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Return to Mercer Home Page Part 4 - 1860 to 1865 Surnames Page Civil War Resources
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Camp & Battlefield - By Jill Martin
If I were a man, I would fight for the Union and Abolition, I would not trade tobacco with Rebels as do the boys whose letters I receive. The camp of the Ninety-sixth would suit me better than school teaching, but God made me a woman so i do my part. I write my brother George, send boxes with dried apples and knitted mittens, but I grow old waiting at home with the injured and the cowards. |
The Women's War - By Jill Martin
Dear Sister, You would not think it Sunday, no meeting nor hymns at camp; we drilled, now rest by the wood pile. I write you, and my bunk mate carves a ring from honeysuckle root A stump is my table, the earth my seat. Send stamps, they are more precious than bullets. I dreamt you all seated around the table and my seat empty. Is thrashing over? We prepare for battle tomorrow. |
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Many of the families that we will be posting to this site had sons and daughters connected to the Civil War. Some of the Mercer County soldiers (notably Sylvanus Atwater) were regular correspondents with the Mercer County newspapers while they served. We have several of these letters and also several newspaper articles about the early days of the war that we will post. There were also interesting stories about the folks at home and how they cooperated to help the families left behind cope with the necessary work of survival.
Aledo Weekly Record article August 27, 1861 describing the sendoff party for the New Boston Sharpshooters (to come) Atwater Letter about the travel of the New Boston Sharpshooters from New Boston to Camp Butler to join the 27th Illinois Infantry Atwater Letter March 1, 1864 from Camp Louden, Tennessee, describing the participation in the storming of Missionary Ridge by the 27th Illinois Infantry (to come) "Uncle John" Letter of December 23, 1863 describing an incident of Captain Wilson of Co K, 102nd Illinois Infantry, being severely outnumbered by confederates. Includes letters written home by Captain Wilson and an obituary of Captain Wilson, furnished by Wilson researcher, Stan Drake. "Uncle John" Letter July 20, 1864 describing the participation of the 102nd and 27th Illinois Infantry in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia. Battle of Resaca [Georgia]. Brief description of the Battle of Resaca with an article from the Aledo Weekly Record listing the killed and wounded from each company of the 102nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Several of these companies were Mercer County companies. Battle of Belmont poem by George W. Cross who enlisted at New Boston in the 27th Illinois Infantry. Battle of Champion Hill Mississippi poem by Walter D. Hodson who enlisted in the 124th Illinois Infantry. Not everything was deadly serious Aledo Weekly Record - April 5, 1864 "Wanted--Correspondence! Two of Uncle Sam's boys from the good Sucker State who have seen the elephant in all his moods, but who are unfit for duty at present on account of wounds from which they have not fully recovered, are very anxious to correspond with a number of the fair damsels in illinois. Object - fun, love, or anything that might arise from the performance. Now girls, we will think most of her who writes first. Address W.H.M. or J.F.S. Medical Department Convalescent Camp Chattanooga, Tennessee" Okay Mercer County researchers, who were W.H.M. & J. F.S.? Memorial DayBy Sandy FergusonMemorial day, established as a tribute to veterans of the War between the States, reportedly began in May of 1866, when the town of Waterloo, NY, decorated the graves of their Civil War veterans. (several other towns claim the same honor - Boalsburg, in Pa, and Columbus, MS, Arlington, Va and Belle Isle, in Va are 4 who also had early observances). However, all agree that General John Logan, of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) designated May 30th, as a Memorial day, and did so in 1868. Gen. Logan asked for " a day for strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village or hamlet churchyard in the land.....it is the purpose of the commander-in-chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept from year to year while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of the departed." No veterans of that long ago civil war are left to us, but the observance has expanded to include any national war, for we've had no lack of those, unfortunately...and, once more our young men are being asked to lay down their lives in 'foreign climes' - there will be no shortage of graves to decorate, and men to remember, for many years to come. So, on Memorial Day let's take a moment away from the BBQs and picnics, and think of those men....and say a silent word of �thanks.� |
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A Tennessee Woman's War by Jill Martin, 1996 For two years my Cumberland farm has seen Reb and Yank passin' by thousands. On rainy spring nights I hear men marchin'. Union troopers shout as mules complain in mud hub deep. Come winter on the road Secesh cavalry horses jiggle harness in thin air, makin' a tune they dance to After battle a blue coat crawls to die on my door sill. Did he think this was home? I take a letter and the tintype of a girl from his coat before I bury him and saw off the brass buttons stamped U. S. Instead of grain, my field sprouts the bones of soldiers, boots raising through furrows ploughed by cannon balls. Soldier boys the age of my own dead sons steal the hog, burn the fence for firewood, eat the green corn in the field. No tobacco left for my pipe. Foragers burnt the spring house, threaten to string me up as a traitor. Worse than drought or locusts, war has destroyed me. Let peace be tomorrow, I will starve come winter. |
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Updates: Corrected link and instructions for going to the Mercer County Civil War information. |
