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Lott Diary continued.......
Andersonville Prison Main Gate
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Ribbon found in Lott's chest that he carried during
the Civil War now at Archives in Iowa City, Iowa A long with many other items and
diary.
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Hangs on my living room wall
at 1019 High Street,
Bowling Green, Ky.
Property of Clark L. Carley great
grand son.
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Lott's Cane and Sword, made by him along with Tossels
from his uniform which now hang on my living room wall Probate
of Clark L. Carley
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GAR RIBBON POST NAMED AFTER HIM
THREE YEARS AFTER HE PASSED ON. AUBURN, NB.
Andersonville Prison Main Gate to Park and
village of Andersonville, Ga.
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| Lotts Chest, sword, cane,
pictures album The sword is passed down to oldest son of each
generation. This is the family custom. |
Chest of Lott
Carley
This is property of cousin Elnor Gill of Arz. |
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Hair Lott had
in his chest, Who? It was a custom to keep a lock of hair of a deceased friend. One is Wm.
Tibbet. |
Story of GAR
Post named after Lawson Hannibal (Lott) Carley. Auburn, Nb. |
Iowa State Monument
Clark
standing where Gen. Grant stood,
At Andersonville Prison.
only he stood 15 feet to my left.
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| Lott Diary almost impossible to read now. |
Lott chest and material in it. |
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IOWA MONUMENT
ANDERSONVILLE |
ANDERSONVILLE CAMP COMMANDER |
Lawson Hannibal (LOTT) Carley in his earlier days.
Picture from Tibbette at Nashville, Tn.
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Picture by Curtis at Iowa
City, Iowa Library |
Information's by Curtis |
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Pictures from Mark W.Tebbet
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| North East corner, where Lott slept and
Curtis at corner helping a lady with her camera. Andersonville Prison. |
Curtis hard at work,
filming Iowa 5th stones at Marietta, Ga. |
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Lookout
Mountain Hotel from South
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Liberty Hill as
in our Civil War trip story.
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EZRA MARTIN TEBBETS
Civil War, Andersonville Prison
Private 5th. Iowa Cavalry, Sept. 1961; Re-inlisted,
Jan. 1864; First Lieutenant and A. I. G. (U S. vols.) July, 1964; died in prison at
Millen, Ga. Oct. 30th, 1864, of privation
And exhaustion.
Ezra Martin Tebbets was born at Lynn, Mass. Jan. 8th.
1838, the son of Ezra Ricker Tebbets and Catharine Amory (Hood) Tebbets. He was the oldest
of 11 sons, his mother having been left a widow before he entered college. He was a member
of the Public School of Lynn, in their successive grades and was often pronounced by his
teachers "a model scholar"; One of them declaring that while under his
instruction he never once omitted a false or omitted a duty. His disposition was calm,
grave, and retiring, with an even temper, faultless normal, and an ardent. Love of study.
In school and college he was faithful far beyond the average of his associates; but to the
honors resulting from his fidelity he was rather indifferent.
He graduated at Harvard College, in the Class of 1859, among the
first scholars in his Class, in mathematics ranking first. He after words went through the
course of engineering at the Lawrence Scientific School, and then engaged in the practice
of his profession as civil engineer in Iowa. But the Rebellion which put the nation in
jeopardy. Allowed him no rest in his quiet pursuits. With his brother, he enlisted as a
private in a corps designed to become a part of Fremont's Guard, and which, after several
changes, was designated as Company E. of the 5th. Iowa cavalry He was employed
in the dangerous service of guarding Tenn. Against the guerrillas and marauders then
infesting that Border State. In his capacity he was a daily witness of the truth of his
own delineation of the horrors of civil war, in a college theme:
"War, even where the opposing parties are of different
nations, has evils enough, - the widows and desolate orphans, burning villages, and
fertile fields laid waste, bringing want and misery too hundreds. But when a civil war
breaks out. The civil is increased a hundred-fold: then all the ties that unite men are
broken, brothers raise there hands against brothers, and fathers against sons, in deadly
combat."
With no means of distinguishing friends from enigmas, at the hour
the Union force might be engaged in deadly conflict with hidden foes, among the forests
and mountains, and in the next hour might enter a town to meet the same citizens under the
Union flag, welcoming them to their hearts and their homes. Of this fact they were often
assured by the Negroes, who could give the names of men who had returned from a hot
skirmish with the Iowa Cavalry, had hastily stapled their horses, washed themselves, and
come forth to meet and welcome the men with whom they had just been in mortal combat. In
conflicts of this discouraging character many months past, in which even in there
victories, he could see nothing gained for the great objects of the war. On every side he
witnessed the reverse of all he had hoped to find. He excepted to meet an honorable enemy
in fair fight, but he was compelled to witness the violation of the fundamental principles
of civilization in the conduct of those who but carried the principles of secession to
there legitimate result. In one of his letters he writes:-
"A year's residence at the South would convince any sensibly
men that the Rebellion is but the natural result of the state of society prevailing here.
The speech of Charles Summer on the barbarism of slavery is the truth, and nothing but the
truth. I would rather help end the war in one big fight, than wander about where in search
of guerrillas, who will shoot at one from behind fences and trees. Some of them have been
troubling our camp guards. One two fingers cut off by a man who approached his post at
night; a second had a ball but through his arm, and a third had his hat shot off."
Such was the singleness of his own purpose, that he witnessed
with strong indignation. The false patriotism that had secured honorable positions for
peculation and fraud. He writes;-"
Many of the newspapers have much to say of the inefficiency of
our cavalry. If you had seen the last lot of horses sent to our regiment the other day
from St. Louis, you would have been surprised. Of the ten drawn by our company, not one
was fit for the service; one would not eat, another could scarcely walk, and the remainder
would be in the bone-yard before the month is out. If the government will furnish us with
such horses as Morgan steals, we will ride as fast and as far as his band.;
Of the policy pursued in Tennessee he writes:-
"Two thousand good men from the plains and the rocky
mountains, led by the right sort of man, such as can easily be found in Kansas are the
territories, with some flying artillery, with no wagons, but living on the county, would
soon clear the State from guerrillas. They would do more then twenty thousand of the
troops who are now trying to catch the miscreants."
Of the sanitary provision for the army he writes"-
"There is more truth than poetry in an article in the
Atlantic Monthly on the sanitary condition of the army. Our company entered Benton
Barracks with one hundred and one men. One man has been lost in action, three have died
from disease, and one has been drowned. There are fifty-two left. Where are the rest?
Discharged from the service for disability. If a soldier has a severe fit of sickness. His
chance for recovery is rather small. The hospital under present management contributes
little to his recovery. If would be far better policy for the government to cure and keep
the enlisted men than to offer large bounties for recruits to fill there places."
He describes the Southern feeling in the following extract from a
letter dated March 14, 1863:-
(One decisive victory here at present would be the signal for the
people to join our rank; for if they see clearly that we shall win, they are so poor that
they would enlist for the sake of the pay. The people are praying for peace and something
to eat.)
The utterly lawless conduction of affairs in Tennessee, the want
of discipline pervading both armies, the prevalence of intemperance, the growth of vicious
habits of every decryption, at times produced in him a feeling of description, at times
produced in him a feeling of despondency. All most of discouragement; and he wrote,
December 12, 1863;-
"I never had any taste for army life, and what I have seen
since I enlisted has increased my dislike. I am not sorry that I enlisted when I did; but
when my tern of enlistment expires, I think I will leave the army."
But on reflection, the great object of the war, the down fall of
oppression, and the vindication of the right off man, furnished him a reply to the
questions which weighed upon his mind. Though he was partially discouraged, the great work
to be accomplished rose up before his mind in all its grandeur, and banished the feeling
of despondency. At Donelson and Murfreesboro he had aided in the grand reserves. Through
extreme toil and dangers innumerable, he had past many months in the field for the
suppression of guerrillas. He had witnessed the triumph of our great commander at
Vicksburg, a result he had constantly predicted, and had seen him invested with the
supreme command. He had read the proclamation of the president, given liberty to the
slaves. Accordingly, at the close of his term of service, he re-enlisted in the ranks,
with his brother and the majority of his company, for the great, and as he believed, the
final campaign of the war.
After his re-enlistment, at his last visit to his home on
furlough, when a friend earnestly remonstrated with him on his indifference to promotion,
representing that the country needed the exercise of his higher, rarer talents, which
qualified him for any position in the corps of engineers, his reply was "The country
needs men, not officers" and though as an officer I should associate with men of a
higher rank, they would not be men of higher integrity and virtue," He obeyed his
convictions, and gave to his country a man. He again shared in the danger, toil, and
privation of his old company, of whom one who knew them well writes, "There was not
an evil man among them."
For a few weeks after his enlistment his regiment remained in
camp at Davenport, Iowa. But his gave him no assurance of inactivity in the approaching
campaign. He had studied well the situation and the men who were to make the great move in
the eventful game.
"General Grant," He writes, "Will keep us all
doing some thing this season. If the general in the Army of the Potomac do not play upon
him, he will clear Virginia of the Rebels. But Grant him self will be there, and he will
watch so closely all whom he suspects, that they will be obliged to do their duty. I
expect that Sherman will keep the cavalry busy this season. He believes in hurting the
Rebels, and will go in for grand raids"
In the expedition from Atlanta, under General Stoneman and
McCook, the Fifth Iowa Cavalry was attached to the command of the Latter. The two columns
marched southeasterly in divergent lines, having arranged a junction after two days. While
McCook's column were engaged in tearing up the rails of the Macon Road at Lovejoy's
Station, they were assailed by a superior force, and retreated towards Newnan on the West
Point Railroad, where they met
And were hemmed in by another body of Rebels, through whom the
main body of the Union Forces cut their way, and reached Atlanta with the loss of five
hundred men.
Tebbets was captured at a point remote from the main body,
whither he had ridden in haste to warn a friend on picket, who with out his knowledge, had
but a few minutes previously been captured. This was on the 30th. Of July,
1864. The following is an extract from a letter written by Mr. B. H. White, the friends
above mentioned, dated Nashville, Oct. 30th, 1864, after his escape from the
enemy..-
"Our captors took from us whatsoever they wanted. Afterwards
we were searched three times, the last time at Andersonville. There we were compelled to
remove our clothing, which they examined piece by piece, and everything they found they
kept, even photographs and letters. Those who were lucky enough to keep thus far extra
clothing are a blanket where here relived of it, and we were turned loose into the
stockade with what were happened to have on our backs. But for some reason they left me a
blanket and Martin a piece of canvas. Of the 6 hundred that were put into the stockade
that day, at least half were with out boots or shoes, and many with out hat our
coat…..
"There were confined in this stockade about thirty two
hundred men. Their conduction I will not attempt to describe. If I should attempt it, you
would scarcely credit me….. We were fed upon about half a pound of corn bread, made
of very coarse unfitted meal, or, instead, one pint of corn meal of the same quality, two
our three ounces of beef or bacon, a pint of cooked beans or rice; if the beans or rice
were issued raw, we would get about half a pint.
"When our rations were issued raw, each man would get twice
a week a pine stick of about one inch in thickness and two feet long. With this he was
expected to cook a weeks rations, while all around us were huge pine trees,- two be seen,
but not reached."
A brief journal was kept by Tebbets during his imprisonment at
Andersonville, which will aid our conception of the scenes that were there witnessed.
"July 30th, 1864.- captured by
the rebels near the town of Newnan, Coweta Coounty, Georgia. They took my hat, money, and
marched me, with fifty others, to town, and confined us in a warehouse.
"July 31st. Received a small
quantity of bread and meat.
"Aug. 1st. Searched today, but nothing was taken from me.
At ten o'clock received a piece of bread as large as my two fingers. Took the cars and
traveled twenty three miles to Eastport, where we stopped all night till 5 o'clock, a. m.
Searched again.
August 2. - Took the cars for Andersonville, sixty men in a tight
box-car, only one door open, with no water and with nothing to eat.
August 3. - Reached Andersonville at noon; stripped and searched again,
then marched inside the "Bull Pen", a nasty, filthy place of thirty acres,
containing thirty thousand men; no filth removed; dead men carried out at all hours. After
marching over the place, White and myself, with two others, found a place to pitch a tent;
most of the boys have no shelter at all; drew some cornbread and rotten bacon.
August 4. - Not very well today; the trip on the cars disagreed with me.
Weather hot and dry. The guard shot a man today for the crossing the deadline.
August 5. - A shower, and very hot.
August 6. - Not well today; took a good bath in the creek; got some
coarse bread and a little meat; no appetite; very warm night.
August 7. - Had a good night's sleep, notwithstanding the weather; took a
bath and washed my shirt and drawers, the only ones I have. Pants well worn. Sent a letter
home. Another man shot near the deadline.
August 9. - About noon rained very hard, washed down part of the
stockade, an wet us all. No rations.
August 10. - Drew half rations, bread and boiled beans. Could not eat the
beans. Rained hard; in the afternoon drew some boiled beef with no bread.
August 11. - Drew beans, bread, and beef.
August 13. - A very hot day. A great many have died within a few days.
Fresh beef, beans, and cornbread.
August 15. - The fever is abating which has for a few days prevailed in
the camp on the subject of exchange. I dread the idea of a winter campaign in this hole.
Not so many deaths for the last two or three days. One has no idea of the sights in this
place. Horrible! Men ought not to be kept in this state on any conditions.
August 16. - Fine morning; had a fair night's sleep, but sweat in my
sleep.
August 17. - Bad night's sleep; washed my shirt and drawers before
daylight.
August 18. - Think of selling my pen and pencil for a pail to cook in; it
is hard to part with it, but then I must look to my health.
August 19. - Very hot day. Stayed in my tent most of the day; very weak
like the rest of the boys, can hardly carry a bucket of water.
August 20. - For breakfast, beans, crust-coffee, cornbread, fresh beef,
and bacon.
August 22. - Played chess. Some prisoners brought in, but not enough to
equal the number of those that die.
August 23. - Very hot. Some prisoners escaped last night. Drew some
molasses yesterday.
August 24. - Had a long talk on the chance for exchange; still hope for
one this fall.
August 25. - Hot day. Feel a little down-hearted once in a while.
August 26. - Draw raw rations now; do not like it; have not wood enough,
and nothing to cook the rations in.
August 27. - Great excitement about exchange. All to be exchanged in two
or three weeks. Wish it were true.
August 28. - Draw beef in the morning, the rest of the rations in the
afternoon.
August 29. - A little down-hearted. The sights seen in this place are
enough to sicken any one.
August 30. - Reports in regard to exchange contradictory. Rations good,
but rather slim. Require some figuring to make three meals a day.
August 31. - Yesterday, one month a prisoner. Hope I will not have to
stay more than another month. Wish I could eat some home-made bread and butter. have
bought a small kettle of three pints, in which we make soup.
September 2. - Sherman reported flanking Hood. In hopes we may be
recaptured some time this month.
September 6. - Hot days, cold nights. Pity the men without any shelter,
and there are thousands.
September 7. - Begin to move the men out, some say for exchange, and
some, to enter another "Bull Pen".
September 9. - Still moving out the men.
September 11. - The good work still going on.
September 12. At this date, the journal is discontinued, although its
writer did not leave Andersonville till the 19th of September. From this time till the 3rd
of October, the day of his arrival at Savannah, he was on his passage to and from Lovejoy,
and wandering in the swamps, having escaped from his captors, though only to fall into the
enemy's hands again in a few days. From Savannah he was transferred to Millen, where on
the 30th of October, just three months after his first capture, he was released by God
from the cruelties inflicted by man. The best account of the intervening epoch is to be
found in the narratives of his fellow soldiers. Mr. White's account, quoted above,
continues as follows:
On the 19th of September, eleven hundred were taken from
the stockade to be exchanged for Rebel prisoners in the hands of General Sherman. Martin
and I were among them; but when we arrived at the point of exchange, a place about twenty
miles south of Atlanta, on account of some disagreement between the commissioners, only
five hundred were exchanged; we were not of this number. I never saw such a disheartened
body of men as the seven [six] hundred who were turned back. Many burst into tears. We had
travelled that day fifteen miles, all weak from insufficient food, besides many barefooted
and sick. While going towards freedom we cared little, so that we could walk, but now we
had a night's march before us without hope to buoy us up.
Luckily, about dark it began to rain; in the darkness, Martin and
I had got separated. I had watched two guards who were marching farther apart than five
paces, as required by their orders. I saw there was a chance for escape. We were in a
thick wood, but would in a few moments come into a clear country. I called for Martin, but
got no reply. I gave my blanket to a member of Company E beside me, requesting him to give
it to Martin; told him of my intention, and walked be tween the two separate guards and
was free." The subsequent events of his unhappy experience are related in the
following extract from a letter written by Mr. Lot H. Carley after his exchange, dated
Annapolis, December 5, 1864:
"Martin, being lame, fell back to the rear. White made his
escape. The next morning the sick, Martin among them, were detached and put into the cars,
reached Macon, where they remained two days, then started for Savannah. When about
twenty-five miles from Macon he jumped from the car. The guard supposed he was falling,
and attempted to catch him; he did get hold of him, which eased his fall very much; but as
it was, he injured one leg badly by spraining his knee-joint. The guard on the top of the
cars fired at him, but without effect. He started off into the woods and swamps, sometimes
in water up to his knees, subsisting wholly upon green corn and such egetables as he could
find, for five days, when he found his strength was failing, and concluded he could never
get into our lines; he therefore went to a house, and gave himself up as a prisoner. He
was taken back to Camp Sumter, where he remained about twenty-four hours, when he was
again started for Savannah on the 1st of October, arriving on the 3rd. One of the boys,
having room, took Martin into his shanty. There was soon an opportunity offered him of
going into the hospital; but he concluded that the stockade was as good, if not better,
than the hospital, and he preferred staying with those he knew. He seemed to hold his own
very well, and perhaps improved a little while we remained at Savannah. I left Savannah on
the 11th of October, and arrived at Camp Lawton, near Millen, Georgia, the same day.
Tebbets came a day or two afterwards. After a few days I succeeded in obtaining an axe and
some logs, and, with a man from the Twentieth Ohio Volunteers, built a shanty sufficiently
large to accommodate six men. I was the only one belonging to my company fit for duty,
being four in all.
We all did everything in our power for Martin, but he seemed to
fail very fast, for no medicine of any kind could be obtained. He continued to fail until
the 30th of October, when he died in the morning about sunrise. He was lying between me
and Brainard when he died. About two o'clock on the morning of his death I was up with
him, but lay down again and went to sleep; about four, I was awakened by his groaning, and
got up to see what was the matter. He was lying on his face and never spoke after. He
apparently did not imagine he was so near his end, although he seemed to make every effort
to procure something that would help him, knowing he was failing.
His body was taken from the stockade the same morning he died,
which was the last I ever saw of his remains. I did not know where he was buried, but
think it was near the depot.
"The day before his death we had a long conversation; he
appeared confident of getting home by Thanksgiving. I was to go round to his home with
him, and we imagined what a feast we would have.
Thus, he died, of privation and exhaustion,--almost of
starvation, --after twice enlisting as a private in the ranks because "the country
needed men, not officers." His letter of appointment as First Lieutenant and
Assistant Inspector-General of Volunteers in the Army of the Cumberland had reached
regimental head-quarters two weeks after his capture, and he never saw it. He was the last
of eight classmates who died in the service, and the only Harvard graduate who breathed
his last amid the horrors of a Rebel prison.
Mark w. Tebbets
14 Sunrise Ave.
Pawcatuck CT 06379
[email protected]
THES WERE SNT TO
FAIRBANK
WRITE IF THEY HAVE GOT THEM
HELENA ARK JUNE 28, 1864
DEAR SISTER
I RECEIVED YOUR AFFECTIONATE LETTER TODAY THE SECOND LETTER I
HAVE GOT SINCE I LEFT HOME. I BELIEVE I HAVE WRITTEN SEVEN HOME IN ALL SUCH AS THEY WERE.
YESTERDAY I WAS ON GAURD AND HAD THE BEST PLACE TO STAND THAT I KNOW OF IT WAS BY A WELL
IN AN ORCHARD OF PEECH, PLUM AND APPLE TREES. ALL I HAD TO DO IS KEEP THE BOYS FROM
GETTING WATER THE DOCTOR THINKS THE WATER HURTS THE SOLDIERS BUT THE FAMILY SEEM TO BE
WILLING TO HAVE THEM COME THERE. THERE SEEMED TO BE TWO FAMILIES LIVING THERE ONE WOMAN I
TALKED WITH CONSIDERABLE SHE SAID TO THE OFFICERS OUGHT TO LET THE BOYS GET WATER THERE,
SHE WAS FROM KENTUCKY AND SEEMED TO BE A NICE WOMAN, SHE SAID THE BALLS FELL THICK ON
THEIR HOUSE LAST FOURTH AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD STRIKE CLOSE TO HER I WAS THERE AT MEAL
TIME AND SHE INVITED ME INTO SUPPER I HUNG OFF AT FIRST BUT SHE KEPT URGIN SO I SET DOWN
AND WAS GLAD OF THE CHANCE, THEY HAD NEW POTATOES BREAD BACON AND TEA, THE POTATOES WERE
THE GREATEST RARITY, WE GET BREAD AND MEAT. AND ENOUGH COFFEE AND TEA BUT IT IS MADE IN
IRON KETTLES AND IS MITTY BLACK STUFF LEAST NIGHT THERE SEEMED TO BE SOMETHING IN THE WIND
THEY DOUBLED THE GAURD AND THE ADJUTANT CAME UPTO OUR CAMP AND ORDERD MORE AMMUNITION TO
BE DISTRIBUTED IT WAS ABOUT MID NIGHT BEFORE THEY GOT SETTLED DOWN BUT THE NIGHT PASSED OF
QUIET ORDERS HAVE COME TO MOVE DOWN ON THE RIVER BANK JUNE 29 AFTER ORDERS TO MOVE THEY
SENT TWO TEAMS OUT IN THE WOODS FOR BRUSH FOR SHADE LEWIS MANGES HAYDEN TWO OTHERS AND
MYSELF WENT AS GAURDS I GOT A FEW BLACKKBERRIES AND SEE ALOT OF BEECH, THEY GOT BEECH
BRANCHES FOR THE SHADE, WENT BY ONE LARGE PLANTATION WHERE THEY HAD A NICE HOUSE AND THEN
OFF A LITTLE WAYS WERE THE NEGRO SHANTYS GEN BUFARD IS IN COMMAND OF THIS PLACE I SUPPOSE
WE ARE LIABLE TO BE ATTACKED AT ANY TIME, THERE ARE TWO OR THREE GUN BOATS ABOUT HERE AND
IF THE REBS COME I EXPECT THEY WILL HELP WELL I DIDN'T FINISH ABOUT OUR MOVING AS SOON AS
WE GOT BACK WE PACKED UP AND WENT DOWN ON THE RIVER BANK, WE ARE CLOSE TO THE RIVER WE
HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE THE BOATS WHEN THEY PASS THERE AS A GUN BOAT JUST GONE UP THE RIVER,
THEY ARE A RATHER SLOW MOVING BOAT. OUR COL THEY FIND A GREAT DEAL FAULT WHITH THEY SAY HE
HAD HIS CHOISE TO GO TO MEMPHIS OR COME HERE BUT I HOPE IT WILL COME OUT ALRIGHT I HAVE
JUST GOT ANOTHER LETTER FROM YOU IN WHITH ONE FROM JESSIE THEY HAVE FURNISHED US WHITH 20
MORE ROUNDS OF CARTRIDGES I HAVE GOT 45 NOW SO I GUESS THEY CALCULATE ON A BATTLE I HEARD
FROM GOOD AUTHORITY THAT THE GENERAL SAID HE EXPECTED THEY WOULD ATTACK US LAST NIGHT,
BUT IF THEY ATTACK US WE WILL TRY AND DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN AND
LEAVE THE RESULT WITH GOD. ADDRESS THE SAME RESPECTFULLY YOURS
LYMAN WEEKS
June 3th/11 1864 Ala
Friend William
Your letter came to hand on the 2th/11 of this month and I was
glad toe hear from you and to hear that you was gon from this land too a nother wheare
there is happinis and comfort too the sole and I hope that it may be always the same as it
is now our rigiment is at decatour at this time wea was on the Nashvill and huntsville
R.R.R. graiding th road till the other day and there came an order for us too goe too
decatour that very same day and the 12th/11 and wea ar at the present time and how long
wea shall stay I cant tell but I hope it will be till fall for it is very warm at this
time doen hear I am at beaver dam at the present time and expet too stay there for 10th/11
day and no longer and then I shall goe to my rigiment and stay with the boys beaver dam is
on the RR a bout 15/11 miles from decatour and Liut.,C.W. Waggnar is with me and that is
all that is left at this depo and wea have a very fine time you better believe and that is
all of that this time.
Now William you say that you have not had any good______out of
yor head yet and I am very glad to hear that but I am so far from you that I will have too
take your word for it and I dunt now weather to believe you or not for you was a soldier
once your self and William you says that your better half says that she would like too git
hold of me and she would let me know who I was insulting but their is a mistry to me for I
dont now what she is a gitn at at the present time and you will have to explaine too me in
the next letter for I am in the dark at this time William wea expect to goe in the 5th
Iowa calvery what is left of us after the 12th day of July and I hope toe that will be as
wea_______it and it will suit all of us there is a bout 30 trains runs on this road every
day and it make very at the depo and there is troops a goin too the front every day every
train that pass too goe too chattanouga it is loadid with soldiers for the front for the
one hundred days men are reliveng the troops at Louisville and nashville and all of them
ar a goin to the front William CW Waggner sends his respects too you an lady all of the
boys sends theres the same and says that you must write too them all and they will answer
your letters wilth a chearful hart and all of them want to tor say bully for you and that
is all Give my love too your father & Mother bill and tell them that I am well at the
present time William you and your wife can keep a part for your self
Good by
This is from your freind
Peter Putman
to William Codling
Write soon and let me now how you git along
P.S. direct your letters as before too decatur write soon
[There is a graphic at the top of this page
showing an officer leading infantry and these words]:
We are coming Father Abraham]
Six hundred thousand more,
From Mississippi’s winding stream.
And from New England’s shore.
We leave our ploughs and workshops,
Our wives and children dear,
With hearts too full for utterance.
With but a silent tear.
We will not look behind us,
But steadfastly before.
We are coming, Father Abraham,
Six hundred thousand more!
Camp HendrsonNov 3rd /62
Dearest Sister
Not Having an opportunnity to write to you before this time you
must excuse me we are now in barracks at Davenport and we have to fill the function of a
soldier except fighting and I cant tell how soon we will have to do that our company is
all well with the exception of to I believe I have written to mother and expect an answer
tomorrow. We expect to winter at Davenport and if we do we will have a fine time of it
this winter because we cannot drill whan it is cold we have plenty to eat and to drink. We
are divided off in to messes, There is only seven in the mess I am in we have sined a man
to cook for us we have agreed to give him twenty five cents a month each. He is a first
rate cook we have plenty of beef and some port and plenty of good baker's bread plenty of
good __coffee and sugar some molasses and some rice and beans occassionally as soon as I
get my clothing and pay I will try to get a furlough and come to see you this time as I
did when at west-union, but you must excuse me for that, the reason that I did not come
was because we were disappointed in the time the circus was to show and there fore you
must excuse me I am well at present and hoping that this will reach and find you the same
I send my best wishes and good luck to you
I am yours
John Teague
write soon and send me all the newsJohn D. TeagueCamp Henderson in care of Capt
Ainsworth Davenport Iowa
Camp on the Field Fairfax Seminary
My Dear Sisters Celia Emma & Isabel
I suppose you think it is about time I answered your letters but
since I wrote last I have had about all I could do. I then wrote that we were under
marching orders. Well Wednesday morning at two oclock we struck our tents and at five we
left Tennally town for Washington, haulted once on the march to the capital. before I go
any further let me say I fell bad at leaving our en campment for on the whole it was a
very pleasent one and we did much of our drilling in the woods so we were protected from
the sun and it being only seven miles from the city of Washington we could go occasinally
to return to our march after leaving Washington. We started for Alexandria seven miles
from Washington and then we began to experience another kind of labor which soldiers are
called upon to perform. The day if you remember was very warm. The woods were awfull durty
and with musket canteen and haver sack on our shoulders it made rather a rough job of it.
We crossed long bridge the same that the Rhode Island first took when they went to Bull
Run. It is very well named I think it begin one and quarter miles long. On we marched with
no incidents of any importance until about noon when we haulted and then the post Master
came along with the letters and______and______I was over joyed to receive a letter from
father after waiting about one hour The order was passed down the line forward march and
we started passed through or rather by the city of Alexamdria and from what I saw it would
be about the same as the upper part of Canal St. I did not see a single American there
with the exception of a few soldiers over Col_C….’s way and we were obliged
march two and a half mile further to reach our present destination which is three miles
beyon Alexandria. We arrived here about three in the afternoon having marched from sixteen
to eighteen miles and it was surprising to me how well the boys stud it not one of them
gave out. Sgt. Eddy being rather___was___ ___or rather compelled to___by the Capt. part of
the way. I think though five or six miles more would have___some of them as soon as we
haulted and stacked arms. Most of the boys through themselves down in the dirt and went to
sleep. I went over to one of the forts near our present encampment and bought some cake
and cheese and then your uncle went in for some of the___after resting two hours we
pitched our tents and turned in for the night and the next morning they wanted me to turn
our at four o clock. I would not make my men. For I thought it was too bad and it is nicer
done in our Regiment after a march but Liut. Belcher who is by far the strictest officer
we have said Mr. orderly call the role and check all that are not up I noticed I called
the role but not a single man did I check and not more then half of the men were present
at role call. Belcher only got laughed at for his strictness. The officers Tabers (?)
Bemuch (?) & Belcher all treat me first rate and I have no cause to complain of any of
them. I know my duties and I do them and they can ask nothing but to return from march and
our present encampment the next day all day our men were detailed to put up tents dig
trenches and all kins of work for the col and the other field officiers. It made me rather
mad to see men all tired out doing such work for these lazy lubbers who had made all the
day before. Excuse me not very respectful language to use aginst my superior officers but
then I guess they will stnd it. That very same afternoon they Col made all the companies
drill that Abe Bliss is a tough one I tell you he is very unpopular with the___our
encampment it is a perfect wilderness not a single tree in our encampment and that awfull
sand or clay which we have is awfull and no protection from the sun at all. I suppose we
shall get use to it in a short time so that we shunt mind it much. If we stay here any
time and can get back to Providence make up your mind you will see some of the
blackest_white men you ever seen I will write more about our encampment next time lots of
love to all
I am your loving Brother Fat (?) Wm
Lawson Hospital March 21 /64 St Louis
Mooh friend Willy
I received your welcome letter of the 4th instent with the photograph and I am happy
to hear that you are in good health as this leaves me at present thank the Lord you say
that you miss my company but son what must you think of my situation little Billy gone all
gone an as my old woman said aint a Bird of the Breed near me oh man I got out on
Patricksday and I got gloriously drunk but they said nothing to me I was in before night
some seven or eight soldiers came to the door with me I was all nite abel to get up stares
and go to Bed went to sleep and was all nite in the morning I am expecting a letter from
the lad Hawkins Every day now he said that he would write you as soon as he got home oh
man he is a great Coon I wanted him to have some money going off but he would not have any
he counted what he had it amounted to 75 cents he said that would take him home and said
he believe that he never would get the chance to return the complement to me or William
Codling so now what do you think of this old man surrounded by alot of Heathens and Turks
oh they are a quair set they are dieing like so many sheep and rotton at that.
Billy I have had two letters from the regiment dated on the 13th
they are still at huntsville and no sign of them to leave there they say that do not want
to go home get as they are think Iowa is cold get the that the weather where they are is
buetiful not here son in St. Louis it would blow the horns offa goat and a hard black
frost every night and the dust has the city enveloped in one Emence cloud it is well for
you that you got out of the place and home amoung the chickens good thing you are able to
go around and feed them this cold weather good for the chickens I mean you musent kill
that one that lays the big egg
I am happy to hear that you can ride a horse I believe its the
best way for your leg it will bring the muscle into action and anyway it is better than
siting still in a wagon or coach Miss McNare says that you are a better looking man than
the photograph I do not not like her anyway but I know you are better than her or the
photograph I am very thankfull to you son for sending it to me Every one that seen it knew
it the moment they seen it any person that ever seen you would know it but they thinks
that she is some acount but know better well son I glad that first letter reached home
safe as I think it was better than the school marms you will have to write unto Dora next
give her my best respects take my advice and write no more to Fanny Ferren lest she may
clame you or be off to Iowa have a good stick and a bed in the room with you they seem to
be shy of a bed nevermind lad if the spoil the bed the can make again keep away from them
I will not stop long hear the major asked me if I would take my Dishcarge twice since you
left says he will give it to me any time. I want it not such a good sign for me he knows
my leg will never be any good and I am of the same oppinion son but that do not scare this
old man I will live as long as I can William I have no new worth the sending all my folks
in Washington are well you know son that I am not much acount to make a letter but I shall
do the best I can and will write to Fair Bank when you will least expect it god Bless you
boy is the most sincere wish of your old companion and fellow soldier
Robert Lynch
Billy I am fiftynine some time time in last February but I
do not know the day indeed I do not son and they have asked me last week about my age all
the same answer they get son.
West Columbia March 25th l864
Mr. W. CodlingMy Dear Sir
have taken this oppertunity to
rit those fewe lines un to you hopping to find you in good hilth, and i hope by this time
you will have got your leg better sir we recived your letter that you rot to Bragan and me
about them read nice you to a sittison again and that you was goin to start for home well
i was very glad to hear tell of it and i hop that you got saff home and i think that you
well soon get your leg better at home sir; would rot to your before this time but i put of
to see if they did make aney Examination and i am very happey to inform you that we had a
board of examation come down on the 7 th of this mounth and i was one that was teken befor
them and they marked me for discharge and i am happey to inform you that i got my papers
on the 15th and i started for home that day and i had to stop all night at S. Louis and i
got of the next day at 3 oclok in the afternoon and i got to Cincinati the next morning at
6 oclok and i left that night at 1 o'clok and i got home on the 19th and meet my family
all in pritty good hilth and i have been verey poorley since i got home but i think that i
had got could on the railroad and the dyrre(?)brock out on me before i got home. and i was
verey poorley all the way up on the boat but i had a good lead to go when ever i felt like
goin but i thank god that i am fealing myself sum better since i got hom and i think that
if i cnnot get better at home i would not get better at the hospital as i was sick of the
hospital life i left Andrew Bragar there when i left and he was goin to writ to you affter
i felt his leg was mending verey fast and i think that it would be good for him to get his
discharge and he might get i better at home Dear Friand i must inform you that Mr.
Robbinson was befor the bord of examination the same day as me and thay marked him for the
Inverlade car and they left the next day and you had better beleave that he did cut up
about the Coverteley (?)Inverlade car he said it was got up for a good thing but they had
run it into the ground with sending so maney abel boded men to it you can judge for
yourself the storey he would have to tell about it and they sent that young boy that slept
next to Robison with the hand wounded and John the nurce that could not talk very good so
i think that i can say verey littel now at present but i hop that you well give my kind
love to yur father and mother and to all your sisters that at home with you So i will
close these few lines with saing my wife Joins in with me in sending our Kind love to you
so no news at present from your well wisher
Thos Gillis so good boy at this present time an i hop you
well excuse all my mistakes and i hop yu will let me hear from you when convineant so good
boy. Sir i forgot to let you know that the littel boy that i had went into the armey thay
send him home about 3 weeks before me so that gave me a content mind.
Thos Gillis West Columbia Mason Co. W. VA
Philadelphia March 26th l864
My Dear Friend Bill
I Write theas few lines to let you know that I got home all safe
I startid home on the 15th and I got there on the 18th Bill you must excuse me for knot
Writing Sooner to you for I was knot Very Well for Some time after I got there and knot
only that I have been Very buissey trying to get my buisness Straitend up for the
Discharge that I toulk i know Write and I am afrade that I Will have Some trubbel With it
I have been Down to the Navy Gard Four or Five times this week and haven't recieved much
Sadisfation neather the Commodore told me that I never have been reportid Since I have
been in our lines So I have been and Seen n agent and got him to Fix everything Write he
told me that I woudend have much trubel the mager When he gave me my discharge he marked
me 3/4 Disability So the agent that I have got asked me Wat he called Disability and I
would find out he said that I am intitel to ful Pention and that he will get it for me and
have all that is comming to me to the Old Commodore is a very nice Old man to talk to he
sase that he Will do all that he can for me Our Gunner(?) is in the city some place and I
have been trying to find him but it seams that I cant get up with him jus as soon as I git
things straitend up I will let you know Bill I am in hopes that your leg is getting better
then it was when you startid home. Bill things i altered very much since I Was home be
fore you ought to be hear and just see what a________the Niggers but at present the City
is full of them and full of Sotherness to a wite solger has know chance atal and the
officers Oh God go Way hunney!
Bill you must excuse this letter for I am in a grate
hurrey at present and I havent got much to say at presnt. Bill the Wimmen hardly knows
What to do With there Selves and espechley When they get in Compiney Wilth an officer it
almost sets them Crasey It is know truble atal to get a Gal Know I was Standing on the
pavement(?)last evning and there was a very good looking Gal came up to me and bid me good
evning and comensed to talk so at last She wanted me to go Some place and stay all night
with her She was a stranger in the city I beleave from wat she Said. I just be gun to
think it Was all day with me I thought that the Gals Woudent Want any thing to do with
crippels but I find it ant so I am almost afraid to go in the Street With out Somebody
With me that ant the first one that has tackeled me since I have been home I was out on
Monday evning up in Chesnut Street and I got in with some friends So I got half Blue
before I knew it then I startid for home and there Was a Gal made love to me and the First
thing I know I was landid in the house I began to look a round and only be told the house
was kept By a Looueaseyana Nigger wench I soon kicked up hell in the peasable hous So they
War going to put me out but one was a fraid and the other darrent (?) and I got leave to
Stay just as long as I Wantid to but that Wasent very long I can tel you Bill I wount bee
Sory When I git my let then I Will be able to go it and in a few days I Will be Setteled
down and then I Will be able to find out all the lnews and let you know how all things are
going on give my best respects to John Davis and to all the Girls that inquires after my
helth Bill you musent be surprised if you Should See me comming out there to love for I
dont think that Phiadelphia will hold me long after I git my buisness Setteld and a new
leg Bill dont for get What I told you Keep a good luck out for a nice Gal for me. I will
know Close hoping When I hear from I Will hear that your leg is Well Write Soon to me and
When you Write Direct your letter in Care of Mrs. Mary J McLaughlin 930 Pine Street
Philadelphia
From your Late Companion
Wm Hawkins
Frenches Mills Jackson Co. Ala
Jan. 4th l864
Mr. Wm Codling
Dear Friend
I recieved your favor of the 26th ultimo and was glad to hear
from your farm mill. In the battle of Chattenoaga we had one killed D. Lawger 6 taken
prisinors Corperals Morse. Whittman & Puckett and Privates Sayer Stewart &
Richared Whaite. The officers that was taken prisonoir are Major Marshall. Srgt. Byers.
Captin Pickeral Page & Bascam. Lients. John Huffman of Co. H and Michal Hoffman of Co.
D & Captain of Co.H. making 8 officers and 76 enlisted men. We had 22 wounded Luint.
Miller of Co F since dead. I had my usual luck not a scrach but I done some of the
prettiest running you ever saw. A foot 14 inches long at that time was an advantage for
every time that I took up my foot it left the Rebs so much further behind. Sergt. Shults
we left sick in the Hospital at Bridgeport Ala., Since then hea has been sent to Nashville
Tenn. We have 30 men present with the Co. including the Capt. and myself. Our first Sergt.
is M. J. Bryan you would have had that position if you had been with us. Bunce(?) 2nd
Sergt,Recu(?) 3rd, Shultz 4th, Oliver 5th he is sick at Memphis
Tenn. had the small pox. Let. Col. Sampson Commands the Reg. Cal, Banberry Commands the
Brigade since Gen. Mathias was wounded.
Now Friend William do not get in a fit about being in the
Hospital We know that you was wounded doing your duty and it is not your fault that your
are not with us and I know that as soon as you are able to come you will do it In fact I
am afraid you will come before you are able you look at it in a differant light from what
I do for I have wished sometimes that I was wounded then I could have the satisfaction of
showing that I had suffered blead & died for my county. It is time that I have been in
every battle that the fifth has been in but I have not received a Scratch or lost a drop
of blood.
Our Brigade is at Larkensville 5 miles from here on the Memphis
and Charleston Rail Road. Our Reg. Except Co. H is at this Mill to gaurd it and grind for
the Division Co. H gaurds and runs the Mill at Larkinsville.
This morning I went into & explored a Salt Peter Cave that is
1/2 mile from here. I went in 1 1/2 miles. I was in for four hours and did not see over
half of it but our torches was about burnt out and we thought it was time to find daylight
if we stay hre for some time. I shall go again and stay all day. "The red Cab.is
reading your letter at the present time.
I think I have written a plenty for I do not ecpect you can read
what I have written. If you can and you wish to hear from me again, write and I will try
and answer it in my poor way
yours truly
Wm S. Peck
Aug 6th l865Camp of the 5 Iowa Cav
Friend William
I thought I would write you a few
lines and let you now that I am well at the present time and our papers is all made out to
muster out but the rigiment has not got there papers maid out and it will tak all this
week and by next morning wea will be mustered out and then I will be home as soon as I can
this is all and you must take care of your self till I com home give my regards to all my
friends and keep a shear (?) for your
this is from your friend
Peter Putnam(?) to William Codling
Pottsville May 17 /64
Dear Friend William
i received your kind and wellcome
letter with your portrait in it whe all think you look first rate Consedering your just
leaving the Hospital William i am very glad you have got home once more safe and alive i
think you now had a nough now to stay at home i think you just got out in time for there
is some hard fighting going on now i think the Rebs never got such a Putting up as they
are getting now some of them will get hurt this time Old Grant is keeping them moving
there is some letters from our Boys they say they never saw such fighting the 48th lost
one hunered and thirty and the 96th lost one hunered and fifteen the first ingagement.
Billey he is taking prisoner at Memphis him and Thomas Wrens Boy i wonder how he will like
that i think he wishes the devil had all the Rebs and was at home again it appers that a
Party of wfourteen was sent out about ten miles and they came a Cross about sixty Rebs and
they fired to sounds and William and young Wren and two more was taking Prisoners his
mother is in a great way about it well William i let the girls see your likness they say
you look first rate they send there kind love to you i should have rote sooner but i had
to go to Duncanon Furnace to fix up a little and when i came back brother John and is wife
had come on from New York to see Us he as home back but is wife will stay two or three
weeks with us William i sent you a letter and a newspaper but you had left before it
reched there and i suppose they would not send them on to you times is very good hear
Laverons are getting 175 cents and two Dollers per day and men is very hard to get old
Mrs. Pyle and family send there kind love to you Mother wife and sester Jan Ann and Marcy
and little Ralph sends there best respects Ralph wats to now when you ar coming on to
Pottsville Atkins as Bought the Pottsville Rolling Mill the fly Whell Brock about two
weeks ago and done a great Deal of Damage it sent the Top of the Building down and did not
hurt a man Fred Lauer as not seen you likeness yet i went up to day to let him see it but
i can not catch him at home i let the old man see it he said that was you Mr.Lauer says he
thinks you will get married out there to Mr. Tiggs Daughter i told him i hop you will get
a good wife for I thought you would make a good Husband he said you are a first rate
fellow now i dont want you to get to Proud with your self Because i tole you what your old
Boss says and thinks about you he told me he would like to have you hear to look after is
Place but he says he dont like to Bring you away from there he says he can depend on you
William you must excuse my few lines and my not writing sooner so no mor at Present from
you Frend
William Robson
(Tassi(?)will send you a paper with this)
Huntsville Ala. January 31, 1864
Mr. William Codling
Friend I receivd. Yours of the 19 inst. On the 29th
and was truly glad to here from you. But sorry to hear your wound had broken out again I
am well. As I expect to corespond regular with you, I will try in my poor way to give you
a record of the Reg but more especially of Co. E.
As I wrote you on the fourth of Jan, I shall commence from
that date. On the 5th of Jan/64 we Struck tents and marched to Larkinsville,
Ala. When we arrived at 7 o’clock P.M. shortly after getting into camp there was a
little acitement got up about the Veteran Service and all of Company E that was present reinlisted except
Clarles F. Putney & A. Mervin(sp) Conklin (that is I am speaking of the enlisted men.)
Henry W. Snyder & George Siller (sp) was rejected. Perhaps I had better give you their
names as it is not likely that you will know who are present . Well here they are
| Sergt. M.J. Bran
|
Pvt. Joseph
Ansan (s) |
Pvt.
J.F Phelps |
| "
Wm. Bunce (sp) |
"
C.Brackway |
"
Pete Putman |
| "
Jerry (sp) |
"
Crooks |
"
John Richards |
| Capt.
H. McQueen |
"
E. Chitist (sp) |
"
(?) Ribinson |
| "
J.B.
Gaylord |
"
John Geyer |
"
R.E. Sanre |
| "
J.B. Wolf |
"
W.F.Johnson |
"
S.E. Rase |
| "
H.C. Sprague |
"
J.M.McKinzie |
"
K. Safford |
| "
H.J.Whit |
" F.
Payne |
"
Marain(?) Willims |
|
"
J.C. Perham (sp) |
"
S. Allison |
And Frank Noble but I understand that he enlistd
in another Company in the Reg. they had that privaledge of joining any Company in the Reg.
They have not been mustered yet but will be in a day or two as we have got all the papers
made out and the boys signed the pay role to day and then the Co. will start home for
their thirty days of furlough in the State.
There was � or more of 6 companys that reinlisted. They are A,
C, D, E, F, G. But Co. E was the banner Co. as there was no other Company enlisted s many
as came as was enlisted the Whole Company. Now for Myself, Capt Elise was recrutin
Officers and I went up to enlist and he would not except of me he told me to go in with
the rank that I had got and I promised the Boys that I would if they wanted me as Lieut.
Now I shall go back to where I left off. We left Larkinsville on the 7th for
this place and arrived here on the 10th. For the first week we Built chimblys
Bunks &c. poleesed(?) the camp. Since then it has been guard & Drill and the Drill
& Guard untill the last few days it has been Guard all the time and there was nobody
to Drill. We had two new recruits to join us on the 8th of jan. their names are
John Donaven of Independence & Denis(sp) Donaven of Dubuque, both mikeys(?) Huntsville
is one of the finest places that I have seen in the South. In town is one of the finest
Springs you or any other name every saw and Discharges as much water as Little Wapsy at
Fairbank at a common stage. Within 40 feet of the fountain head there is a dam 8 feet high
and there is a large Wheel that runs a force pump that forces the water through pipes all
over town. I have never seen anything to compare with it.
Now my excuse for not writng sooner. The day that I got your
letter I was Regimental Officer of the Day the 29th I went on Picket Guard to
accommodate a friend of mine Lieut. R. Barrett of Co J yesterday I was too sleepy and did
not feel like writing there it is will it do. The Boys are all well except Sergt. Rea
& J. C. Kerhan and they are able to be about.
Charles F Putney is Clerk for Let. Whaite in the Provost
Marshalls office. He failed to come to time(?) in last Battle and as I had command I had
him reduced as my motto is Honor to Whose Honor is due.
Capt. Lee is well and he says he does not know but what he may go
in as a veteran but he rather thinks not.
Berny Galord(sp) says he wrote you about the 5th or 6th
of Jan. As I expect to start for IOWA within ten days you may direct to Fairbank. I have
received letters late as Jan 17th from Fairbank they was not all froze up there
Thus with these few lines I shall close, and when you are tired with my Scribling let me
know and I will not trouble you again
Yours truly
Wm S. Peck
March 13, l865
Camp of Sect(?) of the
5 Iowa at the Chicksaw land Ala
Der friend William
I received your letter dat-13th and was glad to
hear that you was well and your better half alsow the same William I cant give you but a
short letter this time for las week I wrote you a long letter and give you al the
particulars that was goin on at the present time wea exp to go on a march in a few days
and when you hear from me again it may be a long time but I will write to you every time
that I can have a chance to write and Bill tell you all what is a goin on in dixxy the
regiment is at gravel Spring and we are a waiting [line missing]
I will write you a few lines and let you now that I have received
your letters and want to let you now that I am not lazy and always sit right down and
answer your letters I never wait till the next day but always answer right away for I am
glad to hear from you I want you the next time to write all a bout my place and heare it
is and heare it lays and all a bout it and don’t forget and give me a full
discsiption of the whole country around there this is all this time and I want you to
answer soon as you git this leter this is from your friend
P.S.
Give my love to all of my friends a long there and tell them that I am well at the present
time and keep the most for your wife and your self and write soon. . . .
Peter Putman
Chicksaw Landing, Ala
P.S.
I received them [hole in letter here] and was glad to git them for I did not have any at
the time
Address Co. D 47 Reg Iowa Vol
via Cairo Ill Camp near Helena Ark. June 25th/64
Dear Sister
When the mail came today I expected to
get a letter but got disappointed. I have not got but one since I left home but I thought
I would scratch off a few more lines although they may not be of much interst yesterday I
was on Picket for the first time, to go on picket we have to start at 8 oclock march to
town and then wait there untill the high band marches through various styles, then we
start and march to our post There are 3 privates and one corporal to a post one stand two
hours and then the others the same. We take our grub and stay untill the next morning
about 10 oclock. We are having some warm weather now and it makes the swet run to climb
the hills it is all hills as far at it is cleared west of us I had to go most to the woods
and up one hill and down another to get to where I stood picket, it was on top of a hill,
there are a plenty of springs down in the ravines one near where I was the water running
so nice from under the high hill it looked a though it must be good I thought it tasted
good but those who ought to know say the nasty river water is the best but it don’t
look so to me I see a piece of a sheel near where I was and a beech tree that its top shot
off We had lots of shooting to day discharging our guns it makes quite a time shooting
about fifty times and takes lots of lead to say noting about the powder.
Gen Hindmans house is close to here it is a large two sory house
and used as a hospital there is a rebel lieut that they brought there last night he had a
shot go in his eye and come out back of his ear. There have apart of our regiment gone to
white river only 3 gone from our co. B. F. Munger has gone there was an old gun boat came
up and went down with them to keep the rebs off I have seen ripe apples new potatoes
&c but for all the things are earlier here give me the north to live in for all any
place we seen yet down south but if I could set down to a table and have such living as I
used to it would seem more like living but I did not expect it when I enlisted Things are
awful high here boots from 12 to 14 dollars There is a great deal of profanity in the army
but I don’t think there is so much as when we were at Davenport but some cant say
scarce three words without an oath or at any rate they do but they could if they were a
mind to. There are several bibles and testaments in our Co. I bought me a testament at
Independence I have sent Grandmother (Weeks) my potograph & I send you one but it aint
very good but will do a little better than none perhaps.
Truly yours
L.G. Weeks
Property of Ron Harris
2802 50th St. S.
Wisconsin Rapids WI 54494
[email protected]
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