 Saturday 11, 1862. (This part was cut out) Dear Father I take pen in hand to let you know I am in good health. There is 86 in the company and 8 hundred and 37 in the regiment. Our company is organised. William Wagstaff first Lieutenant Anderson. Captain Charles Espy secound Lieutenant Alm. I must tell you about old Meses Coveley. She came up here last night about dark after John. She has been crying ever since till fivern minutes ago. She started home. She said John would never Till she would (all of this was cut out of the letter) We have John of our squad We did not day for it is froze up this morning and we was glad of it. We messed off and have some very good men in our mess. We have a man to cook for us. We pay him five cents a week each of us. Dinner is about ready and I must bring my letter to a close. Nothing more at present. Write soon.  Camp near Richmond Louisiana April the 24th of 63 Dear Father I once more seat my self to enform you that I'm well and hope when these few lines come to hand they may find you all enjoying the same blesing of health. Well Father, I am glad to enform you that we was pade off day before yesterday and today I expres $50 Dol. you will get it by calling at Samuel's*. You get it and put it to what ever you see fit and that will soot me. The weather is hot here it is that hot I can hardley write. I was on picket list last night we had a battle with musketers, but they out general us that they are so large it takes three or fore to way a fawn. The boats run the blockade, ade night before last we hurd canonadering. Here it was the hardest I ever hurd. They say that burst there 4:00. Then three rown they fired. Well I believe I have nothing more to write this time but more the next time. Direct as usual, Ephraim Sears. *Samuel Colvin. Fort Pickern, Memphis Tennesee to Enoch Sears Sr., North Salem, Ohio. December 11th of 63 Dear Father. I once more take present opportunity of writing you a few lines to enform you that I am still on the land of the living. It is raining here today and has bin for a week. It is now quite disagreeable giting about. But there is one thing in our favor that is we haven't much runing to do. We are now garding for go. Was ter write we stand 2 hours every day. I don't know how long I will stay here yet, but one thing is for shure I will stay until the last of the month on the first of next week. We will be pade off then, then we will bee at home if nothing happens. More then that I know of now they are giving furlows here all the time so nothing more at present. But write soon. Ephraim Sears You must not git skerd when you open this big letter I will do better next time. Glossary of Slang: Raising the devil- Got drunk and unruly. To have a devil of a time- Some difficulty. Pretty tight- Pretty drunk. Emerson Etheridge- A congressman from the state of Tennesee who sided with the Union. See bio guide reference http://bioguide.congress.gov for more information concerning his political career. To have a fuss:-An argument. Out on the road until the engine bursted- Walked and jogged until he could no further physically. Breastworks- Barricades. Drawn in the line of battle- Fired upon by the enemy. Raised thunder- Got rip roaring drunk, as well as danced around in a wild fashion. Playing hell- Played poker. In spite of the devil- Regardless of the consequences. Lung fever- Pneumonia. Sun struck- Suffered from sun stroke and became dehydrated.. Tie him guide- To follow him around. Not give him any privacy. Rosten ears- Corn to eat. Popcorn. Sent them down the river- Killed by firing squad for desertion. Beeves- Rebels. Can also indicate the cattle the company guarded. Devil of a pull- In a battle against the enemy John J Roe- A very slow stern- wheeler that served Gen. Ulyssess Grant during the war. Famous author Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) trained to become a cub-pilot on this boat. It sank in Madrid Bend. co.- company. regt.-regiment Counterbands- The people who carried the medical stretchers for the wounded. Deluded as pioneers- Fighting crazed. Skirmishing- A small exchanges of gun fire against the enemy. Rained like thunder- Heavy down pour of rain. Sparking- Kissing, making out with a girl. Seining- To go fishing with a pole and line.  Letters written Home & Glossary of Slang 1864 Diary 1863 Diary 1862 Diary Back To 80th OVI Homepage |
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80th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Copy Right 2002 Created December 09, 2002 Web page by Charles Paul Keller [email protected] http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~keller/ovi80/work/letter.html Please visit my other web sites: LINKS
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