You are currently browsing the monthly archive for June, 2008.
Eric A. Jacobson, Carnton historian, and author of the best-selling For Cause and for Country, spoke on Friday, June 19th, 2008, at the Franklin’s Charge press conference. He gave great detail on the action between the Federal and Rebel soldiers on the very site of the property that was just purchased by Franklin’s Charge. It is believed that the epicenter of the Battle of Franklin took place precisely on this spot.
Franklin’s Charge announced the acquisition of a one-acre estate near the Carter house in Franklin on June 19, 2008. The new land was the epicenter of the Battle of Franklin (30 November 1864) that raged around the Carter cotton gin. Franklin’s Charge founder and author, Robert Hicks, talks about this historic moment for the Franklin, Tennessee, community.
Camp 6th Ohio Cavalry near cedar River
June 12 /63
Dear Lydia -
Yours of the 31st ult came to hand in due time. But certain little events to which a soldiers life is subject to has delayed me from writing you sooner. We have had another fight and another Retreat to this side of the Rappahannock, in which we shurely whiped and drove them. But the whole Particulars will reach you ere this possible can leave here. Our Regt has the fortune in all its actions to be very lucky. was in as hot a place as any of them and came out with but one or two wounded Ordley Sergts [?] Dunlap of Co G is mortaly wounded if not dead before this (have not heard from him to day) we are in the same camp as we were before the fight (water scarse).
You spoke of Whites wife if you Recolect she waited on the table at the “Chase House” in Mecca at that Shindig we wer at. I formed my oppinion of her there that night. Laffayett Lake has hired out at Potomac Creek Station for 10 shillings a day to do work for “Uncle Sam”
Weather very dry and roads dusty as Hell. What the hell this army does not move against old Lee is more than I know. they are fooling away another summer as shure as Hell and the damed “Jonneys” (Rebes) will be down to Vicksburg the next we know with nothing but a picket force left here for the army of the “Petomick” to watch. Our pickets and the jonneys going swiming to gether trade papers, coffee for tobacco and play Eucher to gether and have a good time generaly. Occasionaly a jonney or so come over this side and go back no more to sin and sorrow take Uncle Sams oath and go north to the garden of Eden where every thing is plenty but soldiers. With these few hasty writin lines I conclude to wind up and as I got a letter from Mr Hayes & wife I will send them a few lines in yours as it will be the best I can do this hitch Hell Wobbert Wofferson Oscar
Cedar River June 12 / 63
Mrs And Mr Hayes in co
Yours of the 24 of last month “Ahem”…I got them all right but Jo Hooker interfered a little with my arrangements or I would of sent you my tender compliments and Almighty best wishes for your long life Liberty and the pursuit of other fixens. I am all right and feel able to cope with at least one of that stiff necked and Rebellios generation which stile themselves the Southern Confederacy of Uncle Sam. So Mrs. Julia you think it dont look right to see folks shot after they are dead and damed, eh ! Thats a way we government fellows have and its no use to cry so [...?...] or die How would you like to see two walkers cut off of one man one close up to his his — his oh well up to where he sets down and the other above the knee. I witness such a scene performed on a “Jonny” all I could say was Amen as each propeller droped off He has no government to give him a pension during life. Friend Dick, as you think you all will be down here soon there will be some prospects of the war ending dam soon then that is when you come the Rebes are not to be scart into any thing (unless they see the 6th Ohio coming at them with drawn saber) But come along we Kneed Help, No dout. dont go to the Devil because things are coming up and calico too that would be just the time I would want to be around when calico was “Ris” (I would like to live on ham and eggs awhile first) Foulerites are all right have not heard from Cole or Oliver lately
Yours as B.4. Untill Deth
Amos Ward
P.S. to Lydia
I Rec’d a letter from Dillon Duer he’s all “cheeky” give Miss Kellogg my compliments and tell her I hope she may marry the man her heart desires and enjoy matrimoniol Bliss & Babies to an advanced age
Will give Miss Molie Jones my compliments and tell her I wish her success in teaching the young ladys how to shoot But look out for the darts of cupid
Oscar
Albinus R. Fell of the Ohio Volunteer Cavalary 6th Regiment Company D.
eBay item#250217347199 (Feb 2008)
Corp 6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry June 2nd / 63
Lydia
Yours of the 26th ult came to hand yestarday I was most out of Patience waiting for a letter it appears to me if you folks at home had to be party to half the inconvenience we have to hear you would never write I don ot get half as many letters as I write (only from you.) And I will be damed if I will write twice to any person unless they answer my letters it is not because I like to write letters that I write as often as I do but because I like to get letters from my old friends We are in camp now near Bealton [?] Station Splendid Camp but a scarsity of water. none within a mile for man or beast. We are waiting for a Reb attack on our Pickets any moment we look for it let them come 6th O.V.C. are ready for them any time they want a fight. 600 of the cusses sliped around us and got in our Rear flanked a gun on the Rail Road Track and when the train came put a solid shot through the Locomotive which disabled it and then they burnt the train with one days Ration of Forage About that time they commenced a skedaddle with our cavalry at their heels nobody got hurt that I know of. The train never whistled before to day when it came in they give a good toot to day one that will wake up all the bushwhackers in the neighborhood and defy them to get another train if they can. Last fall at this time of Popes masterly Retreat from the Rappahannock the Rebes burnt 5 trains on this Road. they got in our Rear at Manopas junction and captured and burnt 2 trains loaded with government stores and ammunition burnt the Bridge at Cottlett [?] Station over cedar Run while 3 trains wer down at Warrington the Bridge being burnt they could not get back so they wer captured and Burnt also. So you see it is a game they have on this road. But before they burn more than 10 or 15 more trains they will get come up with by some yanky brick. We hold ourselves in readiness to move in 30 minutes Brigade commanders have orders to attack any body of Rebels that come in reach at any time
I hear Oliver has hired a Lawyer to get his discharge never would I do that if the government wants me I am theirs and when they are done with me I want them to give my paper honorable and will have them so or not at all Dont wait for me to take you to spree, or you may never go but pitch in and go when you want to. enjoy yourself whitefolks I do the best I can towards enjoying myself and it is your priveledge two. Jeff may get into trouble if he pitches into Phina [?] to far I have know of such cases warm weather does not bother our Rest nights here when nights comes we throw down our blanket get a stone or Rail for a Pillow or some times pull off our Boots and put them under our heads. we never take our clothes untill they wore out onley as we change underclose. No person enjoys his sleep better than a soldier nor knows how it goes to be deprived of sleep and Rest of all kinds And in fact I dont think any person but a soldier Realy enjoys life (do you)
I dreamt you was here last night. I showed you over several of the Battle fields of Va and the Bridge over Potomac Creek which our men built this spring, visited several Hospitals with you. I though you shudered and turned back the first one we went into but I persuaded you to go in. you said you never had any idea of half the horrors of war untill you had seen for yourself. Dreames are curious things yet I like to dream of home and old friends it does me good. My dream of last night if not true onley lacked your presence to make it so.
Capt Barrett is at home I expect he left here on the 28th ult for home he had leave of absence for 5 days. short stay he will have with his honey. We expect our Dead horse cavalry in to day as they have been mounted again. Our 9 months men are congratulating themselves on going home next month Some of the “Sons of Bitches” have “played off” and never been on a horse since they came out. Such boys as these 9 months men hurts our cause more than they do good. it will be a good Ridence when gone. the 6th Ohio stand now second to but one Regt. in this army Since we got out from among the dam Dutch we can breathe free and easy and fight with a good stomache Col. Duffea commands our Division now he will be a Brigadere soon he deserves the Position well. Our Brigade is commanded by Col. Sargeant of the first Mass. Cavalry Our Regt is commanded by Bill Stedman some call him Major Stedman But he is about as fit for major as hell is for a powder house he is a clever talktive man and would make a good civil officer but as a military man he is not worth a dam and ought to be at home having corn
My time is half up the 9th of this month only 18 months more and my time will be up unless they hold me During the war and if it should last longer I am willing to see it through. our dead horse cavalry have arrived Pick & George look tough and hearty.
Dud was buried in a hole with another man who was killed at the same time
June 3rd all quiet on cedar River this morning
I close with my best wishes for your happiness and future wellfare
Most respectively your & e
“Oscar”
Albinus R. Fell of the Ohio Volunteer Cavalary 6th Regiment Company D.
Source: eBay item # 250216364934 (Feb 2008)
