wife,
I take my seat once more to write you a few lines once more to let you know I am well and hope you are the same. It is 10 o’clock [a.m.] and up to this time everything is very dull. It rained all day yesterday so it is all mud today. I thought my box would of been here so I could of had a good time if I was all alone but it is too late. I think I shall get it tomorrow night or Sunday morning.
There will be 75 men transferred from this company into other companies in two or three days. I expect to be one so you hadn’t better write any more until you hear from me. If I do leave the company, I think of going into Co. E. They are four miles below Washington on the Potomac River. There is four companies of this regiment there. The other eight are here guarding four forts. If I go there, I shall be just as safe as I would be here. The place is called Rose’s Bluff.
I will send you a paper next Monday. We were mustered for our pay yesterday but the company is not organized yet.
6 o’clock [p.m.] This has been a long lonesome day to me. It was all mud this morning but it is froze up now. The wind is blowing very hard now. It is the coldest I have seen it this winter. I have sent John two letters this week and this will make two I have sent you. I have got one letter from you and one paper and a letter from John. If you knew how I have worked it to write this letter, you would excuse poor writing. I will give you a sample. We have got moved in our barracks. They are 20 feet wide and 100 feet long and here is 150 men. Some of them feel pretty good and some of them feel a little worse for too much drink. Well, I forgot to tell. you about my writing. I have set down a part of the time and wrote on my leg. I have stood up a part of the time and held my paper in my hand, and to finish I am laying down on my bed.
All at present from your faithful husband, — Cyrus Tanner
Co. L, 9th N. Y. S. V. Artillery, Washington D. C.
I will write again next Sunday.
January 2nd. 6 o’clock morn. I thought I would write and let you know that I didn’t freeze up last night but I tell you, it was hard work to keep warm in bed. Everything is froze as hard as it can be this morning. I can’t write anymore for want of time. — C. T.
This letter was written by 45 year-old William Witman Otto (1815-1882) from his home in Port Providence, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, after he was discharged for disability from Co. F, 88th Pennsylvania Infantry. William enlisted in the regiment on 16 September 1861 and received his discharge papers on 12 August 1862. Following his discharge, Otto returned to Port Providence to his wife Charlotte (Wise) Otto and their five children where he recovered sufficiently to resume employment as a boatman on the Schuylkill Canal.
William does not say much about his disability but I suspect he was not recovering from any wounds for the 88th Pennsylvania did not see any real action in the war until the Battle of 2nd Bull Run in late August 1862 and then again in the Miller Cornfield at Antietam in mid-September. Given his advanced age, it’s likely that William was simply unable to withstand the rigors of marching and camp life.
The recipient of this letter is not identified but he was most certainly also a member of Co. F, 88th Pennsylvania who yet remained with the regiment and was also from the Port Providence area.
According to Genealogical records, William was the son of Daniel Hitner Otto and Sarah Whitman of Berks county, Pennsylvania.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Patriotic letterhead on William’s stationery.
Port Providence [Montgomery county, Pa.] September 29, 1862
Dear Friend,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am still in the land of the living. I feel pretty well at this time but at certain times I am scarcely able to move about. There is one thing certain, I receive an honorable discharge from the United States for disability. Oh how glad I would be to have you all once more to be your own masters. I know you must of had a hard time in your last engagement according to all accounts. The 88th Regiment must be very much reduced. At the same time I felt very sorry for the killed & wounded. The poor soldiers must of had a terrible time. But you may perhaps return again to enjoy the pleasures which those as that live in the North. Oh happy I wanted [ ] to meet you all again. But I am afraid that won’t happen.
The times are dull here. Our business has been very good this summer. Once I return home after being under Doctor Yerges hand for ten days, he cured me so that I was able to go to work. Up to this time I have earned over forty-seven dollars. The business is on the [Schuylkill] Canal. It’s very good this summer owing to the scarcity of boats. Nearly all the boatmen have gone into the army. I am in hopes if this war ever gets settled there will be a great time. Everything will brighten up. But I am thinking it will be some time before it will be. This is all at this time.
John Smallwood and all the villagers of port join with me [sending] their love to all the Boys. John Smallwood joins with me [send] our best respects to Sergeant Forbes and all the corporals and officers of the broken Company F. I felt very sorry to hear of the capture of Capt. F. W. Dunbar. And believe me to be your sincere friend, — Wm. W. Otto
Please write soon and let me know your situation and how you are all a getting along for we feel anxious to hear of the Port Boys.
Lewis Rolen and Johnny Hays got their discharges the next day after I received mine. There were over six hundred discharged in one week. J. P. A. has been here a week ago but has since left for the regiment. I suppose he is in company with you at this time.
I could not find an image of William but here is one of Joseph H. Snyder who served in Co. I, 58th Pennsylvania Infantry (Photo Sleuth)
This letter was written by William Almon Wilmarth (1838-1914) of Co. H, 58th Pennsylvania Infantry. William enlisted in December 1861 and mustered out of the service in December 1864. An obituary informs us that during “the winter of 1863 at Little Washington, N.C., he was detailed as guard on a government transport about three months and in the spring of 1863 he was attached to Co. M, 4th US Art., about two months. On June 4, 1864, at Cold Water, Va., he received a gunshot wound in right leg and was in a hospital at Point Lookout, Md., about four weeks with fever and ague. He took part in the battles of Norfolk, Gum Swamp, Sandy Ridge, Drewry’s Bluff, Cold Harbor and Fort Harrison, Va.”
William was the son of Nelson Wilmarth (1812-1847) and Matilda Morris (1816-1838) of McKean county, Pennsylvania. When William’s mother died in childbirth, William was raised by William Lamphier and Calista Hazen.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Patriotic Letterhead on William’s stationery.
Portsmouth, Va. August 25th 1862
Friends John and Mother,
I received your letter last night and was glad to hear from you. We are all well except Emory Skiver. Your father is well. Fill is still in the hospital. I was up to see him just before I commenced writing. He was sitting up. He is gaining some. Mother, Toney said that you bothered him all the time he was writing his letter and I hope to God he will bother you when you write yours. You spoke of Toney’s going. I say keep Toney to home. Please to tell the names of those that I am acquainted with that is going with Pence.
Well, Mother, I wish that I cuold send you a big water melon tat we have got in the tent. We can spare it just as well as not. I am tired and sleepy. I was on guard last night. No more for this time. So goodbye. — Wm. A. Willmarth
The following letter was written by Gilbert Hamilton Mitchell (1842-1908) of Co. A, 57th Pennsylvania Infantry. Gilbert was the son of Henry Horatio Mitchell (1816-1896) and Alsina Darrow (1811-1887) of Lemon, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania. He wrote this letter to his sister Amanda Mitchell (b. 1845).
Gilbert enlisted as a private in October 1861 and mustered out as a corporal in June 1865 after serving 3 years and 8 months. The 1890 Veterans Schedule and an obituary inform us that he spent six months in the prison at Andersonville, “coming home a mere shadow of himself after his exchange, and weighing but about 75 pounds, so reduced was he by starvation and disease.”
After he returned home from the war, he married Mary Ann Ace and moved to Kansas, then Nebraska, and finally Oregon.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Washington D. C. February 9th 1862
Dear Sister Amanda,
I will now write you a short bit of a letter to let you know how I am getting along. I am well and hope you are the same. There is no news here except that our troops have taken Fort Henry. That is a bully operation. We would like to hear of more such. Our Colonel said last night that McClellan expected an attack by the 10th of this month. If so, we will no doubt leave here in a short time. All that prevents an onward movement is mud. You have no idea how muddy it is here. It takes 4 horses to draw an empty wagon almost.
I actually believe that the war will be over by the first of May if nothing happens more than we know now. The prospect grows brighter and brighter every day. Hiram says he can see through the whole concern and see just how it is going to end. Our boys are all in first rate spirits. They all think the war is about over but we would like to have a squirmish as Mr. Mead says before we come back. Ervin says before we will see our captain slain, we will fight till we perish. He makes lots of fun. He is a first rate soldier. We call him Daniel S. Dickinson. He says he won’t take any office short of General.
You say you hope I won’t be in a battle. You are a pretty girl. I should think after I have been down here living on uncle Sam so long to want me to come home without doing him any good. I would like to pop over one secesh before I come back.
I have just been to meeting and heard a good but short sermon. I think our chaplain [William T. McAdam] is a good Christian. He takes our mail out and fetches it in every day. Our old Colonel [William Maxwell] is very particular about our going to meeting. If we don’t go, he will put us on guard next day. But we all like to go to meeting so he has no trouble to punish us. I would like to see how he would act in a battle. He has got a savage look but I don’t know whether he is very courageous or not.
I got a letter from Joseph a few days ago. He said he did not know but he should enlist but he is only talking. He is too much of a secessionist, I think. Jerry is a perfect fool to put a letter in a girls that she is sending to a young chap to save paying postage but I expect he wanted to show me that he was over to Mr. Mallison’s to see Louesa. I don’t know whether I shall ever write him another letter or not but I think it is a doubtful case.
Ledyard Avery, George Earll, George Amey, myself, and two or three others in our tent have sent for the Wyoming Republican. We wanted to know what was going on at home. Several copies of that miserable thing, the M. B. Democrat, finds its way down here weekly. The prospect is good for having fair weather now and I hope we may. I think this will answer for the present. You must excuse poor writing for I have a poor place to write. George Earll sends his best respects. We are all writing home today. This is 5 letters that I have wrote home in a little over a week and have got one. We have the name of being the best regiment around here that has been here yet. You must write soon. You must not feel uneasy about me at home for I am determined to see Gib safe through this scrape and fetch him back again. I seen two letters in the Wyoming Republican from S. H. Mitchell in Capt. [Peter] Sides company. I have been thinking to find him but I don’t think he is here. They are [ ]. Give my best respects to the girls. From your brother — Gilbert H. Mitchell
The following letters were written by Capt. Calvin Rogers Johnson (1822-1897), Co. I, 14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, to his wife, Lucy Abigail (Marsh) Johnson Mississippi in 1862 and 1863. The couple were married in 1852 and they had six children. Calvin was a native of Holliston, Massachusetts; his parents were Calvin John son (1793-1826) and Nancy Rogers (1790-1861).
Calvin Rogers Johnson (ca. 1890)
Calvin’s 2nd letter tells of the arrival of the regiment at Natchez with a nice description of the location and citizens. Following the surrender of Vicksburg on July 4th, 1863, the regiment embarked with the rest of the brigade of General Ransom and proceeded to Natchez of which place they took possession on the 14th. They remained at Natchez until the 9th of October. There is a nice railroad embossment on upper left corner of the sheet.
[Note: This letter is from the collection of Greg Herr and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Corinth, Mississippi September 29, 1862
My dear Lucy
I have comparatively an idle day before me. It has been cloudy with more or less rain for two days. I suppose from what I can learn that the rainy season is just commencing and it is very disagreeable here during its continuance, much more so than our winters. Chills and fever will soon affect ,ore or less of our soldiers, I expect. I purchase and use daily quinine bitters as a preventative against diseases incidental to this climate and I ascribe my unusual good health during the past summer to this use.
The reports you heard about our Boys running with the wenches are not true to any extent as I don’t think that over half a dozen in the regiment have had anything to do with their “smoked hams,” whatever may be said to the contrary. An officer especially would consider it a disgrace to be caught toying with the sable beauties. But Lord! don’t the “critters” spread themselves if they have the means to procure finery.
Coming up from town yesterday (Sunday), I overtook and passed two ebony damsels dressed within an inch of their lives. One had a white dress on with a white lace mantilla covering her voluptuous shoulders; a white lace veil over her head entirely excluding from sight her enchanting wool. Her hoops were of majestic proportions and her “Teeter” threw into the shade any “wiggle” I ever saw North. The other was not dressed quite so magnificently, having on for a dress a fancy lawn pattern, but about 6 inches too short for style. Her hoops were as large as the others but not so well fitted, being about two foot through I should think from front to rear, but about four feet through from right to left flank. Her head was also covered with a lace veil but her shoes were brogans encasing feet which a No. 11 would tightly fit, judging from a casual glance.
The road was crowded with “Black niggers” who gazed at the beauties with admiring glances and no doubt tingling sensations under the waistcoat.
Near our camp is a large two story white house—the best in style and finish that I have seen in “Dixie” thus far. Surrounded by outbuildings, tasty and convenient, the large lawn or yard in front is covered with rare flower plants and shrubbery through which is a grove and walk to the front entrance. In the rear is a garden, grapery, &c. strawberry beds, raspberry bushes, &c. Peach and apple orchards come next. The owner was an old Rebel lawyer name Whitfield who has two sons, both captains in the Rebel army. Gen. Grant has occupied the premises all summer for his headquarters but a few days ago removed them to Jackson. I then went with the Chief Quartermaster to look at the inside arrangements before the furniture was removed and sold. The house was a perfect paradise inside—rich Turkey & Tapestry carpets covered the floors, cornices of the room all gilded, sofa’s and spring bottom chairs in four or five rooms. A large and valuable piano in the parlor. An extensive library of law, religious, medical, classical and miscellaneous works. All showed it to be the residence of a family of the very elite of Southern society and that they left their beautiful home in a great hurry and doubtless with regret.
The quartermaster has removed all of the furniture to town where it will be sold to the highest bidder. Soldiers rummage every part of the grounds and house and ruin follows the footsteps of the soldier unless promptly restrained, which is not now done in case of Rebel property, as it was in the earlier part of the war.
There is some talk of consolidating our thinned regiments of infantry. It has been done with the cavalry here and should it take place, it may make considerable difference. Superfluous officers are ordered to report either at St. Louis or Washington to be from thence assigned to duty wherever their services may be needed. Time will tell.
No talk of a movement of our regiment but I don’t suppose that we will remain here long after the new fortifications are completed. Our pickets were fired into last night but nobody hurt, as it was a very dark night.
But this much will have to answer for this time as I have run dry for matter, but I think I can enjoy your cooking after the dishes I have eat from down here. Your affectionate husband, — C. R. Johnson
Union troops arrive at the Natchez landing in mid-July 1863. Depicted at right is the lower town at the landing. Calvin’s description of Natchez refers to that part of the city up the road to the left in the picture high atop the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.
Letter 2
Natchez, Mississippi July 23d 1863
My dear Lucy,
Well, here I am with the Regiment again in the prettiest place I have been in South. Natchez on the bluff is about 100 feet above the river and if there is any air stirring, we catch some of it here. The streets are laid out at right angles with each other and on each side are beautiful shade trees, The houses display great wealth and taste. There never having ben a Rebel garrison here, the city is clean and must be comparatively healthy. Vicksburg fairly reeked in filth and I am glad to be away from it.
Thirteen Rebel companies have been raised here so of course the sympathies of the citizens are with the South and they are rebels of course, but different in many respects from the citizens of almost any place we have been in.
Within three days after our Brigade got here the stores were opened and although the merchants haven’t much to sell yet, they showed their disposition. The market too was opened and now all sorts of vegetables can be procured. Some mammoth water and mush melons a yard long, $3 in rebel money or 50 cents in ours. That’s what they begin to think of their own money. I notice cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes, figs, new potatoes, mutton, pork and beef are plenty. We have captured 6,000 beef cattle and large flocks of sheep.
The Boys are living like fighting cocks, the best pleased set I ever see. Some say that its a good thing the war commenced or they wouldn’t have been here!
The Ladies (and there is a lot of them here) don’t turn up their pretty noses very high at us and the streets are full of them at all hours of the day, in their carriages and otherwise. Citizens mingle freely with our troops and will in consequence learn some good common sense by the intercourse doubtless. It is supposed that we shall remain here. No rebels in hearing of us (that is, troops). We are 119 miles from Vicksburg and 40 from Port Hudson.
That is all I have tome to write this time. Kiss the children for me. Your affectionate husband, — C. R. Johnson
Spared & Shared 23 