1862: Emily Arletta Fitch to Morris Emerson Fitch

November 12, 2024 Griff Leave a comment

This Michigan home front letter came to me for transcription, author unknown, but I have been able to attribute it to Emily Arletta Fitch (1838-1921), the daughter of Nelson Fitch (1806-1871) and Arletta Richmond (1819-1883) of Grand Rapids, Kent county, Michigan.

Emily wrote the letter to her younger brother, Morris Emerson Fitch (1842-1863) who enlisted when he was 18 in Co. D, 2nd Michigan Cavalry. He was promoted from a private to a corporal in March 1863. Unfortunately, Morris never returned home to Michigan. He received a gunshot wound in the gut in a fight near Brentwood, Tennessee and died shortly after of his wounds in the General Hospital at Franklin, Tennessee on 26 March 1863.

In researching Morris, I found that a couple dozen of his letters written during the war to his parents are archived at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan. The catalogue describes the collection as follows:

About 25 letters written to the home folks, while he was serving in Company D, 2nd Michigan Cavalry (1861-1863). He describes the arsenal at Benton Barracks, Mo.; the Missouri shore line from the boat as they start south; and a march through a swamp in rain and mud. They camp near New Madrid, Mo., and he tells of the Negro contrabands that came into camp. On the boat trip from New Madrid to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., he describes the river and places along the way, and the flood at Mound City. They go through hilly country where the soil is poor but the water good. He tells of scouting, skirmishing, foraging for food and the seizing of cattle, horses and mules. (“Peck has a hen tied by the leg to his bunk that supplies him with a fresh egg everyday.”) They bury dead horses in a battlefield. They ride through beautiful mountain country, and destroy railroad bridges and cars and cut telegraph lines to disrupt communication. They capture a rebel force and its supplies that was guarding a railroad bridge. On the march through Booneville they go through many little deserted villages. There is a description of Corinth, Miss. and of a visit to a theater in Louisville to see the play “The Working Girl’s Dream.” The 2nd Michigan Cavalry and the Iowa 2nd Cavalry are “boon companions” in skirmishes and sharp fighting.

He comments on criticisms of General McClellan and General Burnside; on the Emancipation Proclamation; on Negroes as soldiers and workmen; on the Soldiers’ Aid Society and what happens to boxes of food sent to the soldiers in hospitals.

Fitch, of Grand Rapids, Mich., was wounded in action at Corinth, Tenn., Sept 17, 1862. He was made corporal on March 1, 1863, but died of wounds received in action at Brentwood, Tenn., March 25, 1863.

The collection also includes letters from several other soldiers, all from Kent County, Mich.:

Jesse Coon. Three letters, two of which were written to Morris Fitch. He describes the camp and their shanties at Camp Michigan. He mentioned an “ineffective reconnaissance;” a grand review at Bailey’s Cross Road; seeing General Richardson; and a visit to Mount Vernon. Coon enlisted in Company K, 3rd Michigan Infantry, May 13, 1861. Reported missing in action at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862, he returned to the regiment December 28. On May 3, 1863 he was killed in action at Chancellorsville, Va.

Albert Graves. A letter to Morris Fitch tells of seeing men from home who are in other regiments. He entered Company B, 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics as sergeant September 17, 1861, and was discharged for disability at Murfreesboro, Tenn. May 11, 1863.

W[ade] P[osey] Hurd. One letter (Aug. 31, 1862) from W. P. Hurd, a member of the 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Battalion Artillery Reserve.

John Lynch. Four letters written while he was serving in Company F, 2nd Michigan Cavalry (1862-1864). The letters tell of the death of Morris Fitch. He also comments on John Morgan. There is a very good description of the journey from Grand Rapids to St. Louis, Mo., and the reception by the town folks all along the way. Lynch was killed by bushwhackers while scouting near Cleveland, Tenn., April 2, 1864.

Daniel R. Sheiler. Three letters (June 10 and July 28, 1863, and Mar. 20, 1865) from Sheiler, who served in the 14th Army Corps Inspector General’s Office.”

Transcription

Grand Rapids [Michigan]
Thursday evening, April 24th 1862

Dear Brother Morris,

We received your long looked for and very welcome letter day before yesterday with the money in it all safe. I am sorry you are not near an Express Office. It would be so much less trouble to send it by express.

I have been over to Mr. Hards today. Went over last night to stay with Ruth who is home now. I helped her make a black silk dress she has got for herself. Itis very nice. She is coming over here tomorrow. She is going to commence her school next Monday. Going to teach in Baxter’s neighborhood. R[ ] has not received a letter from any of us since she has been in Lawrence. When she wrote her last letter, she was almost homesick.

There hasn’t any of us received a letter from Wade since the Battle at Pittsburg Landing [Shiloh] and Mr. Hard’s folks are getting quite alarmed about him. Mr. [Jehiel Hawley] Hard says if he does not hear something by next week, he shall write to Mendenhall, the commander of the Battery he is in. The Mendenhall Battery was engaged in the fight, so we read in the papers.

I got a letter from [Jesse] Coon the same time yours came. He was in front of Yorktown expecting a battle any moment. He inquired particularly about you.

Mr. Per Lee met with a severe accident Monday evening about five o’clock. He borrowed our wagon to go to the City, had good luck going, but coming back the oxen got frightened at a dog, run, tipped the wagon bottom side up, he fell out, of course, and the edge of the wagon box hit his hip and injured it badly, but not so badly but what he will recover in time. He had a heavy load in. The accident happened by Mr. Kinneys there by the turn near the crossing across the marsh. We knew nothing of it until Tuesday morning when <r. Kinney brought him home on a bed in a wagon. The family were very much alarmed because he did not come home Monday night as they expected and sent Thad Tubs who happened to be there after him early Tuesday morning. He found him at Kinney’s, &c. Our wagon was all strung to pieces.

Old Mrs. Powers has gone away from home. No one knows where. Has been gone a week. Mike has looked for her everywhere but cannot find her. He thinks she has gone to Detroit. He thinks she will be back soon enough.

Friday eve. John Lynch came in just here and I had to stop writing and listen to him. He says Mrs. Powers is to Pete Lynche’s. She has been to Kalamazoo and come back again. A good many people think she is insane and I think so. She has tried to make way with herself two or three times since the old gentleman died by drowning but would get caught at it or get sick of the job. She tried to drown herself in F__acy’s Lake once but the water was so cold she got sick of the job and waded out. She was covered with mud from head to heels and the fun of it was she went to Slade’s & old Mother Slade had to clean er. Mike does not seem to care much fuss as [ ] she would stay away as not, but I guess he went after her today.

Ruth & Bettie have been over here today. We had a good visit. We all talked of you & Ruth said she wished you were here this very minute. She looked at your picture and I shan’t tell what she did. She wrote you a letter two weeks ago. If you do not get it, she will write you again soon. Marie Sythe has been here and made a visit of about ten days. We had a good time, I tell you. Martha is here now and is going to stay a while. I do not know how long. Marie has taken a school for this summer in ____land.

Since I wrote you last, Uncle Sol’s folks have had a sugar party. I went [and] had a first rate time, & a very sweet one. We all are a good lot for you. You were spoken of often and many a wish was made that you might be with us to partake…

We have had another letter from Uncle Daniel. He is near or in Murfreesboro. Has been promoted to clerk of Gen. Garfield’s staff, one of four regiments. He had the preference. He feels well, I tell you. Morris, you must save enough money to keep you comfortable. Do not scrimp yourself. Be sure and put on the number of our Box 949. Then it will not be opened by any else. We hear of fighting going on near Memphis preparatory to an attack on that place. Of course we look with anxiety the issue. May God protect you & guard you from all harm is always the prayer of your loving sister, — Em

What became of your other horse? We have heard by the way of [ ] that John is better so he will either get a discharge or a furlough and come home. We were all so glad to hear he was better. I hope your good resolutions remain unbroken and you will come back to us the same Morris you were when you went away.

2nd Ohio Cavalry, Refugees

1863-65: Cornelius Shanafelt to Henry Shanfelt, Jr.

November 12, 2024 Griff Leave a comment

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

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

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

Letter 1

Somerset, Pulaski county, Kentucky
June 25th 1863

Dear Brother,

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

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

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

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

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

[to] H. Shanafelt

Letter 2

Camped at Cassville, Missouri
July 19th 1865

Dear Brother,

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

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

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

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

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

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

104th Ohio Infantry, Fort Mitchell

1862: William Taylor to Henry Shanafelt, Jr.

November 11, 2024 Griff Leave a comment

The following letter was written by William Taylor of Co. B, 104th Ohio Infantry. William wrote the letter from a Union hospital in Kentucky, where he was recovering from a shot through the bowels received during a skirmish at the Covington outposts known as Fort Mitchell overlooking the Lexington Pike.

As described in an article by Steve Preston published in 2019 on the 1862 siege of Cincinnati, the 104th Ohio was among these regiments mustered into action quickly in the fall of 1862 to confront the Rebel army marching on Cincinnati. “The outpost at Fort Mitchell received the brunt of the probing by the Confederate force…According to the Cincinnati Gazette, Saturday, September 13, 1862 edition, the 104th occupied the property of a local Southern sympathizer by the last name of Buckner. Just south of the Buckner residence was a wooded area that spread over both sides of the road. It had been filled with Confederates rumored to be from Texas. On Tuesday, September 9th, initial skirmishing began. The firefight between the companies of the 104th and the Texan troops reached its peak by Thursday the 11th. That afternoon would be the final action as heavy rains moved in and the Confederate forces withdrew. No known record of rebel casualties from the skirmishes is known…The 104th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry suffered five casualties, the only known casualties from the Siege of Cincinnati caused by hostile gunfire. Private William Taylor of Company B was shot through the bowels. Private John Randolph of Company F was shot through the chest. Private Alexander Lowery from Company G was severely wounded in the leg. Another soldier, Private Henry Shants (or Shantz) supposedly of Company G, was shot in the right arm with the ball entering his side.”

From the muster rolls we learn that William Taylor never returned to his regiment though he yearned for his “revenge.” I hope they shall all be killed or something else become of them,” he wrote his friend, Henry Shanafelt, Jr. of Stark county, Ohio. William was discharged at Cincinnati, Ohio, on 16 March 1863.

Transcription

*Addressed to Mr. Henry Shanafelt, Greentown, Stark county, Ohio (but not certain the letter goes with the envelope)*

Kentucky
September 21st 1862

Dear Friend,

I take this present opportunity to drop you a few lines and hope these will find you well. I am laying here in the hospital, or rather under a tree in the shade. I am getting along very slow. Half of the time there is no one with me. The doctor says I will get well in a short time if I have someone to nurse me and I shall be [illegible.] I think I shall come home the last of this week if I can. The regiment has moved on Thursday. I haven’t heard from them but once since they left. They are marching towards Lexington. How well I would like to be with them going towards Dixie in place of laying here. I would like to have some revenge on the rebels before I go home but I don’t think I can get to see any of them before I get home.

When I get well, I will try them a lick again if I get a chance. I must have some revenge for this world. We had some sharp work for a while. The bullets whistled all around where we were. We could see lots of them falling back & forward through the woods. We had pleasure of see[ing] some of them falling. One Lieutenant was on a tree looking where we were laying & he were shot. He fell down head first. We heard that after the rebels left, some of our men went through them woods and found six dead men laying in the woods. I cannot tell whether it is so or not. I hope they shall all be killed or something else become of them. I will tell you all I have seen when I get home. I will be glad when I get away from this hospital.

Well, I must fetch my ill writing letter to a close for this time. Hope you will answer this as soon as you receive it. I would like to [get] a letter from an old friend. You will please write right away. I have written 3 or 4 letters & have not got an answer yet. I hope you will not disappoint me. No more. From your friend, — William Talor [Taylor]

104th Regiment OVI, Co. B

2nd Ohio Cavalry, Morgan's Raid

1863: Hiram Rober to Henry Shanafelt, Jr.

November 11, 2024 Griff Leave a comment

*I could not find an image of Hiram but here is one of Isaac Lorenzo Peirce of Co. B, 2nd Ohio Cavalry. Isaac was mortally on 13 September 1864 while on picket duty near Berryville, Virginia.*

The following brief letter was written by Hiram Rober (1842-1863) of Stark county, Ohio. Hiram mustered into Co. A, 2nd Ohio Cavalry in mid-August 1861 to serve three years. According to the State Records of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry, Hiram was shot in the chest in a skirmish two miles from Lick Creek Bridge on the road to Blue Springs (now Mosheim) in Greene county, Tennessee in October 1863 just a few weeks after this letter was written in late July 1863. He was originally buried at Blue Springs but later reinterred in the Knoxville National Cemetery, grave no. 1686.

Hiram wrote the letter to Henry Shanafelt, Jr. of Greentown, Stark county, Ohio, asking his friend, “What do the folks up there think of Morgan’s raid?”

Transcription

Hen,

What do the folks up there think of Morgan’s raid? Those Copperheads would better come down and join him if they like Jeff’s style so well. But the poor miserable low life pups are too much of cowards to go into either army unless they are forced into it.

War prospects look pretty favorable at present, do they not? But we have some work to do yet and I hope it will be prosecuted vigorously. I should like very much to have peace restored at least till my three have expired as I would like to see the thing through before I come home again. An immediate answer will be be acceptable. Yours as ever, — H. Raber

P. S. Please direct to Co. A. 2nd O. V. C., via Lexington, Kentucky

How are the girls getting along?

104th Ohio Infantry

1862: William Wendel Smith to Henry Shanafelt

November 11, 2024 Griff Leave a comment

*A post war image of William W. Smith, veteran of the 104th OVI and survivor of the S. S. Sultana disaster.* *(Ancestry.com)*

The following letter was written by William Wendel Smith (1842-1908), the son of Charles Smith (1807-1879) and Rebecca Weaver (1808-1885) of Stark county, Ohio—formerly of Perry county, Pennsylvania. William was 20 years old and working as an apprentice to learn the carriage maker’s trade from Robert Latimer in Canton when he mustered into Co. B, 104th Ohio Infantry in August 1862. On May 31, 1864, he was shot in the arm during the Battle of Dallas (Georgia). On Nov. 30, 1864, he was captured during the Battle of Franklin (Tennessee). Initially held at Cahaba Prison (Alabama), he was transferred to notorious Andersonville Prison (Georgia) in early 1865. He was freed as part of a prisoner exchange on April 1, 1865.

On April 27, 1865, he was among an estimated 2,400 home-bound Union soldiers, former POWs and other passengers aboard the badly overcrowded S.S. Sultana, a steamboat, when it exploded in the Mississippi River near Memphis, killing about 1,600. William Wendel Smith suffered burns but survived. After his return to Stark County, Ohio, he became a farmer.

The identity of the letter’s recipient is not revealed in the letter but it was found in a collection of letters addressed to Henry Shanafelt, Jr. (1827-1893) of Greentown, Stark county, Ohio, so we presume that he was the “Dear Sir.”

Transcription

Camp Lexington, Kentucky
November 12th 1862

Dear Sir,

It is with the greatest of pleasure that I take the present opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know that we are all well at present and hope that these few lines may find you all enjoying the same providential blessing. I suppose you are all aware of our being at Lexington ere this. We have been here near two weeks and a nice place it is. There is a pretty large force here but I can’t tell you how many for us privates do not know anything about the war. It seems to me in our camp more like acting the gentleman than going to war for we have to be cleaning and dressing all the time. One day we get orders to clean our brass and guns and put on our best clothes for inspection, and another for review, and so it goes. Instead of marching on and fighting the battles that must be fought before this war is over, we are kept here dress and fixing up for review or some other darned kind of view until our ranks are thinned by sickness and death. And the rebels are gone and we must march after them but far enough behind so as not to get any booty from them. It seems to me as if our generals was afraid of this war closing too soon and they not making enough to fill their pockets. But I think they have got a general [William S. Rosecrans] at the head of the Cumberland Army that will not fail to capture Bragg’s Army if he gets such a chance as Buell had.

We had a snow on last Saturday night six inches deep. It was pretty cold on Sunday but it cleared off on Monday and it has been pretty warm since. But today it is trying to rain. It looks as if it would succeed.

The talk is in our regiment that they are going to take our tents from us and give us little rubber tents large enough for three and them we must carry. About that time, I will sleep out in the big tent before I will carry one. Daniel France ¹ has not been well for some time but he is now soon fit for duty. I think J[ohn] W. Raber ² will be discharged from service for disability. He has been sent to the Brigade Hospital. If he is discharged, Tom will stand a chance of coming home with him. One way I am glad if they discharge him and another won’t but if they don’t send him home, he will not live long.

On last Friday there was two hundred and fifty-one loyal Tennesseans came to our camp. They have enlisted under G. W. Morgan in Colonel [Daniel Mack] Ray’s Tennessee Regiment. ³ They were recruited by Captain Jones. They had to travel by night and hide at daytime till they got out of the State. They say that the rebels are destitute of provision and clothing and can’t hold out much longer.

So no more at present but remain your friend. Give my love to all enquiring friends. — Wm. W. Smith

¹ Daniel France was detailed as blacksmith in engineer battalion, 23rd Army Corps, April 4, 1864.

² John W. Raber (1838-1930) was from Greentown, Stark county, Ohio, which is where Henry Shanafelt (believed to be the letter’s recipient) lived during the Civil War.

³ Daniel Mack Ray was born in Yancy County North Carolina on March 27, 1833. He grew up in Sevier County, Tennessee later receiving his academic education in Burnsville, North Carolina and Dandridge, Tennessee. After his education was complete, he worked as a school teacher, and was living in east Tennessee when the war broke out. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he remained loyal to the Union, and joined the Army after a year of clandestine work behind enemy lines in eastern Kentucky, blowing up bridges and obstructing the invading rebel armies. According to one obituary, Ray organized neighbors to burn several railroad bridges in order to delay pro-southern forces entering the state. He then made his way to Flat Lick, Kentucky, to enlist in the Union army, receiving a commission on October, 10 1862 as First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 3rd Tennessee Infantry, U.S., part of the Army of Ohio, resigning from that unit six months later to take a commission as Colonel of the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry, U.S., on August 6, 1862 with whom he served with for the remainder of his extensive war service commanding a brigade in Sheridan’s Atlantic campaign under Major General David S. Stanley and Colonel Edward M. McCook.

70th Ohio Infantry

1862: Sidnor Franklin Jones to John Wilson Rogers

November 10, 2024 Griff Leave a comment

*I could not find an image of Sidnor but here is Corp. Mathias Orr of Co. D, 70th OVI.*

The following letter was written by Sidnor Franklin Jones (1841-1932), the son of Abel Jones (1807-1873) and Julia A. VanPelt (1815-1882) of Adams county, Ohio—formerly of Virginia. He enlisted on 1 November 1861 to serve three years in Co. E, 70th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI), the same company as Samuel P. Kilpatrick who is mentioned in the letter. Sidnor does not give the location where he wrote the letter but the regimental history informs us that it was Camp Dennison where they regiment organized and remained until February 1862 when they were then ordered to Paducah, Kentucky, and incorporated into Sherman’s Division. It’s baptism of fire came at Shiloh.

Sidnor wrote the letter to his brother-in-law, John Wilson Rogers (1831-1917), the husband of Sarah Catherine Jones (1836-1910). The couple were married in December 1852 and resided in Adams county, Ohio.

After the war, Sidnor returned to Adams county, Ohio, where he married Louisa Thoroman (1844-1934) and then moved to Crawford county, Illinois, and finally to Wilson county, Kansas. He died in 1932 at Osawatomie, Kansas (possibly at the insane asylum?).

Transcription

*Addressed to Mr. John W. Rogers, Tranquility P. O., Adams county, Ohio; postmarked Cairo, IL* *(this envelope goes with the Jones archive but the letter was not sent in this envelope)*

[Camp Denison, Ohio]
February 14th 1862

Brother [&] Sister,

It is through the goodness and mercy of God that I am spared and with reasonable health have this opportunity of writing a few lines to you to let you know that we are getting along very well. I am as well as I have been since I came to camp with the exceptions of cold and I hope that these few lines mat find you enjoying good health. The health of the regiment is generally good. There has been one death here since I came back but it was caused by drinking. Sam Kilpatrick is sick but I think it is caused by trouble. He is out of his head a good deal of the time. He has just gone up to the hospital.

Well, John, we have got a good deal of food news. Our forces has taken possession of Roanoke Island and the battle they took 2,000 prisoners. They have also taken possession of Fort Hatteras. They have taken three rebel steamers also. Also the rebels is evacuating Bowling Green. It also give a very favorable report of England. We got the news out of last night’s paper.

But to tell you now of our own regiment, there is three more companies came into our regiment and there is two parts of companies to be consolidated. When our regiment is completely organized, our regiment will be full and more too. The adjutant said this morning that we would get our guns this week. The talk is that we will leave here now soon. We will have to go on Battalion drill just now so I will have to quit for a while.

Well, we have just come in from drill. The Colonel told us while we were on drill that the regiment was consolidated and that the report to Columbus this morning was over one thousand men, so our regiment is full now.

Well John, I believe I have told you all the important news that I know of at this time. Remember me in your prayers. So no more at present but remain your affectionate brother. So goodbye. — S. F. Jones

To John Rogers

36th Illinois Infantry

1863: Edward W. Brundage to his Mother

November 10, 2024 Griff Leave a comment

*I could not find an image of Edward but here is one of Oscar S. Howe (1843-1863) of Kendall county who served in Co. E, 36th Illinois Infantry*

This letter came to me for transcription without an envelope and with only the signature “Edward” but I’m inclined to attribute it to Edward W. Brundage (b. 1837), a native of New York State, who served in Co. I, 36th Illinois Infantry. The author draws a comparison between the city of Springfield, Missouri, through which they had recently passed to both Oswego and Sandwich which I recognize as two towns in Kendall county, Illinois. Co. I of the 36th Illinois was recruited almost exclusively in Oswego and Brundage is the only soldier in that company with the name Edward. He was originally enlisted in August 1861 as a private but was soon promoted to be the regimental quartermaster. He was discharged from the regiment for disability in mid-April 1862, however. In 1863, after he was discharged from the service. Edward was enumerated in “West Kane” county.

According to his muster records, Edward was a merchant in Oswego before he entered the service which makes sense that he would take notice the stores in Springfield, Mo.

Edward’s letter describes the pursuit of Gen. Sterling Price’s army as it withdrew from Springfield and into Arkansas where the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge) was fought on 6 March 1862. Union forces were primarily from Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio and over half were German immigrants who were placed in the 1st and 2nd divisions under the command of Brig. General Franz Sigel, also a German immigrant. Native born regiments were assigned to the 3rd and 4th Divisions. In the fight at Elkhorn Tavern, the 36th Illinois and the 12th Missouri drove the Confederates away from the guns in Oberson’s field.

To read other letters published on Spared & Shared by members of the 36th Illinois Infantry, see:
Freeman Stanton Dunklee, Co. A, 36th Illinois (1 Letter)
Henry C. Baxter, Co. E, 36th Illinois (1 Letter)
James B. Sifleet, Co. F, 36th Illinois (1 Letter)
John F. Weeks, Co. K, 36th Illinois (1 Letter)

Transcription

*The pursuit of Gen. Price from Springfield, Missouri, to Elkhorn Tavern in Arkansas.*

Camp Osage Creek
Benton Co., Arkansas
February 22nd 1862

Dear Mother,

I do not know whether there will be an opportunity to send a letter home or not, but I will write a few lines and have it ready if there is. We have had two small mails since leaving Lebanon, but no letters for us. We have been well & hearty & sometimes hungry but we have fared better than I expected. This is the third day that we have rested. We have come on a forced march and brought no extra clothing except our blankets and one pair of socks Two days march brought us within 6 or 7 miles of Springfield. Price’s pickets were driven in, when a slight skirmish took place in which one or two of our cavalry were killed and 7 or 8 rebels. We pitched no tents that night but lay on the ground and held ourselves prepared for any emergency, but all was quiet At 4 o’clock we took up our line of march to Springfield but soon found that Price and his large, well-drilled, splendidly armed and equipped army had skedaddled on double quick and was going to make his famous stand on his old battle ground at Wilson’s Creek some 12 miles from Springfield. But no stand did he make as you probably very well know.

Springfield has been a very pretty town but it is now filthy, gloomy, and deserted. Many pretty cottages have been used as stables for horses and mules & quarters for the rebel outlaws. It is about as large a place as Oswego or Sandwich but there are not so many stores. We followed on after Price, part of the army taking the road that he took and part another that intercepted that some 40 or 50 miles from Springfield where they intended to catch the runaway but failed. He passed us about 12 hours ahead. The division that followed him pushed him too fast and the other did not go as fast as they could till after he had got away. Then we put in and traveled from 18 to 25 miles a day. Our advance had scratches with his rear guard most every day. They took 4 pieces of cannon, killed some, and took some prisoners.

On Wednesday, two or three regiments of infantry, our cavalry, and I think one battery of artillery, and the little mountain howitzers, encountered nearly his whole force on Sugar Creek. Our side lost about 15 killed. The number wounded, I do not know. The rebels lost about 100 killed and a good many wounded. The most of our force did not get up in time, but we could hear the music. A number of regiments went on double quick & were just coming up when the sneaking cowards took to their heels, being probably aware of the fact that that was the only way to save their bacon. All along the road was to be seen broken wagons and guns and various articles of the copper bottom army which was left in their flight from the feds. You must not believe all you read about Price for I have seen the falsity of many of them. I saw two St. Louis papers of the 12th and we have heard some good news from the war in Kentucky and in the East, but do not know whether it is true or not. Further than that, we have had no papers except a few secesh. I wish you would keep the papers so if I get home by and by I can read them.

In putting in the money into the letter at Lebanon, I made a mistake of 10.00. I meant to put in 30.00. There is some prospect of our staying here some time. If so, I will write again soon. Don’t worry about us. We get along very well. Our health is good. Sometimes we get tired and foot sore a little, but never mind that. Yesterday we mended our shoes and now they will go better. My precious little testament is all I have to write on & about all I have to read in, but that is enough. Much love to all. I am still your affectionate son, — Edward

8th New Jersey Infantry

1862: John M. Britton to Mercy Britton

November 10, 2024 Griff Leave a comment

The following letters were written by John M. Britton who enlisted as a private for three years in Co. H, 8th New Jersey Infantry on 5 September 1861 and later transferred to Co. C. He reenlisted on 25 December 1863 (carried under the name Briton). The variations in spelling make it difficult to track down John’s family but I believe he was the son of Henry Britton (1807-1877) and his wife Mary (b. 1813) who were residents of Carpentersville, Warren county, New Jersey. In the 1850 US Census, this family was enumerated in Franklin township, Warren county, N. J. as the Henry and Mary Brittain family and their children at that time were Elizabeth (“Libby”), age 15 (1834-1904); John, age 12; Mercey, age 8 (1842-1911); and David J., age 5.

Little else could be learned about John except that he survived the war and married Catharine Lobb (b. 1843), the daughter of Jacob Lobb and Susan Morehouse of Rahway, New Jersey.

Letter 1

*Patriotic Letterhead “One Flag and One Government” with verse, “Our Country’s Flag”*

Camp Jersey [Meridian Hill]
October 21, [1861]
Monday morning, seven o’clock

I have just had my breakfast, tin cup of coffee, a piece of pork, and bread. That was my meal. All of the boys have their pipes and are smoking away. I would rather write than to smoke so I will write first and then smoke. We had a prayer meeting in the Colonel’s tent last evening. It was filled full. It lasted only one hour.

It is quite cool this morning. The soldiers are drawing on their overcoats. The wild pigeons are flying thick.

Half past eight. I have just come off drill. We were drilling double quick—that is what we call a Bull Run Retreat. We run and keep step. It is fun. Perhaps we will need it one of these days but we will never retreat unless we receive orders from our officer to do so. We are ready to go in the battlefield as soon as called on. Our armies are driving the rebels back. They have cleared them pretty well out of Virginia. We know all about the war. The papers come in our camp every morning so we know everything that is going on.

We are thirty-nine miles from Bulls Run and four miles from Chain Bridge. Last Friday the rebels had to retreat. We could hear the cannons roar very plainly. They fired very fast. We seen a secession balloon go up last Friday [18 October 1861] but it did not stay up very long and just after it came down, the firing commenced. I suppose he seen something he did not like.

We are going to have a brass band in our regiment. We have got nothing but drums now and I am getting tired hearing them. We have twenty all together and such a racket as they make I never heard. You can’t hear anybody speak unless they yelp their best.

They are building barracks in Washington to accommodate 60 thousand soldiers this winter. I believe we are to go to South Carolina or else take up our quarters in Washington. My wish is that we will get in Washington. We have a great deal of rain here. It appears to rain very easy. You must not look for me home before next spring and perhaps not then.

I am glad Junkin got the carriage. You must all make good use of it. I think by the time I get home I will have enough money to pay for it. I would like to come home and see you all very much. Obediah Evans started home yesterday. He went to get more recruits. He was the only one from our company. There was a lieutenant from one of the other companies with him. He lives at Pattenburg. Obediah is a sergeant in our company. Daniel Cowl said I should tell you he was well and liked it first rate. I guess I will stop writing.. No more. Your affectionate brother, — John Britton, Meridian Hill

Dear sister Mercy, I do not know as I have anything to write to you—only I want you and Junkin to enjoy yourselves the best you can. I would like to be home and take you out riding. Junkin, I want you to break the colt in single so when I come home, I can ride behind her. I don’t know when I will get home to stay but if I live, I will get home in the spring to see you. No more from your brother, — John B.

Letter 2

Camp Jersey
November 13, [1861]

Dear mother,

I will finish my letter as near as I can. We encamped 18 miles from Washington and we were all tired enough. I could sleep anywhere. I forgot to tell you that there was three regiments besides ours—the Sixth, Fifth and Seventh New Jersey. There was also 200 cavalry [from] New Jersey. The cavalry went ahead and acted as scouts so if there was any danger they could soon let us know it. There was one soldier died out of the Fifth the first day. It was most too hard for him. It was nearly as much as I could stand. I never seen such bad roads.

We got up the next morning at 3 o’clock, eat our breakfast which consisted of one pint of coffee and four hard crackers and they were hard. We had no meat that day. All we had was twelve crackers—four for breakfast and four for dinner, and at night we would get a cup of coffee and the other four crackers. The 2nd day we marched 23 miles and encamped the same as night before, out in the open field. That day we left a great many behind. They could not keep up. It was not like traveling with nothing but our clothes on. We had an under coat and an overcoat and our blankets, our cartridge box with forty rounds of cartridges—that is, forty loads, and our muskets which weighed at the least ten pounds. We had altogether over 25 pounds and carry all that day through the mud is not very easy work. If it had been good roads, we could have got along very well. They came straggling for about two hours before they all got in that night. We got a pound of meat weighed out which was to last us till the next night.

The next morning we was up by three o’clock and started at four. I could hardly walk when we first started but after I had walked a mile, I felt as good as ever. I did not mind it as much that day as I did the day before. We got to our journey’s end having marched sixty miles on foot. That was Tuesday night. I felt first rate that night. Our regiment was left there and the other regiments went on farther to guard other places where they voted.

On Wednesday was the day that the election was held. It commenced raining on Wednesday morning at two o’clock and the first I knew it was raining was about three o’clock when I awoke and found my shoulder laid in the water. I was not wet through of any account [but] there was great jumping to get out of the water. I had to laugh to see them getting up with the water dripping off them. It was not long before we [had] plenty of fire to dry by. We stayed there a couple of days and then started back for Washington. We got in another rain before we got home. It commenced raining on Saturday afternoon when we were about 20 miles from Washington so we had to encamp. I did not go to sleep that night at all. The ground was set and it kept raining until 10 o’clock at night when it stopped and the moon came out very pretty.

The next day we came through to our camp and you never seen a gladder set of boys that we were. We have everything here that we want. I wish we could stay here all the time but we have got marching orders again. The Captain says he thinks we will have to march about Saturday. I don’t care if we can only get to ride. I don’t like this walking. The reason that we went to Maryland was to keep it from going secession and keep it in the Union. The result is she did not secede. She went for the Union strong. — J. Britton

Letter 3

John wrote this letter in late February 1862 from Camp Johnson (named after their Colonel Adolphus Johnson). This camp was located near Budd’s Ferry on the lower Potomac. They spent most of the winter at this location. Their first major engagement wasn’t until 5 May 1862 at the Battle of Williamsburg.

*Winter encampment of 8th New Jersey Infantry near Budd’s Ferry*

Camp Johnson
On Lower Potomac
Charles county, Maryland
February 27th 1862

Dear Sister Mercy,

I received your very welcome and interesting letter last evening and read it with much pleasure. Your letter was very encouraging and you gave me some good advice. I shall try and profit by it so if I am allowed the pleasure of coming home to see you all again, it shall not be as a drunken, broken down soldier, but as a temperate soldier and one that has did his duty as a true soldier will do.

There is great rejoicing in the camp here on account of our many victories we have had lately. It is the opinion here than in another month, the war will be over. But how much destruction can be did in that time, thousands of soldiers who are thinking of getting home soon the same as I am will be left on the battlefield, dead or crippled for life. I think if my life is spared, I shall be able to get home some time next spring. If the war is not over by that time, I shall come on a furlough. We cannot get a furlough now on any condition because we are expected to cross the [Potomac] river every day. There will soon be a great change about here. Nothing is talked of but crossing the river.

I want to write a few lines to Mother and Libby so goodbye from your loving brother, — John Britton

Dear Sister Libby,

I am still enjoying good health and hope these few lines will find you enjoying the same. I received your very welcome letter last evening and was pleased to hear from you. The weather is very changeable. Yesterday morning it was clear and nice and two o’clock in the afternoon it commenced raining and rained very hard until this morning when it cleared off. The sun shines very nice now but it is very muddy and the wind is beginning to blow quite hard. I think it will be a very windy day.

Libby, you want to know what we have been building such good roads for. We built them to bring artillery from the landing last week. They brought two large cannons up. It took four horses to pull it. they were eleven feet long and will shoot six miles and do damage. There is six more down to the landing coming up today. They are to be put along the river to drive the rebels out of their batteries and then we are going to cross and drive everything before us.

Night before last we slept on our arms al night expecting to be ordered out but did not. I said sleeping on our arms—that is, we had our overcoats, belts, shoes on all night with our gun laying by our side so at a moment’s notice we would be out and in line of battle ready for anything. They don’t throw many any more. I guess they are getting frightened. Libby, that man that died had been in the hospital about three weeks before he died.

I must quit writing. From your affectionate brother, – John Britton

56th New York Infantry

1863: Charles Henry Winfield to Daniel S Hardenburg

November 10, 2024 Griff Leave a comment

The following letter was penned by Hon. Charles Henry Winfield (1822-1888), an attorney and former district attorney of Orange county, New York who was elected to the US Congress as a democrat in 1863 and served two terms.

The content of the letter pertains to the appointment of Daniel S. Hardenburg (1840-1908) as an Assistant Surgeon in the 56th New York Infantry. Daniel was the son of Dr. Charles Hardenburgh (1802-1874) and Mary E. Chandler (1815-18xx) of Port Jervis, Orange county, New York. According to military records, Daniel received his appointment on 11 November 1863 and that he participated in the Battle of Honey Hill and all of the battles accompanying Gen. John P. Hatch’s Expedition up Red River and the siege of Charleston, South Carolina. He later became the post surgeon at Georgetown, South Carolina.

[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Kyle Williams and was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Goshen [Orange county, New York]
November 2, 1863

Dear Dan,

I wrote in due time to Gov. [Horatio] Seymour and last week during my absence in Sullivan county, there came for me a dispatch from the Governor stating that if you would come on to Albany and be examined and stand examination, you would be commissioned as Assistant Surgeon of the 56th Regiment.

This morning however at the same time I received your line enclosing one from [Solomon] Van Etten, I received a letter from Doctor [John Van Pelt] Quackenbush, Surgeon General of the State, informing me that your matter had been placed in his hands and he would very willingly send you a commission, but he had no information from the 56th Regiment of any vacancy, &c.

I wrote him immediately informing him of Van Etten’s letter and what he said about vacancies in his own regiment as well as the 48th and 118th and asked his advice as to what we should do, and I shall hear from him soon. In the mean while write me and advise me of what you hear and I will do anything you desire.

I wrote in great haste and you must excuse style and composition. Your friend, — C. H. Winfield

[to] Dr. D. S. Hardenburg

56th New York Infantry

1861: James Henry F. Milton to Lewis A. Brigham

November 9, 2024 Griff Leave a comment

*I could not find an image of Milton but here is a cdv of 1st Lt. Henry A. Still of Co. E, 56th New York Infantry (Photo Sleuth)*

This letter was written just days before James Henry F. Milton (1832-1910) enlisted in Co. E, 56th New York Infantry. He was mustered in on 29 August as 1st Lieutenant of his company and was promoted to Captain of Co. A on 6 August 1862. He was discharged from the regiment on 31 March 1865.

James was known to his friends as “Dock.” After attending the 1859-60 Medical lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, he began the practice of medicine in Liberty. In the 1860 US Census he was enumerated in the household of Benjamin W. Baker, a grocer in Liberty, where he probably lodged and boarded. After the war, he resumed his profession as a doctor, eventually settling in Philadelphia.

Dock wrote the letter to a friend named “Brigham” who is otherwise unidentified. My hunch is that it was written to Lewis Alexander Brigham (1831-1885)—a contemporary of Dock’s—who was born in New York Mills, New York, and graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton in 1849. He studied to be a lawyer and pass the New York bar in 1855. He then set up a practice in New York City and got into politics. In 1850, after graduating from Hamilton College, Lewis Brigham was a teacher in Sullivan county. I could find no other Brigham’s living in Sullivan county in that period.

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Kyle A. Williams and was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Liberty [Sullivan county, New York]
August 13th 1861

Friend Brigham,

Received yours on Saturday night and you may rest assured was greatly rejoiced thereat, and as I took the welcome epistle in my hand was heard to ejaculate every forcibly, “Bully for Brigham” and so emphatically that I attracted the attention of our friend [Reuben] Wales who was standing by me, and we had a good time reading some portions of your letter.

The matter you speak of has gone up—the Company held their meeting for the elections of officers on Saturday afternoon last and elected the following. For Captain, M[elvin] S. Wells; 1st Lieutenant, Dock Milton; Second Lieutenant, George [P.] Overton of Rockland; Orderly Sergeant, Demon S. Decker; & 2nd Sergeant, our, or my, rather very dear friend Addison [J.] Clements. The remainder of the officers I don’t recollect and they are of no consequence any way.

Reub[en Wales] came out to join the company but some masons which I wouldn’t wish to state prevented him from so doing and he talks of going West to spend the remainder of the summer and fall. I told him to hold on and if you came home, we would get up a company on our own hooks, & take the officers and make a big thing of it. I would advise you to come home anyhow. If you like a soldier’s life, you can easily get a better and more comfortable situation that you have and if not, you have lots of friends who would like to see the “bould soger boy” once more.

If you come home, I have formed a project which I think from the novelty of the thing might be successful. I will give you the outline of it. I propose to get something as a standard of muscular power and require each applicant for enlistment to have sufficient muscle to do it. Say for instance require each man to be at least 5 feet, 9 inches in height, and straight, and capable of putting up 80 lb. of dumb bell and lifting 200 or 500 lbs. Also require them to be free from the habits of smoking & drinking, which are very destructive of muscle. To learn the Zouave drills & attach ourselves to some regiment which would offer the most favorable inducements, or else get an order for the raising of such a company & running it wholly ourselves. There is a Frenchman who was in the Crimean War—the best drilled man there was in the 20th Regiment or any other that they were encamped with during their absence, and I can get him to drill a company for me. He understands everything pertaining to warfare & every branch of tactics.

But there is one thing at present in the way of all this and that is I am a candidate for a Lieutenancy in the Navy and am in suspenders waiting to hear form them I have good influence as could have been procured, having the assistance of Hon. David Wilmot of Pennsylvania & Gen. [Simon] Cameron, the Secretary of War, who does out of regard for Wilmot. I have been promised it but something may turn up that I don’t get it. It is a very large thing & it’s not every civil villain like myself that don’t know any more about the arrangements of a man of war than I do about a woman of pleasure, that could obtain it. I think I shall know positively in ten days & if I don’t succeed, will be reay to go into some such arrangement of this kind.

Nothing particularly new here—only the burning of Ben[jamin P.] Buckley’s Tannery & 1500 cords of bark on Thursday night, August 1st. It is not know what the loss is, but it is supposed to be about $10,000 and it is feared that in these times, it will ruin him. To damn bad, I declare.

Your folks are all well as usual, I believe. At any rate, they were a few days ago as I was up there and called to see if they had heard anything from “Brigham.” We had a Fireman’s Parade here last Saturday after the company elected their officers which was a very large pop [?]. The girls are all sound, with the exception of that one shaky spot & I’ve no doubt they would be delighted to see Brigham, as soldiers are always irresistible among the fair sex. No picnics, no dances, and no nothing—the place is as dull as the devil and I’m going to get out of it somehow or other.

Ferd Hasbrouck has gone to Green county. I’d like to hammer him if he’s about as twice as large as he is, and had some manhood about him. Vick is running that thing extensively over at L—-y’s, but then you can spot him easy enough when you get home. Come home anyhow if possible—you and Pole both—and we’ll have a big time on your arrival. I’d like to see Pole and have about a quart of good old applejack, a pack of cards, & sit down and beat him a few games of Euchre. Speaking of such things reminds me that I’ve got some $ in the store & I’ll drink the health of you & Pole, only sorry you can’t have some too. Come home. Write to yours always, — Dock