Collection of Letters
This 5 letter collection are letters from soldiers writing home to their families, updating them on the war and including perspectives on the battlefield. Four of the five are during the war, more towards the end at 1863 and 1864, about the regiments, camps, and battalions are doing, how war life is treating them. Also the soldiers update the families back home about the politics of the war and the devastation of fighting. One of the five is written 11 days after the war ends in 1865 and talks about Lincoln's assassination. The soldier talks about traveling home. All letters give a point of view from the soldiers on the war, how families and soldiers are mortified from the devastations of war. These letters were the only form of communication these men had to back home. How many letters do you think were lost? What differences all these letters made? One piece of paper and some ink can disrupt a life or even end it.
"Kellogg"
"Johnson"
Near Chattahoochee
Fulton Co.
July 15th, 1863
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Dear Sister -
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- - - - - - - -Pickets don't fire at each other now. We go down to the edge of the river on our side and the Yankees come down on their side and talk to each other. The men on picket opposite are from Ohio, and seem very tired of the war. They say that their term of enlistment will be out in three months and most of them say that when it is out they are going home. Gen. Johnson has issued an order that there shall be no more communication between with them, and I think it is well that he has done so because they were getting too intimate. Some men don't know what should be concealed. The Yankees are very much in want of tobacco, and our Government gives it to us, and we used to trade tobacco with them for knives and canteens. There is a rock near the middle of the river to which they would swim and trade. After a while they got so well acquainted that some of our men would swim clear across and land among the Yankess. The Yankees were not so bold for a long time, but a few days ago they got to coming across also. That has been broken up now and if any trading is carried on, it is done contrary to orders.- - - - I took some tobacco down with me the other day but I found out when I got there communication had been stopped. As I was sitting on the banks, one of the Yankees from the other side called to me to know if I had any tobacco. I told him I had. He said that he had a good knife to trade for it. I told him that trading was prohibited. He said "Your officers won't see you, come over, I want a chew of tobacco very bad." I asked some of them who they were going to vote for President. One of them said "Old Abe" but most of them said they were for McLellan.
We have a fine rain last night that was much needed. I had my oil cloth pitched for a tent but it leaks very badly. I got rather wet but the rain was very hard and lasted only a short time, and I got dry and went back to bed and slept very well. One of the Yankee Lieutenants promised to mail some letters for one of our officers and I wrote to Aunt Martha expecting to send it at the same time but Gen. Johnson stopped the proceeding so I did not send it. There is a force of Yankees on this side of the river and have been there for some time. Why Gen. Johnson don't drive them back I don't know he must have some object in view.
Write to me soon..
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--Written by an unknown confederate, particularly interesting for its very personal content writing to his sister. The letter contains a perspective not a lot of people acknowledge, the two opposite sides mingling. Basically is a quick update on what is going on in the war and how it is.
Camp of the 4th Delaware Vols
Arlington Hights, VA
May 20, 1865
Dear Brother
Yours of the 31st of March came to hand yesterday after being on the road nearly two months, but you must not think I waited to get a letter from you before writing to you. The reason of my not writing to you was I have forgotten the number of your Brigade and Division and I am going to trust this by directing to the Regiment. Arlington Hights are on the Virginia side of the Potomac opposite Washington. We marched here from Appomattox Court House (the place of Lee's surrender). We camped about two weeks at Burkesville (the junction of the Petersburg and Lynchburg, and Richmond & Danville Railroads). We marched from there direct by the way of Petersburg, Richmond, Bowling Green, and Fredericksburg.
I suppose you will read in the papers that there is to be a review of the Army of the Potomac and Sherman's Army on the 23rd & 24th insts (?). We expect then to be mustered out in a day or so. I guess as Ned is a recruit he will not get out for some time yet, but now the fighting is over all the troops that stay in the service will have good times. I think all the recruits will be mustered out in a month or so. By letters from home, I see that you and Wes Eckles were together at Winchester. I suppose you didn't get to stay long together. I hear that Wes is in Washington. I haven't seen him yet; we had a review coming through Richmond and were marched past Libby Prison, Castle Thunder, the State House, & Lee and Davis Houses, etc.
I suppose you are pretty well acquainted with all the incidents connected with the Campaign and there is no use of my relating them here.
I intended to have gone to see you before going home if you had stayed at Cumberland, but as you have moved, I will wait and see where you are going to be located, for I hear that the Government is going to retain the Veterans; after being in Service 2 years and 9 months I have only climbed the Ladder of Fame high enough to be an Orderly Sergeant which I have the honor to be now. I suppose to become famous I shall have to do something like Booth the assassion; the last letter I had from home they were all well. Ned received a letter from you (in my care) at Richmond. Slim Eckles is not well yet. Ben Bogia send his respects to you. Ned sends his love to you to which I add my own and I will close by signing myself your affectionate brother,
George
PS You can direct in about a week to
Geo W. Johnson, Jr.
Elkton,
Cecil County, Md
--Written by George W. Johnson, Jr. This letter is written 11 days after the war ends and talks about the assassination of President Lincoln and about traveling home. He also points out how, even though, he fought for almost 3 years he only got as far as Orderly Sergeant.
Part 1
Camp on Bayou Piere, Miss.
Wednesday morn, May 6th
1863
My dear Wife & boy,
At length the prohibition of letter writing has been removed by General Grant & mail is to go out 8 o'clock this morning. I hasten to improve the first opportunity I have had for more than two weeks in talking with my wife & boy. I last wrote your Apr 25th from Perkin's Plantation, La., though I doubt whether you received the letters, I am informed that our letters have been stopped at Memphis fore some time past. I wrote you again the 26th but finding no letters were allowed to go north, I put his letter in my trunk. Since that time we have witnessed & participated in stirring scenes. The battle of "Magnolia Hills"
has been fought & a glorious victory won. Hundreds have fallen on my every side but I am still spared unharmed to my wife & boy. I have not sufficient paper to enable me to give a detailed account of the fight, but I will hereafter. We were in the fight from early in the morning till dark. The enemy's first shot was fired at Co. C. (we with three other companies were skirmishing in front of our left) the shell struck the ground & burst at the very feet of several men in my second platoon. The second shell I saw was aimed higher. I instantly ordered the boys to lie down & did so myself, but not a moment too soon, for the shell passed directly over me so near as to force my cap upon the back of my head, this to when it was strapped tightly under my chin. The shock made my head fairly numb for an instant. I then brought my boys more to the front nearer the enemy but when we were protected by a slight rise of ground in front. Here we were comparatively safe till we were relieved by Gen. Osterhaus, when we rejoined our regiment on the right. Soon after we were again in the thickest of the fight. Our brigade (Benton's) gained the first success of the day as we soon forced back the troops opposed to us, taking many prisoners. two excellent cannon & caissons, ammunition trains, horses &c besides killing their General Stacey which they say was the work of the 33rd. But I was not going to particulars in this letter. Our loss in killed & wounded was about 1000. No one in my company was hurt but Bush. He was struck twice though but slightly hurt. When you consider he stands directly behind me in the ranks you will see that it was rather narrow dodging for me.
That we were pretty well tired out when night came you can well imagine. I think I never knew hunger, thirst & fatigue before--but I lay down that night under one of our faithful guns & blessed God that He had given success to our arms & spared your husband & father to his darling wife & boy. He has been very good to us--let us love & praise him more than ever before.
With the early light of the next day we again advanced skirmishing through dense canebrake but no enemy could be found. They fled in confusion through Port Gibson. & were far on the road back to Vicksburg to make the city quake with the doleful tale. Hundreds of prisoners they had left in our hands & hundreds of dead & wounded on the bloody field.
We are now slowly & surely closing up behind the doomed city & in a few days it will be ours. Then the Mississippi will be opened to the commerce of the north & a bright day will dawn upon our afflicted country.
I have received no letters from you__ Continue to write & direct as before (only is Carr's instead of Karr's Division--the mistake was mine). Do not be too anxious about me. Trust in God he is good & will do right. Harry, Papa often thinks of his little boy & would love to be with him & Mama & walk out with him this pleasant morning. But Papa must stay & help "shoot the rebels" a little longer. Someday Papa hopes he can come home & stay with Harry & Mama. Harry will be a good boy & love & take care of Mama won't he?
Give lots of love to Daniel & Phila & Mr. & Mrs. Henley. Also to John & Villa when you see them. Doubtless before this reaches you all cause for further writing will be removed for Vicksburg will be ours. Take good care of yourself. Walk out often with Harry & do not let anxiety on my account depress you spirits. I sent you a flower which I plucked on the battle field while skirmishing with the enemy. God bless you in all things my darling wife & boy.
Your own
Henry
--These two letters are on the devastating part of war. The first letter, written by Captain Henry C. Kellogg, just updating his family on how he is doing and how the war is mortifying. The last part of the letter is directed to his young son, making him understand and have hope for his father in war.
Part 2
Regt. at Vicksburg, May 26th/63
Mrs. Kellogg,
Dear Madam
I would fain hope that I am not the first bearer of the tidings which it is my painful duty to communicate. If unhappily I be so, I can only bid you summon all your fortitude to read the next words I shall write, and may God soften the terrible blow; your noble husband is no more, he died the death of a brave man on the 20th while leading his company, sword in hand, in an important advance to a close position under the fire of the enemy’s works. The fatal blow from a piece of shell in the head was at least merciful, in so far as that he died quietly and without suffering. His comrades were especially around him, but he never spoke after the shot. We have made every effort, by his special request before his fall, to send his body to you; but as no boats are allowed to assault the river at present, we have been compelled to postpone this purpose for the present. We design to fulfill it at the earliest providable time.
I enclose you his ring bearing your name and return your letter which has just been received. I will advise with you in regards to his effects left here, which are at present in the stores of our position. I will not intrude upon your emotions with heavy words of condolence but only ask that you accept assurances of sympathy from one whose long and close' intimacy with the deceased made me somewhat acquainted with his many endearing qualities and led me to feel towards him rather as a brother than as a comrade and subordinate officer. You will not sorrow alone over his early grave. Not only in his own Company but throughout the Regiment there is deep and earnest sorrow for his loss, and heartfelt sympathy with those who were nearest and dearest to him, in this unspeakable bereavement.
His name will be treasured among America's Patriotic dead and his orphan Boy will be proud to hear the name of a father who died bravely for his Country. For him and yourself accept once more the assurance of earnest sympathy.
Yours most sincerely,
Edward J. Lewis
1st Lt. Co. C
33rd Ill. Regt.
--This second letter of the two is written by Edward J. Lewis, a fellow from his regiment notifying Henry’s family of his passing. Captain Henry C. Kellogg died within 20 days of the first letter. Edward sends his condolences and how Henry dies respectfully, how their regiment is in mourning over their comrade.
Camp Lindsey
December 27th, 1863
Dear Father,
I have been waiting all day to get a chance to write home, but the noise and jostle has been so great I couldn't, so I waited until to night after all the boys have gone to bed, and I can write without being jostled all the time.
Well I am well and hearty and enjoying myself finely. We are having rather a hard time of it just now, it has been raining all the time for the last few days, and the camp is horribly muddy. But we make the best of it and have a merry time in our quarters. I have not been outside of the quarters but once today. I hope it will turn cold soon and freeze up hard. There is very little of interest going on in Terrahaute or in camp. The recruits we got when we were up have not yet been mustered, they probably will be tomorrow or at least sometime during next week. We will probably stay here all winter, though there is some talk of our going to Indianapolis in a few weeks, but I place no reliance on the report. Though I would not care if we did go to the Capital, we have good quarters here, every thing comfortable, but I am getting tired of Terrahaute. I wish our regiment was full, and we had orders to leave for Georgia tomorrow morning, but our regiment will hardly be organized until after the draft, it will then be filled up with drafted men. I guess that when the draft comes on, some of the Butternuts will awakin to the fact that they will be compelled to do their duty to their country.
The noncommissioned officers of our Company have not yet been appointed, when they are I will stand a good chance. When the draft takes place there will probably be several regiments composed entirely of conscripts, and I intend to try for an appointment among them. If it was offered me, you may rest assured that I wouldn't refuse it, and there is no harm in trying.
The health of the company and the whole camp is very good, there is scarcely a case of sickness. I hope you are well at home and enjoying yourselves. Tell Preston that I have bought him a book which I will send up by some of the boys next week, tell him to go to school and learn all he can, be a good boy, and write to me. Give my love to mother and Preston, and my kind regards to Mary. Give my respects to all who might happen to inquire after me. Write soon and tell me all about home and how you enjoyed Christmas. I was on guard duty Christmas day and didn't enjoy it much.
From your affectionate son,
John R. Miller
(to his father)
P.S. address John R. Miller
Capt Cowgill's Company
Camp Lindsey Barracks
Terrahaute, Ind
--Written by John R. Miller to his father two days after Christmas. He talks about how he spent his Christmas eve and day and how his company is doing, with the December weather. He also sends his regards to the rest of his family and wants to be written back with updates at home.
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