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[Collection of Franklin Cranor, B company, 40th regiment, Indiana, infantry] [decimalized]

Letters to Delia Slocum.

GLC03791

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor is separated from his regiment which is serving in Alabama. He is in a convalescent camp in Nashville, Tennessee where he has recently been recovering, but is still plagued with cramps. He makes one of his many references to the state of...

GLC03791.001

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor has regrouped with his regiment in Mississippi. He mentions a minor battle at "pitsburg landing" and few small skirmishes, but mostly observes the extent of his travels. He makes mention of several changes in leadership: the resignation...

GLC03791.002

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor discusses the restlessness and anxiety of soldiers under fire but not engaged in any battles. He points out that the soldiers are still performing their duties however, even if they are playing cards. He expresses hope that he won't have...

GLC03791.003

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor describes the Battle of Stones Creek and its aftermath for the regiment. He writes that the enemy killed or wounded eighteen in the regiment and that his colonel was drunk during the fight. Cranor speculates that this drunk Colonel will...

GLC03791.004

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor acknowledges a letter from March 8 that he received. He comments again on the weather and the general review of the troops. He makes a few disparaging comments about boys who would not come unless drafted, but on the subject of such a...

GLC03791.005

to Delia Slocum

re: While camped near Murfreesboro in the months following the Battle of Stones Creek, Cranor describes how the Union soldiers have generally been causing trouble for the Confederates. He writes about Union "devilment" in McMinnville that resulted...

GLC03791.006

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor describes the wet and muddy march from Murfreesboro to Pelham on the way to Chattanooga. He briefly mentions recent losses from small skirmishes but notes general success in getting the rebels of out Tennessee. He writes that Bragg's...

GLC03791.007

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor refers to the Copperhead movement and Vallandigham's unsuccessful run for Ohio's governorship. He mentions that it has been a while since his brigade has seen action and was not involved in the most recent skirmish and has instead been...

GLC03791.008

to Delia Slocum

Written in the aftermath of the Battles for Chattanooga, Cranor reports that he is among the living, but that his company had lost eighteen men from his company leaving only sixteen. He describes three charges that his brigade made and lists the...

GLC03791.009

to Delia Slocum

The regiment had a good time back in Indianapolis. He says that while he felt comfortable returning to the front because "soldieren seams naturel as ever." The men had left Indianapolis at 4 in the afternoon of April 13 and were headed back to the...

GLC03791.010

to Delia Slocum

Cranor reports his return to Chattanooga by train. He came through as a guard and didn't have to march. Despite the comfortable passage he reports that most want to return home but he himself does not with to go: "I would not take a discharge if...

GLC03791.011

to Delia Slocum

re: Briefly discusses the campaign for Atlanta and his company's role in it: the sabotage of Confederate railroads. He again mentions the state of the corn fields. Though he predicts that the end is in sight "but if it lasts ten years I Shall stay...

GLC03791.012

to Delia Slocum

re: [Written on prepared stationery for a beau at war] Cranor reports from the front lines of the battles in Georgia. He tells Delia that one mutual acquaintance is adjusting well to soldier life and that his messmate was shot at the Battle of...

GLC03791.013

to Delia Slocum

While the Battle near Dallas rages Cranor tells Delia that someone from their neighborhood was shot and wounded and the tale of a few men who spent six days in jail. He asks for clarification of a joke she made about him in her last letter. He has...

GLC03791.014

to Delia Slocum

Written from the frontlines of the Atlanta Campaign Cranor reports that he has seen the worst of fighting, even more so than Stones River and Missionary Ridge. He wrote "that day was the first time ever I thought of getting killed in battel when we...

GLC03791.015

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor reports on the Battle of Peachtree Creek on July 20th during the Atlanta campaign. Though he reports victory: ("if ever men melted away it was the rebbels when our Brigade let inoto on them"). He also observes the jumbled changes of...

GLC03791.016

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor describes the trickery that led to the fall of Atlanta. His regiment again worked primarily on the railroads and reports that casualites for the regiment were light. He describes the general love for General Sherman who masterminded the...

GLC03791.017

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor reports that his division has been stationed behind the front lines back in Chattanooga, relieving some men who are to be set to the front lines. He supports Abe Lincoln and the prospect of a draft. He mentions some acquaintances who...

GLC03791.018

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor describes his march to Pulaski from Nashville, which was overall, pretty lousy. He asks about his fellow soldier just home on furlough. He finishes by describing the social party life in camp.

GLC03791.019

to Delia Slocum

Cranor reports his new location and that he is safely out of the line of battle. He complains about the cold weather and tells the story of a mutual acquaintance who had his nose shot off.

GLC03791.020

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor reports getting to ride a horse to get retrieve deserters. He writes that he had a nice Christmas. The rest of the letter is mostly marriage gossip.

GLC03791.021

to Delia Slocum

re: Mentions the cold weather: the coldest that he has had to deal with. He mentions that there are recruiters for the regular army but says that he probably won't join ("I dont want to bind myself into service after this war is over[.]" His...

GLC03791.022

to Delia Slocum

re: Reports that washed out bridges have resulted in no mail delivery for a week. He writes that lack of news has made him "tired and lonesome." After the arrival of the postmaster he closes his letter and reopens it the next day, where he mentions...

GLC03791.024

to Delia Slocum

re: Records the reaction in camp to Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox. "Cheering, yelling an shooting of there guns and it was kept up till about three Oclock this morning[.]"

GLC03791.025

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor describes his move from Blue Springs back to Nashville and the somber mood present after Lincoln's assassination ("evry thing is dressed in mourning.") He writes that he talked to the "rebs" who said that they thought Johnson would be...

GLC03791.026

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor reports there has been some speculation about getting out of the army in July, but he doesn't believe it. He reports on a recent severe storm and its destruction in camp.

GLC03791.027

to Delia Slocum

. re: "I will give you a short not of our trials and trubells since we left Nashville[.]" He also reports that there next stop is in Texas, 900 miles away by water "and that is the way we will go[.]" He reports on hot weather and poor health, but...

GLC03791.028

to Delia Slocum

Records his crossing of the Gulf of Mexico and the sea sick boys. He writes that he got sick then and remains so. He writes that sickness has been a problem for the whole regiment and records the illness of two mutual acquaintances. He reports a...

GLC03791.029

to Delia Slocum

re: Cranor reports going to church for the first time since he left Indiana on his furlough last spring. He reports that his regiment are the only troops in the area, a big change, but one that he enjoys. He complains of his inability to be home...

GLC03791.030