KIA: 1863 Letter from Alvin Brown of Ohio Infantry

Removing wounded across Rappahannock River
after battle of Chancellorsville
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.32812

Camp Brooks Station March the 15th, 1863

Dear Father--

I am well at present. I hope when these few lines reach you, they will find you the same.

I did not receive a letter from you for about three weeks. I wrote you a letter to you a good while ago. I was waiting for an answer from you, but I did not receive an answer yet today. So I thought I would write another letter to you. I hope there is nothing wrong that you don’t.

I had wrote in my other letter for a fine comb and some black thread. If you get this letter, send me them things, if you can. I have not much to write this time. I must tell you one thing yet and that is, we expect to have a hard battle at Fredericksburg before long. I received a letter from George about three weeks ago. I could [not] answer his because I could not get any postage stamps. Nothing more at present.

Answer soon. Alvin Brown 

Alvin M. Brown of the 107th Ohio Infantry. The letter is undated and is not addressed. Alvin M. Brown was killed in action at Chancellorsville in May, 1863.

Read the Brown brothers letters:
Alvin 1862 | Alvin 15 March 1863 | George 29 March 1863 | George Oct 16 1863 | George 28 Jan. 1864

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1829 St Clairsville Ohio to Staunton Virginia

Letter from St Clairsville, Ohio to Staunton, Virginia. It was written from John Hinton who had recently made his way to Ohio to start a new life. He writes to his sister Elizabeth in Staunton in Mach 1829. He talks about traveling to Ohio about the business there, and tells her to tell their brother that he couldn’t make a good business out of blacksmith but could as a tanner. He talks about possibly traveling to Cincinatti and much more.

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Johnston Colony 1854

Letter dated Johnston Colony, Jan 9 1854, from John R. Johnston to his daughter Mary, husband Stephen and sons John R. and Harry at Livingston, Crawford County, Ohio, with black Auburn CA, Apr 10 (1854) postmark, 10c stamped postal rate on address leaf. The content reads, in part, as follows, I wrote you the last mail, but I am not certain they were put in the office in time, we have to send our letters to Auburn by stage &c. to be mailed. We are all in usual health and living in a healthier part of the country and have a fair prospect of making money before another year goes 'round. We have 40 acres of barley sowed, which on the lowest calculation will yield fifty or sixty bushel to the acre. I will write you next mail. Your mother and all the family are in good health. Sam is yet in San Francisco, John is on the farm in Sacramento. He was up to see us and bought the boys each a new hat and fine blouse, and for myself he also sent us a fine lot of vegetables. David & his wife and the family are all living as one family and are prospering and fair ... [signed] Jno R. Johnston.

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Letter to Mrs. Eliza Thornton,Lauderdale County, Mississippi, from Elizabeth Baggott, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio 1847

Dayton P O Ohio montgomery Co. march the 14th 1847

My Dear and affectionate Aunt

Father is married again.. He married A lady by the name of Caylor., She was about twenty when he married. She has had five children. their Names are Martin V B is 9 [originally “8"] years old Virginia Helen was ten months when she died., she has been Dead six years., Oliver P he is five years old Josephine Boneparte She is three years old James K Polk is two years old this month Mother had 8 Children four dead and four a living William is the Eldest he is 27 years old George is 23 years old and I will be 21 the 21 [sic] the sixth of next month Martha Ann will be 17 the 28 of this month

... continue reading Letter to Mrs. Eliza Thornton, Alamucha P. O., Lauderdale County, Mississippi, from Elizabeth Baggott, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, March 14, 1847

Cincinnati, Ohio 1849

Letter from Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb 1 1849, from Archibald A. Irwin Jr. to "Mrs. Colonel Arian," at Madison.
Reading in part, as follows: "My nephew Wm. Henry Harrison will sojourn in your goodly town for a day or two. I promise he is a clever fellow. Be kind enough to introduce him to my good friend Miss Mary Esther and also tell the Col that he is going to California & wishes some of your citizens to join the expedition, to which he has attached himself. It is in command of Lieut Woodhull Schenck of the U.S. Navy, one of the very best officers our Navy can boast of ... [signed] Arch. A. Irwin Jr. ..."

This interesting letter is for sale on Ebay Item number:250520001619

London Ohio 1856

1856 letter from J W Low in London, Ohio, to his friend J M Post in E Lebanon, New Hampshire. The 1st page is devoted to friendly banter about his school, friends, and other matters. The remainder involves a detailed description of a runaway horse ride. " we stopped at a store to get something, and when we started away, the horse began to canter. I drawed in the reins to stop him and hauled him up so quick that the sleigh ran onto his heels and he started off as fast as he could gallop, in spite of all I could do to stop him. When I tried to stop him, the sleigh hit his heels worse. I kept him right in the road. I met 2 or 3 loads of hay- like to run into one of them. After he had ran about 2 miles Mother jumped out into t he snow. It never hurt her a mite. I hung to the sleigh. All I could do was to let her go after running between four or five miles I overtook a man with a load of cornstalks. I sung out to him to stopand ran right square into him. It never hurt the horse or myself any, and all that it hurt the sleigh was it broke one of the shafts. I got out and turned round the horse and sleigh and started back. After going a little ways I saw the man who owned the team coming after me on horseback on the gallop. We exchanged horses and started back-more content about Mother, and her fate.

Ebay Item number:280409481006

Athens, Ohio 1849

Athens, Ohio, Dec 1 1849, from E. Stewart, a livestock farmer, to F. E. Foster, Beardstown, Cass County, Illinois.

The content, which is very long, initially discusses the writer's extensive business dealings in the west, including a court trial re a dispute over hogs at Keokuk, Iowa, and additional business in Galena, Illinois. Is worried about his losses and financial shape, which he says could be 'mortifying.' Sorry that in the past that his credit was so good, and believes that easy loans led to his downfall. A lengthy postscript, which is excellent, touches on the California Gold Rush. It reads, in part, as follows, "I notice in your letter a strong inclination you have for Minnesota. Has that superceded the California fever? If so let me say ... that Doctor Dixon has just returned. He started from Cincinnati about 1 month in advance of our Athens Company [of Forty Niners], but had heard nothing of them. He was in the diggins only 3 or 4 weeks. He went over the land route & returned by Shagres [Chagres, Panama]. Was 45 days returning. Reported to have cleared 3000 [dollars] clear of expenses. Says he has enough of Californy & California gold. In a letter from Dixon to his wife, writing from Sacramento, says he just arrived without one cent of money. Left the train about 600 miles back. Had rode three mules down in that distance. Said that Danny started in company with him, but had got lost from him. Says nothing about the condition of the company when he left, only that he took with him of provisions [of] only 1-1/2 pounds of bread & three days after the date of his letter, another letter came to his wife, written by Mr. Boyle, who was once a student with Dixon, under a Mr. Howard of Columbus, Ohio, saying that he had spent some time with Doctor Dixon on his arrival & was to meet him again in a few days at a certain point, but before the time came around, [and this is most strange, in light of the above] Dixon accidentally shot himself & before (he, Boyle) got there Dixon was buried. The friends here begin to feel some alarm for the safety of our Athens Company.. Harold who started from McArthurstown 30 days after our folks, has written that he had arrived safe and would commence digging the next day. His hopes are high. Four [of] our people got in safe & write favorable. There will be a large company go out from here very early in the spring. You would be astonished if you knew all that has taken the California fever that can''t get through ... [signed] E.S.

This interesting letter is up for sale on Ebay Item number:260485978285

Philadelphia, 1832 J.N. Fitch

Dated Philadelphia, 1832. letter regarding Choleria in Philadelphia by J.N. Fitch - Physician. ALS, 3pp, 4to, plus integral address leaf addressed to Dr. Lewis Wolfley, Lancaster, Ohio. Nearly two pages on the cholera: visited two hospitals in Phila.; saw 25 patients; spoke with physicians about treatments; gives the recipe for a compound used in "the common premonitory stages". Fitch observes, "Bleeding is not resorted to in any case.

I found this letter for sale on Ebay, Item number: 220295322531. If you are interested just follow one of the links to Ebay on this blog.

Civil War Memoir, William Henry Empson 124th Ohio Volunteers.

The following is from Grand Army of the Republic~Department of New York~Personal War Sketches of the Members of Charles P. Sprout Post No. 76, of Lockport

Sprout who was with the New York 28th Infantry was killed in Action at Cedar Mountain, Virginia on August 9, 1862

William Henry Empson
Born Norfolk, England
Company “A”, 124th Ohio Volunteers

My first experience in battle was at Spring Hill Tennessee and afterward at Triune and Chickamauga (which in Indian language signifies ‘River of Blood’). I was taken prisoner September 20, 1863 at Chickamauga by the Rebel General Longstreet’s men and confined in Scott and Pemberton Prisons. Richmond Va…. Danville Va., and Andersonville, Ga. from September 29, 1863 to April 29, 1865….

My most intimate comrades were John W. Gould, Seymour E. Hill, William D. Stover, and Barnea Collegan, fellow Prisoners.

The most important event in my military life was my release from prison, where I experienced such terrible suffering while a prisoner, from scurvy, feet and legs badly swollen, and cords on left leg contracting, drawing the leg into a kneeling position, and turning [the flesh] black. Hair came out, mouth swelled and teeth very loose. The affection extending over my whole body until I became helpless. Weight when captured — 145 pounds — when released 65 pounds.

Civil War: Sallie Howell to Pembroke Scott, 118th Ohio, 1863

from Pembroke S. Scott who was a member of the 118th Regiment, Ohio Volunteers Infantry. He entered the war on August 11, 1862 & was killed May 14, 1864 in the Battle of Resaca, Ga.- the first Major Battle in the campaign for Atlanta.

This particular letter was written by Sallie Howell and sent to Pembroke. It reads:

Rushsylvania,
Feb. 18th, 1863

Mr. Scott,

Thinking as you did about writing to some body or some body else I concluded I would write you a few lines telling you about the country and people. Well there has not been much change in the country since you left. I believe the most perceptible is the one caused from the transisition of the seasons when you left-the people were gathering in the harvest-and filling their granaries. Now it is muddy and the farmers are sitting by the fire smoking their pipes and reading the news.

Well, I believe the people are living just as they were when you left, quiet and happy, with the exception of their thoughts for the soldiers that are now so gallantly standing by the old stars and stripes. The banner of our country, and the free government of our own United States of America. But I think we need not fear but that our army will soon triumph.

You desired me to tell you about Phebe, I saw her last Sunday at church. I think she is just as pretty as ever, surely as mischievous. My sisters are all well. Lucy and Beck is going to school they say to remember them to you enthusiasticly and say they wish you were near so that they could visit you and get a good dinner. Harrison? is well and is preparing to go to plowing, he wishes you a safe return home.

Please excuse poor writing and bad spelling. Please write soon.

Yours respectfully, Sallie Howell.

Civil War: Pembroke Scott, 118th Ohio, 1863

Civil War letters from Pembroke S. Scott who was a member of the 118th Regiment, Ohio Volunteers Infantry.

He entered the war on August 11, 1862 & was killed May 14, 1864 in the Battle of Resaca, Ga.- the first Major Battle in the campaign for Atlanta.

This particular letter was written by Pembroke's brother and sent to him while he was in Cynthiana, Ky. It reads:

June 3rd, 1863
Jeffersonville,
Fayette Co. (Ohio)
Mr. P.S. Scott,

Dear Brother,

It is with the greatest of pleasure that I seat myself for the purpose of writing you a few lines in answer to those I recieved from you, May the 24. And you may depend your very kind Epistle was gladly recieved by us, we were very anxious to hear from you, & to know that you were well at that line, R.H.S.C.? & myself are well at the present, & we hope when these few comes to hand, that they may find you enjoying the same blessing of life as it is one of the greatest.

We are teaching school this summer, our schools are doing very well, my school some weeks ago averaged 44, but now there is not so many. We had a letter from home some days since, they were all well at that time. I think we will go out there this Summer as soon as our schools are out to see them, as we have not been there since we have been married, we want to see them very bad, & I would like to see you just as well.

We wrote to some time ago but I suppose you never got the letter, as you said nothing about it in yours. The weather here is very fine, things look very well, unless it is wheat, it looks very bad & very thin. We will not have more than 1/2 crop. As regards the war, we wish it would come to a close, but we are willing to be subject to the will of Government & we think the prospect for the war to come to a close. T

he people are very well pleased with the prospect of Grant's army. They think he will take Vicksburg & Pemberlan's Army & that will discourage the Rebels very much, by cutting them in two. And as they get the most of their provisions west of the Mississippi, they will feel the loss very much.

Cynthia is still in the ill?, she never writes to as but Sister Maggy does & she gives us the reports of the times, you will please write soon, Yours truly from your fine? friend & brother, M.C.C.

Civil War: Steamer John Raine, 1869

Name: JAN BETTENCOURT
E- mail: JANNPAUL@WMCONNECT.COM

CAIRO
US STEAMER JOHN RAINE
MARCH 26, 1869

Cousen lydia ann b.

I take my pen to write thee a few lines. I met with an accident yesterday we get orders to out and drill our horses some i saddle up a fool horse that no one can ride i left my horse in the stable he was sick. Well i got on this one at the edge of the river he got to rearing up and ran in to the river i got him out and raired and throughed me off and fell on me and smashed mu ankle up he layed on me untill some to the boys pulled him off they carried me on the boat and put me to bed i am going on a crutch this morning.

Will got his finger shot off day before yesterday so you see we are both crippled he got it done accidently putting his revolver in the scabbard our boat is at cairo the rest of the boats are a vicksburg and we will go down the river before long. I expect will will get a furlong till his finger gets well or the place where his finger ought to be but i can;t get one without the bone was broken

i want you to write to me and let me know if you get the money i sent and if bev has got tht receipt for expressing them boots to me put it in a letter and send it to me and when i get to memphis i will make them pay for it send quick before i leave cairo direct to cairo us steamer john raine a.j. fraizer co d 1st car mmb

give my love to all inquiring friends write soon ashley j. Fraizer i will send you john will photographs. Keep it until i get home for i woulod not take a arm for it. He's going to send mine to his folks look out for my picture to it is is a case so so

Notes: the letter writer is ashley j. Frazier, cousin of lydia ann burgess parker. He was born in 1840 in indianna and died in ohio