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New YorkAug 27th, 1862
Excerpted
Mr. Varker thinks that there will no drafting done but his thoughts about it did not keep me from coming. It was because it looked too much like a coward and rather than to be called a coward, I would remain even if there was danger of being drafted. It is but for nine months at any rate it is no weak cause, no disgraceful one. I am willing to give myself to my Country, that Country for which my fathers bled and if necessary let my blood be shed. It is for no disgraceful cause but it would be an honorable death to die.
There seems to be but a short distance to the Christian between the battlefield and heaven. Why then should we so dread to go? But it is a solemn subject. It is a serious matter. Many are gone unprepared and many must fall the same. Let us weigh the matter well and be not hasty. I will not lengthen on this subject. I am willing to go, willing to remain and risk the draft but if my parents are opposed I will not go and if it is their wish I will return home. If you wish me to come and if you want anything from the City, some of you had better come and I will return with you.
from William Augustus
New York
Aug 27th, 1862
Excerpted
Mr. Varker thinks that there will no drafting done but his thoughts about it did not keep me from coming. It was because it looked too much like a coward and rather than to be called a coward, I would remain even if there was danger of being drafted. It is but for nine months at any rate it is no weak cause, no disgraceful one. I am willing to give myself to my Country, that Country for which my fathers bled and if necessary let my blood be shed. It is for no disgraceful cause but it would be an honorable death to die.
There seems to be but a short distance to the Christian between the battlefield and heaven. Why then should we so dread to go? But it is a solemn subject. It is a serious matter. Many are gone unprepared and many must fall the same. Let us weigh the matter well and be not hasty. I will not lengthen on this subject. I am willing to go, willing to remain and risk the draft but if my parents are opposed I will not go and if it is their wish I will return home. If you wish me to come and if you want anything from the City, some of you had better come and I will return with you.
from William Augustus
Listed on eBay July 2007
NASHVILLE, August 27, 1863–1.25 p.m.
Major-General ROSECRANS:
I have not failed to telegraph you daily. Many messages from your headquarters are six hours old. Mr. Dwyer reports the wires overloaded. On the 23d I telegraphed that Stokes reached Alexandria at 8 a.m. the day previous. On the 24th I advised you of Morgan’s arrival at Columbia, with one brigade, and that he was ordered to commence work on Duck River bridge; that McCook’s brigade was between Franklin and Columbia repairing the railroad. On the same day I received orders to stop work on Duck River bridge and throw Morgan’s brigade forward to Athens. I immediately sent the order, and directed him to report his arrival directly to you. Late last evening I received your order signed by Captain Thoms, and at once sent orders to Stokes to draw ten days’ supplies from Carthage, “and hold himself in realness to move. Ordered McCook’s brigade to cease work upon the bridges and march to Athens, leaving one regiment at Columbia until the arrival of the Thirteenth Wisconsin from Fort Donelson, and Twenty-eighth Kentucky from Clarksville, when the regiment ordered to remain at Columbia would rejoin McCook, leaving the two regiments above named at Columbia. I ordered the latter to clear the country as they moved. They will reach Columbia about the 31st. I sent you by this morning’s mail a report received from Steedman of the whereabouts of his command.
My forces are now disposed as follows: Two regiments of infantry, detachment of cavalry at Alexandria; one regiment of infantry at Carthage; one regiment and detachment of infantry and battery at Gallatin; one regiment of infantry and battery at Clarksville; one regiment of infantry and battery at Fort Donelson; two regiments of infantry, a portion of one of which is mounted, en route from Donelson and Clarksville to garrison Columbia: one regiment of infantry at Franklin; McCook’s brigade at Columbia under orders to march to Athens (will start to-morrow); one reamcut of infantry at Fayetteville; one regiment, one battery, and Galbraith’s cavalry at Shelbyvlle; one brigade of infantry, one battery, two battalions Tenth Ohio Cavalry, under Morgan, en route for Athens; Steedman’s division guarding railroad; Ward’s brigade, except one regiment, and Doolittle’s brigade, except one regiment, with the Tennessee cavalry, and detachments at Nashville.
G. GRANGER,
Major-General
O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME XXX/3 [S# 52]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH ALABAMA, AND NORTH GEORGIA, FROM AUGUST 11, 1863, TO OCTOBER 19, 1863.–UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.(*)–#8
Page 192
New York Tribune newspaper, article about Robert Smalls
August 27, 1862
Near Atlanta Ga.
Aug 25th, 1864
Aug 25th, 1864
Sister Harriet,
When I last wrote, whom I wrote to, and what I wrote, is to me now a matter of doubt. Having been a month right in the midst of an active campaign here at the front, you can probably imagine that I have had no time to keep up correspondence and that in the general disorder I should forget just how matters epistolary stood. Every second of the livelong day & night I am in danger, so are all the soldiers in this army, that is to say I am constantly under fire. A shell or a musket ball, plenty of which are almost constantly on the wing, may come to me at any time. How many have struck just over my head or passed by my side I could hardly tell you since I have been at the front. Every day some one gets hit, but there are a good many of us left yet & we all take our chance. I try to be careful, not to expose myself unnecessarily & at the same not to shrink from duty in a cowardly manner. I dont wish to terrify you by these statements for it always seemed to me that I was to be lucky & I have been able to avoid the balls thus far so that nothing but chance could have hit me. I am in good health and spirits. 
We expect to take Atlanta soon & end the campaign. Then times will be easier. The drafted men of the 500 thousand called for on the 5th of Sept. must be here soon & if these are fully and promptly made up I think we shall be able to conquer the Rebellion. You will doubtless see in the papers what the 2nd Division Genl Haskells of the 23rd corps has done in the late movements on this, the left, flank of Shermans army. Our Brigade is the 3rd Col. Stricklands. Lt Col Elstner Commanding our regiment & the 50th Ohio was killed on the 8th of this month while leading the regimentt into action. He was a splendid brave man. (torn at top of page).. .frighten him. He was cool in an engagement, and his presence of mind & judgement always at hand. We shall never get another as good a Commander. The boys shed tears when he died for though not what I call a good man, he was a brave and good commander & the boys could trust to his judgement & leadership. A Capt. Now commands us & of 900 men we now have about 200 to go into an engagement. The rest are killed, wounded, have died or become disabled by disease. My trust is in God for my own present and future life & for the preservation of my country. Probably I might have got a discharge on acct of my eyes, but while I am otherwise well I shall not attempt it. My glasses make me to see when on the skirmish live & at other times I can get along without them. Remember me kindly to all friends. Say I am hopeful & in good spirits though you & no one not in it has an idea of the severity of the Campaign in which we are engaged. We are just now by special order living on 5 day on 3 day rations though we generally get enough to eat. This 3/5 matter won’t last long I think. The other night I wrung water out of my shirt blouse pants etc, went to bed, slept soundly, & got up wet as ever. We had to keep our clothes on you must know as well as cartridge boxes etc & that is the reason we sleep so wet sometimes. We must be ready to meet an attack at any time in a minutes notice. Received a N.Y. Independent two days ago but no letter lately. Love to all. Have got the family picture Celia sent me yet. Direct “Co “K” 50th O.V.I. 3rd Brig. 2nd Div. 23rd A. C. near Atlanta Ga.”
Your brother Asa. M. Weston
(Asa M. Weston enlisted on 8/11/62 as Sergeant in Company K, 50th Ohio Infantry, 3/4/65 promoted to Sgt Major, 4/22/65 promoted to 2nd Lt, 6/26/65 mustered out at Salisbury, NC)
From CAPT James B. Long, Company “C,” 34th Tennessee Regiment, Tyler’s Brigade, Army of Tennessee, to a close lady friend, Eliza Alexander of Atlanta, Georgia, dated Aug 24 1864.
I am well. I don’t think you are likely to be troubled any more right soon by the visitation of the Yankee’s shells. They seem to have fallen back already, but I don’t know how far they will go. I assure you that nothing would afford me more pleasure than to be at your house and with you today. My heart yearns for an agreeable companion. I feel as it I was shut up in some dark dungeon with not a single ray of hope or spark of day to shine upon me. Now if I was in Atlanta, these dark clouds would be dispelled. The bolt drawn from the door of the prison [is] over my sad heart … I am not there, nor do I know when I can be …
The 34th TN participated in the Atlanta Campaign.
—–
NASHVILLE, August 24, 1863–12.30 p.m.
General ROSECRANS:
Morgan arrived at Columbia yesterday morning with one brigade, via Shelbyville and Farmington, and will at once go to work on Duck River railroad bridge. McCook’s brigade is putting up bridges from Franklin to Duck River. I must have all the pioneers belonging to the Reserve Corps. There is much heavy work on this road.
G. GRANGER,
Major-General.
O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME XXX/3 [S# 52]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH ALABAMA, AND NORTH GEORGIA, FROM AUGUST 11, 1863, TO OCTOBER 19, 1863.–UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.(*)–#7
Page 156
Harper’s Weekly, September 10, 1864
FORREST’S RAID.
ON Monday, August 22, the rebel General FORREST made a daring raid into Memphis, Tennessee, which is illustrated in the accompanying sketches. The expedition was commanded by FORREST in person, and consisted of portions of eight or nine cavalry regiments, mostly from Tennessee, and numbering from 1500 to 2000 strong. Arriving at Beal Street, the rebels divided off in several squads and struck for the Gayoso House, Hospitals, Irving Block, and General WASHBURNE’s head-quarters on Union Street. The latter was first visited by a force of about two hundred, under Lieutenant- Colonel JESSE FORREST, who entered and found it deserted, the General and his staff having but a moment before escaped. JESSE captured the General’s over-coat, and started for the Gayoso House with his valiant horsemen, who rode right into the office of the hotel in search of General HURLBURT, who had also escaped. A portion of the rebel force then proceeded to break open Irving Prison, in order to release the prisoners there confined.—But the guard resisted them, and was assisted by the fortunate arrival at the right moment of the Eighth Iowa regiment. about 6 A.M. the rebels left the town, finding it growing too hot for them, having accomplished the capture of 200 citizens and about 100 horses, and having butchered all the negroes they could find in the streets. There was little plundering; indeed the rebels had orders not to dismount under penalty of being shot. The rebels suffered heavily. Their object appears to have been the capture of Generals WASHBURNE and HURLBURT
FORREST’S RAID INTO MEMPHIS—THE REBELS AT THE GAYOSO HOUSE.—[SKETCHED BY GEORGE H. ELLSBURY.]
FORREST’S RAID INTO MEMPHIS—ESCAPE OF GENERAL WASHBURNE.—[SKETCHED BY GEORGE H. ELLSBURY.]
FORREST’S RAID INTO MEMPHIS—REBEL ATTACK ON THE IRVING PRISON.—[SKETCHED BY GEORGE H. ELLSBURY
In front of Atlanta Ga / August 21 1864,
Cook writes amidst the Siege of Atlanta:
Note: “From July 28 to august 25 the command remained in position before Atlanta, frequently under fire, but sustaining trifling loss.”
- Report, of Lieut. Col. Robert L. Kimberly, Forty First Ohio Infantry commanding regiment and demi brigade. Atlanta, Ga. September 9, 1864.
We are having a different time now than we had last winter we are marching or fighting most all of the time, more amusement than I like. I would rather go to Orrville and see the picture of a Battle field. I heard from Dalton a few days ago. McDowl is more than down on us boys. She does not believe Ed was killed. She says she do not know any thing about it well perhaps she don’t but I know she will never see him again, as I never knew of a dead man coming to life yet. We have been under fire almost every day since the 5 of May now we are in sight of the rebs and are skirmishing with them every few days. there is going to be some hard fighting before they let us go. Today is Sunday, and is middling quiet but cant tell how long it will last as they start up firing all at once some times. We cant tell one minute what shall happen the next, don’t care much either if we have to fight I want to do it and get home again, that is, if they don’t hurt me.
************************
William C. Cook was 18 when he enlisted as a musician, mustering in to Company C, 41st Ohio Infantry on September 18, 1861 at Camp Chase, Ohio. He was promoted to sgt on 7/9/64 and to 1st Sgt., 1/9/65.
The Siege of Atlanta drew to a close just four days after Cook wrote this letter. During the lengthy Atlanta Campaign, the 41st Ohio lost 150 men on the field of battle. In addition to the Atlanta Campaign, the regiment also saw action at Corinth, Shiloh, Perryville and Stone’s River.
Source: Nate Sanders auction
Andrew Gudgel enlisted 11/12/61 as a Sergeant, into Company A, 58th Indiana. Mustered out 11/11/1864.
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Letter written August 20, 1863
Page one
Page two
Page three
Andrew married Elvira Wallace.
Here is a transcription of the letter. Some minor editing has improved the spelling and grammar somewhat.
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August 20, 1863
Letter to Sgt. Andrew Gudgel
58th Indiana Volunteers
My dear and beloved Andrew,
I take my pen in hand this Thursday morning to finish answering them two kind letters that I received from you last Saturday. Your letters was dated July the 30th and August the 5th. Andrew your letters both stated that you are well and hearty and in tolerable good spirits. Well, Andrew, it did do me so much to get them and to hear that you was well for some how all last week I was very uneasy about you & did not get no letter week before last and them last Saturday when I got them two interesting ones. You had better believe I was proud after I read them I could step around as light as a feather and I do hope this evening while I am trying to write to gain that you are still enjoying good health. Andrew I am truly thankful to the good Lord to tell you that we are all well and hearty and in good spirits about the war, but Andrew, somehow I am very uneasy about you this hoy weather it is very warm weather here now and you so much further south than we are I know it must be warmer there than it is here and if you are on a march I know you will suffer well. I do hope you won’t have to march such hot weather. Well Andrew I got that letter that sent the twenty stamps in and I wrote you a few lines and put in with that letter and two stamps though Ii don’t expect the old letter will interest you much but the last piece I wrote will tell you that we are all well. Andrew I am very anxious to hear from Abe and from all accounts I am afraid we will hear bad news him when we do hear but I hope for the letter nick came from your fathers last Monday and they had got a letter _____ Richard’s and he said he was very bad and wanted father to go and see him. I am in hopes he has got letter. Andrew, I will [end page one]
[start page 2]
finish this letter in the morning. I will have to go and do up the night work. Oh Andrew if you could come home before the sun goes down again. Goodbye night. Well Andrew this is now Friday morning and I have just heard good news. Nick came from your father last night and he heard that Abe is a heap better now. Andrew I am truly glad to hear that I _____ ain’t do hope and pray to the good Lord that you four brothers my be spared to get home your mother and father is so uneasy about all the time. Well Andrew if ever I tried to pray in earnest for anything I am asking the Lord to spare your life so that you can come home and help me to raise the children. I’d not want you to work but we need you here to manage. Well Andrew, Elenora has just now spilt the ink all over on my paper but maybe you can read it. Andrew, Elenora says she would _____ if she could see you. The children all want to see you that I want to see you soon. I know that you know I do and I do hope that day will soon come that we can live together again. Well Andrew, I have no doubt but this very day one year ago was sittgin side and side riding in the buggy. Well I just believe Andrew if we are faithful we will see pleasure yet together on earth and I am determined to live for it ad then if we should never meet again on earth that before we will meet where parting will be no more. Andrew I always tell the class to pray for the beloved companion of mine that has gone out to fight for our liberties. I always attend class when ever I am well and we are getting along as well I reckon as could be expected in your absence, though sometimes I think we are getting along very poorly but the night hours tells us they think we are getting along ______. Well the thrashing machine is at Sa[muel] Williams
[end page two]
[Begin page three]
hardly tell how it passed off. I am in so much trouble about you having to go back. Well Andrew I want you to come home this fall if you can if there is no prospects of you coming to stay? Well Andrew you said that I did not say anything making me any clothes out of the wool. Well I thought I had well I am going to have two good flannel dresses and Elenora two steares [sic]. _______ wife is going wear them and all the balance of the wool that I kept I will ______ you. I don’t _____ my self but I must not get very more costly dresses if you get me the silk dress. Well the children was all very proud of their present you sent them. They are very good about not wanting to spend it. Well Andrew I do feel thankful for the priviledge I have of talking to you by way of letter but oh how much more satisfaction would it be to me to talk with my loving Andrew ____________________ and I love to write it too. Andrew you said for me to not suffer no uneasiness about you enlisting for three years longer. I do not want you to be _____________of them. Oh I do not want you to have _____ the hardships of a camp life long enough and I do hope and pray that you will soon be released. Well Andrew you said you had sent your money to father. That was alright. I will soon get some of it when _____ I _____ share no particular need of many now only to get some chance for the jeans and shirts a coloring stuff. Well Andrew I believe I will have nothing more that is interesting. This letter now bears us all well and hearty and I do hope it will find you enjoying the same. God bless. I do hope I will get a letter tomorrow. Goodbye this week.
Elvira Gudge to Andrew Gudgel
Her loving husband
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Four brothers served with their father Andrew. Andrew enlisted as a Sergeant on 11/12/61 into Company A, 58th Indiana. He mustered out 11/11/64, fifteen months after the above letter was written.
They were:
Abraham Gudgel, mentioned above, mustered into Company A, 58th Indiana; 9/12/1862. He was discharged 10/15/63 for disability, just five days after this letter.
Edward Gudgel mustered in as a private, 11/12/61, into Company A, 58th Indiana. He mustered out 11/11/64, the same day as his father.
Jacob Gudgel enlisted 11/12/61 (with Edward and Andrew) and was mustered in to Company A, 58th Indiana. He re-enlisted 1/24/64 and mustered out 7/25/65 in Louisville. He saw one promotion to 1st Sgt.
Thomas Gudgel enlisted 1/8/64 into Company B, Indiana 10th Cavalry (125th Indiana Infantry). He mustered out 7/13/65.
A fifth brother enlisted late in the war:
William H. Gudgel, enlisting 2/10/65 into Company H., 143 Indiana Infantry. He mustered out 10/17/65 in Nashville.
All of the Gudgels survived the war. Andrew Gudgel, the father, served in the Civil War with five sons altogether. Andrew was married to Elvira Wallace, who was the daughter to John Wallace and Francis Jane Taylor. John and Francis had over 100 grandchildren, with over forty of them serving in the American Civil War.
August 20, 1864
By Private Miles O’Reilly
By Private Miles O’Reilly
THREE years ago today
‘We raised our hands to heaven,
And on the rolls of muster
Our names were thirty-seven ;
There were just a thousand bayonets,
And the swords were thirty-seven,
As we took the oath of service
With our right hands raised to heaven.
Oh ’twas a gallant day,
In memory still adored.
That day of our sun-bright nuptials
With the musket and the sword’:
Shrill rang the fifes, the bugles blared,
And beneath a cloudless heaven
Twinkled a thousand bayonets,
And the swords were thirty-seven.
Of the thousand stalwart bayonets
Two hundred march today;
Hundreds lie in Virginia swamps,
And hundreds in Maryland clay;
And other hundreds, less happy, drag
Their shattered limbs around.
And envy the deep, long, blessed sleep
Of the battle-field’s holy ground.
For the swords—one night, a week ago,
The remnant, just eleven,
Gathered around a banqueting board
With seats for thirty-seven;
There were two limped in on crutches,
And two had each but a hand
To pour the wine and raise the cup
As we toasted “Our flag and land!”
And the room’ seemed filled with whispers
As we looked at the vacant seats,
And, with choking throats, we pushed aside
The rich but untasted meats;
Then in silence we brimmed our gl*****,
As we rose up—just eleven,
And bowed as we drank to the loved and the dead
Who had made us THIRTY-SEVEN.
William Thompson, of Mississippi (speaking of James Magnum) talks about the wounded at Shiloh:
I began to see men on the ground and soon realized that they were hurt. At first I couldn’t see their faces. Maybe I didn’t want to see them. The first wounded man I recognized was my Uncle Henry’s eldest son, cousin James Magnum. He had been shot in the face. I wanted to help him . . . Everyone was moving forward . . . . We just had to get at those Federals who were shooting at us.
3.8 million men (and many boys) fought during the American Civil War, from 1861 - 1865. 2.8 million fought to preserve the Union, and just over 1 million fought for the Confederacy.
For every 1,000 Federals (roughly the size of a Regiment), 112 were wounded. 150 of every 1,000 Confederates were wounded.
While a Union soldier stood a 1 in 18 chance of dying in battle, he stood a 1 in 8 chance of dying of disease. Johnny Reb stood a 1 in 5 chance of dying of disease and a 1 in 8 chance of dying in combat.
From 1861-1865 the Union had 275,000 wounded soldiers in battle. 61% were from gunshot or artillery. The South saw 125,000 total wounded. The three major U.S. wars, prior to the Civil War, only saw about 15,000 wounded men and just 8,000 total deaths. At Shiloh, on April 6-7, 1862, there were 16,000 men wounded in a 48 hour period. That is more wounded than in all three previous pre-Civil War battles combined. 3,500 men, on both sides, lost their lives at Shiloh.
These kind of casualty numbers caused an enormous strain on the medical care required for the soldiers. When the War broke out there were just 113 surgeons in the U.S. Army, by the end there would be 12,000 in the Union ranks, and an additional 3,200 in the Confederate Army.
Many men no doubt expired on the field having simply bled to death before proper care could be administered. There may have even been cases of an army bayoneting the wounded after a battle, as was recorded in Harper’s Weekly (August 17, 1861).
William Thompson, of Mississippi (speaking of James Magnum) talks about the wounded at Shiloh:
I began to see men on the ground and soon realized that they were hurt. At first I couldn’t see their faces. Maybe I didn’t want to see them. The first wounded man I recognized was my Uncle Henry’s eldest son, cousin James Magnum. He had been shot in the face. I wanted to help him . . . Everyone was moving forward . . . . We just had to get at those Federals who were shooting at us.
Care for the wounded improved greatly as the War drew on. Mortality rates for surgeries especially improved as doctors improved their understanding of the body, disease, and the application of medical procedures.
Sources: The Civil War Times, October 2004 issue.
The Forager was a good fellow. He always divided with the mess. If there was buttermilk anywhere inside of ten miles he found it. Apples he could smell from afar off. If anybody was killing pork in the county he got the spareribs. If a man had a cider cart on the road he saw him first and bought him out. No hound had a keener scent, no eagle a sharper eye. How indefatigable he was. Distance, rivers, mountains, pickets, patrols, roll calls — nothing could stop or hinder him. He never bragged about his exploits — simply brought in the spoils, laid them down and said, ‘pitch in.’ Not a word of the weary miles he had traveled, how he begged or how much he had paid — simply ‘pitch in.’
Harper’s Weekly, August 17, 1861
Southern Historical Society Papers.
Vol. I. Richmond, Virginia., February, 1876. No. 2
Camp Fires Of The Boys In Gray.
Lt. David W. Poak of the 30th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was at Forts Henry and Donaldson, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta Campaign, March to the Sea, and the Carolina Campaign . He was awarded a 17th Corps Medal of Honor for the Battle of Atlanta when he was conspicuous in Rallying his men, advancing to the front, encouraging his men, firing muskets rapidly at the enemy, and by his service and gallant example materially assisting in bringing his regiment again into action.
Lt. David W. Poak
30th Illinois Infantry
Camp near Estanaula Tenn.
Aug. 17th / 62
Dear Sister,
In consequence of our Regt. being on the move for the last three or four days I have not had an opportunity to answer your welcome favor of the 3rd inst. which I recd’ almost a week ago but now as we have again made a halt and I am not on duty today ,which by the way is rather a rare occurence , I will spend a few moments penning a few lines for your perusal . It appears to me that the melancholy days have come the saddest of the year and if you were here to see our present encampment I think you would heartily concur in my opinion. Our camp is situated in Hatchee bottom and about 1 mile east of a river of the same name .The ground for miles around us is flat and swampy ,part of the time entirely covered with water and in consequence of the thickness of the timber you cannot see more than the length of one company . To add to the pleasures of the place something less than a thousand musical Bull Frogs keep up an almost incessant croaking. It is very lonesome for us here as there are but three or four families live within 3 miles of us and what is harder on us than anything else first is not near so plenty as it was about Jackson but I guess we will manage to get plenty to do us. I am afraid that if we remain here long that we will have a great many sick in our Regt. as this place cannot help but be unhealthy . Our march to this place was rather hot but we took all the advantage we could by marching at night . Water was very scarce all along our march .The first day we marched about ten mileswithout getting enough of water to make a good drink. When we got to where there was some water we stopped for dinner and stayed there till about 5 oclk in the evening . While we were resting a large plantation belonging to a rabid secessionist was stripped of everything on it useful to a soldier except peaches and they were so abundant that all we took could not be noticed.Night before last our Co. was called out at 12 oclk to go down to a ford about 4 miles below this .News having come into camp that 50 rebel cavalry were going to cross over the river there that night.We had a most doleful time of it getting to the river as our way lay through the swamps and it had rained the night before . Sometimes we would be falling over logs , the next moment running into a mudhole about knee deep or perhaps find yourself lying in some hole with a half dozen more of the boys on top of you .In this way we traveled on until we reached the long looked for place . We ramained there until the next morning about 9 oclk when we were relieved .I expect we will remain here for sometime as this is a very important point to guard to keep the rebels from outflanking our forces at Bolivar .The road we are on is the only road throught this swamp for a good many miles either up or down on which the rebels can bring infantry or artillery and on this road there is only a ferry , so as long as we can keep them from throwing a bridge across the stream we can hold them in check . We have two Regts. of Infantry , the 20th and 30th Ills. , two pieces of Artillery and 3 companies of cavalry,so that we can make quite a little fight if we are attacked.Water that is good water is very scarce .What we use for cooking we get from a mill race close by .But what we drink we have to go a mile for.We have got one of the best negro cooks I ever saw.He is an excellant cook and besides that he carries all the water we want and goes out three miles into the country and brings in fruit.Several of the other messes have negroes but I think ours is the best in the Regt. BeforeI left Jackson I gave a man there 220 to express to you to NewCastle Forty of this belonged to Geo. Hill and you can give it to one of his brothers the first time you see them. The other $180 you can do as you think best with .If you need any of it take it and use it.You wanted me to go back to Mercer Co. to recruit for our company and you would come there and see me .You were to late speaking as Lieut.David had recd the orders to go .I could have gone out but I did not care about it. I do not want to leave the Regt. until I can go to Penna although if you had mentioned the matter sooner I might have done it.Lieut. David and Sergt. McCreight have gone back to recruit for our company .That is they have gone to Springfield to report to the state Superintendent of recruiting and he sends them wherever he chooses . If he see’s fit they will go to Mercer Co. ,if not they will go some place else.I believe I have nothing more at present. I suppose we will get mail very irregularly while we stay here .Give my respects to Polly Ann and to Emmaline and the children.
Your brother,
David W. Poak
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Source: ebay auction
unidentified Union soldier to his sweetheart
15 August 1864
Letter reads in part:
My Dearest Ann
You will see by this that I haven’t left yet, but as soon as I finish this will go up to the hospital and get a discharge and my transportation and leave tomorrow morning, nine o’clock for the front. I have been here since my return in the same with Bob who (as you have probably heard) is wounded in the left leg just above the ankle & is doing very well. I have had my ambrotype put in your heart pin & think tis very well done & I feel gratified because you have desired it so long. The Yankee officers have all been been sent off from here, some to Charleston and other places. Old man cried, because he surrendered to 182 confederates. I am inclined to think God will bless us at no very distant day. Only we must trust in him and look to him for comfort in afflictions troubles and trials for he has said ‘I will not forsake you in six trouble and would be with you in the seventh’ only let us exercise faith and patience and he will approve us if we do our duty otherwise?”
Source: eBay, June 2007
Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Wright of 9th New Jersey Infantry, Company K, to his daughter.
Petersburg, Virginia
13 August 1864
‘Your very kind mother informs me that you are improving in the art of reading and writing. Now I would like you to know that this is of the greatest pleasure to me. If while I were here suffering and enduring hardship for the Sacred cause of Freedom, you were deprived of the means of obtaining an education and of enjoyment, I should be one of the most miserable and disheartened of men. But since you have a very good mother to care for you a School to go to and a Church and Sabbath to attend, with kind teachers and every means of attaining a knowledge of Christ and a means of usefulness in future, I am content and happy?’
Source: eBay, June 2007
Soldier’s identity:
Residence was not listed;
Enlisted on 10/15/1861 as a Sergeant.
On 10/15/1861 he mustered into “K” Co. NJ 9th Infantry
He Re-enlisted on 11/25/1863
He was discharged for wounds on 5/15/1865
He was listed as:
* Wounded (date and place not stated)
Promotions:
* 1st Sergt 6/3/1863
* 2nd Lieut 3/11/1864
* 1st Lieut 11/27/1864 (As of Co. F)
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 12/26/1864 from company K to company F
History of the 9th
On June 21 the 9th crossed the Appomattox and took possession of the rifle-pits beyond the City Point & Petersburg railroad, where on the day following it assisted in repelling a charge of the enemy, losing 1 man killed. It remained in the works some days longer, participating in several sharp conflicts brought on by the enemy, who was in all cases repulsed. There in the front line the regiment remained, with brief intervals of relief in the second line, until July 29, losing several men, but not having any pitched engagement. On the 29th marching orders were received and the command proceeded to a new position to act as a reserve to the 9th corps in front of which the “Burnside Mine” was exploded on the 30th. A day or two afterward it returned to its position and again went into its intrenchments, remaining for a fortnight exposed to a steady fire from the enemy. On Aug. 16, Maj. Hufty was wounded in the left arm, and the staff of the regimental state colors was cut down by Confederate sharpshooters–nine bullets passing through the colors.
Near Atlanta, on Aug. 10, 1864, Grimes wrote an excellent account of life in the Atlanta Campaign.
“We are still fighting a little every day, have not possession of Atlanta the place we started out to take but it must soon fall. We are so close to the city that we can se the whole thin. It is a large place looks to be about as large as Indianapolis… ladies occasionally come out from the city for protection. They say our cannons are tearing everything to pieces killing women and children but we cant help that. They must leave the place if they want the Artillery firing stopped. We have great reason to be thankfull for our success generally this summer, yet our success in this department has been run by some very hard fighting. We have been under fire from musketry and Artillery since the 5th day of May. Whilst writing this letter balls frequently whistle over my tent by so they don’t hit me it is all right…”
Letter from Henry Lachman to his brother Eli Lachman of the 179th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company A.
Fagleysville
Aug 10th 1862
Excerpt
Dear Brother
We often thought perhaps dear Eli is taken prisoner, perhaps died, or killed by the rebels, but God has kept you safe all the time, and do you thank him for all his kindness to you, for life preserved, for mercies given. In your letter you had about your travel, I am glad you have landed safe every time, you also had in you letter about battles and retreats therof I am very glad that even at the hardest retreat you have had a narrow escape and I hope that God will always be with you, that when ever on the battlefield, you may again return safe and I hope we see each other again in this wourld and if not I earnestly beseech the Lord that we may all meet you in heaven. If I had time I would write a long letter to you but I have not time I must therefore say write son.
Good bye dear Brother
From your beloeved Brother Henry J. Lachman.”
The 179th Pennsylvania Infantry was a nine-month regiment that served mostly to protect resources in its native state, most notably a stint guarding prisoners captured during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Eli Lachman mustered into service on 4 November 1862 and mustered out on 27 July 1863 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Source: Nate Sanders, July 2007
Now in the front pits, before Petersburg VA, Aug 3 1864, from SGT William H. Sipe of Company “I,” 188th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, to his mother, Mrs. Peter Sipe, Eberly’s Mills, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with original cove postmarked Washington DC, Aug 6 1864.
The letter reads, in part, as follows
I am still in the land of living … I feel rather sleepy to write today, as I have had no sleep for several nights as we are looking for notact every night for the Jonys [Johnny Rebels] is trying to undermine and blow up one of our forts. They have been working at it some time. Our boys in the fort heard them working under it last night, but I think they mustbe mightly shart or their work will be all for nothing … our darkeys is now working in the fort they are digging down to get the powder out. Bully for them … we had a high time on Saturday about five miles from here we marched on Friday night and on Saturday morning about daybreak the ball opened. The first thing I knew as the earth shaking & we saw the dirt, cannons and men sailing up in the air. We blowed up one of their forts. Then the fuss began. There was heavy firing all day. Mother, it was the hottest day ever I went through, both with heat and heavy fighting. But I got through safe. The firing was kept up till dark. They we were relieved & that night marched back here again. But I think we will be bedeviled tonight, for a couple of days. Good for us … I received the dollar he [his father] sent me … I will get me some paper & a little tobacco … you said you would like to send me a [goddie] box if it is safe. I should be very glad to have one, but we can’t get any here for there is no telling how long we may stay … not there is no boxes can get here either. We get plenty of hard tack and pork & here of late we get a gill of whiskey evey other day to mix with the beans. Mother, you wanted to know where Fox is. He is now in Camp Howitzer. He is got charge of the ambulance train. He has got a good position. He is detached from the regt., but he don’t forget to come & see his boys sometime. The boys all like him & want him to com & go with us. I told him he should come, for he has got the boys to stick to him. You wanted to know our captain’s name. It was Harry E. Breel, Commanding Co. “i”, 188 Regt … guess you heard that Davy Meirs of our company was wounded. He is wounded in the heel. It happened about a week ago …”
SGT William H. Sipe enlisted on Oct 20 1862 as a sergeant and was mustered into the 188th Pennsylvania on that same day. He was killed on Sep 29 1864 at Fort Harrison VA. The 188th Pennsylvaniawas organized at Fortress Monroe Va on Apr 1 1864. Almost immediately they saw action on the south side of the James River and against Petersburg and Richmond VA (May 4-28 1864) .
They fought at Swift Creek or Arrow, May 9-10; Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, May 14-16; Battle of Cold Harbor, Jun 1-12; before Peytersburg Jun 15-18. In trenches beforePetersburg till September. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, Jul 30.
The writer was apparently killed during the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm, New Market Hieghts, north of the James River.
Jackson’s dedication to honor and duty is evidenced here. A major had asked for an extension of his furlough to attend to an illness of a family illness, after having already received the furlough originally because of a family death.
“From me you have a friends sympathy, and I wish the suffering conditions of our country permitted me to show it. But we must think of the living and of those who are to come after us, and see that, with God’s blessing, we transmit to them the freedom we have enjoyed. What is life without honor? Degradation is worse than death. It is necessary that you should be at your post immediately. Join me tomorrow morning.”
- Jackson wrote this letter August 2nd, 1862
