Collection Search

to Mary

He changed jobs from working in the dining room to giving medicine. The size of the company has diminished greatly in the past year. He asks how her provisions are.

GLC02415.056

to Mary

He wants to know how living in Mr. Sterans house is for her. Apparently their corn crop did not do well this year. He asks what Mr. Graw wants to do with their farm.

GLC02415.057

to Mary

He is working in the dining room again. She told him a Mr. Holland wants to build a wood house on the end of their house and he discusses the cost of such a project. He wants Mr. Holland to write to him.

GLC02415.058

to Mary

He received a letter from his father who is well. His father told him that William H. Pratt is in the hospital. James assures Mary that he is safer now than if he had stayed in the brigade.

GLC02415.059

to Mary

He has no wish to rejoin his regiment and march around in the cold. He would like to have a taste of her mince pies. He says to tell Mr. Roland he can work on the improved land.

GLC02415.060

to Mary

He is now in Chattanooga, after having spent some time at the Convalescent Camp. He has now rejoined his regiment.

GLC02415.061

to Mary

They are near Lookout Mountain, in the heart of the enemy's country. He describes the country they passed through on the way from Lousiville to Chattanooga which he says is unlike anything she's ever seen before.

GLC02415.062

to Mary

He writes again how education is so important for their children. If she does not have money for the taxes, he insists she let him know and he will send her some money.Their pay is late.

GLC02415.063

to Mary

There are many deserting the rebel ranks. There are reports that these deserters may join the Union but he does not see much truth in these reports. One of the shirts she made him has shrunk terribly.

GLC02415.064

to Mary

He saw the boys from Boston the other day and it made him nostalgic. He will send some more money.

GLC02415.065

to Mary

He refers to the spirit of the war and says it has grown into an animal... He got 2 months pay recently and he will send her fifty dollars.

GLC02415.066

to Mary

He talks about the music they practice playing in camp to keep busy during down times. Some of the boys play cards, while he prefers to read.

GLC02415.067

to Mary

He saw his old friend General Wood and they had a grand time. He has been practicing on the bugle lately. He has to learn 25 different calls.

GLC02415.068

to Mary

He has never been healthier. There is some talk of going to Cincinnati but he thinks they will most likely go to Georgia or Alabama.

GLC02415.069

to Mary

He responds to the news from his wife. She has said William and Jane Nickerson might move back to Calhoun. Mary has not decided if she will go to Dester this summer.

GLC02415.070

to Mary

He would like William to work the farm so that he could live there with Mary and the children and then she wouldn't have to worry about the milling.

GLC02415.071

to Mary

He is sending her a book he thinks she will enjoy.

GLC02415.072

to Mary

Benjamin Vasper will bring the book and money to her. He thinks back to 1862 when the Cumberland army left Louisville and who has died.

GLC02415.073

to Mary

There is sickness and death lately, mostly among the new recruits. He asks her to tell him the price of produce, so that he can allocate funds appropriately. He warns her that he has become a hard drinker and that is why he has gained weight.

GLC02415.074

to Mary

He describes a funeral he attended of a new recruit who died of a heart disease. He will send her more money soon.

GLC02415.075

to Mary

He will not be able to get a furlough because all the men were wanted in the field. There has been some bad fighting and the Rebels have captured a cavalry unit. There is heavy cannoning at the foot of Racoon Mountain.

GLC02415.076

to Mary

He talks about the current prices of different articles of clothing. He says he is getting lazy and doesn't know how long he will remain in Chattanooga. He still owes his uncle money.

GLC02415.077

to Mary

He predicts that Virginia will see a bloody time. The Rebels think they can get Chattanooga again, but he doesn't think so. He describes the landscape surrounding the camp.

GLC02415.078

to Mary

He talks about the inevitability of death and the many vices of the army. It takes a very stable mind to reject all the vices of the army. He mentions a friend who wants to enlist because his wife died, but he thinks it would be better if he stayed...

GLC02415.079

to Mary

He is anxious for the time to come, when the Rebel capital will fall. It will not be easy becasue there will be many widows and fatherless children.He thinks the Rebels made their own bed and now they must lie in it.

GLC02415.080

to Mary

He talks of money matters. Still he owes his uncle money. He goes over his monthly expenses.

GLC02415.081

to Mary

Their regiment has not had a chaplain for some time They are thinking of starting a bible class and he is all for it.

GLC02415.082

to Mary

He promises to get his picture taken soon. Since he joined the army he has lost 2 back teeth eating hard tack. He says he has become a very rough looking fellow. Written in camp opposite Chattanooga

GLC02415.083

to Mary

He tells her to some of the money he gave her to uncle, whom he is still in debt to. He has been prospecting. The regiment is divided into small groups in Tennessee and Georgia. He describes his travels which included mountain climbing. Written in...

GLC02415.084

to Mary

He responds to the news that Mr. Benson has taken to drinking. He asks how his father and Jerome are doing. He thinks the army was never better than now and they will whip the Rebels. Written in camp opposite Chattanooga

GLC02415.085

A View on the Hillside

Dedicated to his wife. A description of his surroundings.

GLC02415.086

to Mary

He tell her to take good care of herself and the children. Lately the rations are very good. They have all the food they need. It has been very rainy. Written in camp opposite Chattanooga

GLC02415.087

to Mary

Mr Rollin has been working on their place but he says not to pay him right away. The man is hard to get along with and he may take advantage of women. He talks about the diameter of a cannon ball. Written in camp opposite Chattanooga

GLC02415.088

to Mary

He asks what Fletcher is doing on their farm. He doesn't have anything very positive to say about him. They will leave Tennessee tomorrow and go to Georgia. They are going to a healthier place. Written in camp opposite Chattanooga

GLC02415.089

to Mary

They didn't actually go to Georgia, but they are close enough, on Lookout Mountain. He describes the peaks and vallies along with the incredible views. He mentions Abraham Lincoln and hopes he can end the war soon. Written at camp on Lookout Mountain

GLC02415.090

to Mary

Small pox has been going around.They have been picketing in Georgia. One night he was ordered to dine with the Captain and the Lieutenant. They had a big meal. Written at camp on Lookout Mountain.

GLC02415.091

to Mary

They bought some potatoes and onions at what he thinks are unfair prices.He warns her to have someone get the wheat as soon as possible or else they will ahve to see what rights the man who worked their farm has.

GLC02415.092

to Mary

He thought the people of the South "were the most humain in the world" when he saw their barns. For he thought they ahd no houses, but they in fact had no barns. Their barns did not hold stock, only negroes and mules. Written at camp on Lookout...

GLC02415.093

to Mary

Every time the Rebels make a raid, they are helping the Union. Lee was "badly whipped," and driven back. He mentions Grant, who had a position, but realized it wouldn't work. He predicts the Rebels will soon have to abandon Petersburg and Richmond...

GLC02415.094

to Mary

He tells her not to worry about the farm as long as it is worked by men who care more the produce it yields than the government that protects them. Perhaps she will think him a different man when he returns. Written at camp on Lookout Mountain

GLC02415.095

to Mary

He has become very cynical, for he's been a soldier too long to think that anyone would get discharged before the end of the war. They've been having pickets on one side of the mountain but there has been no fight. Some of the boys say the new...

GLC02415.096

to Mary

He went down to Georgia to sign the pay rolls recently and draw 2 months pay. He is very positive of the Union's success. Soon the army will have 500,000 men. Written at camp on Lookout Mountain

GLC02415.097

to Mary

He is getting tired of having to write as it is a poor substitute for communication. He prides himself on how well he budgets. If the other boys thought of their families as much as he does they'd have more money. Written at camp on Lookout Mountain

GLC02415.098

to Mary

He talks of money matters. His uncle has been paid off for the most part. He mentions getting clothes for the children and for her. Written at camp on Lookout Mountain

GLC02415.099

to Mary

They wanted to have their pictures taken by Lookout Mountain but there were too many people ahead of them. He describes the scenery of Chattanooga and concludes with a poem. Written at camp on Lookout Mountain

GLC02415.100

to Mary

He says as soldiers they expected to endure hardships and he will face them without fear. To be a coward is worse than anything so he tells her not to worry so much because he is ready for whatever may come his way. Written at camp on Lookout...

GLC02415.101

to Mary

He discusses money matters and how she can run the farm more efficiently. When he comes home, he expects to farm again.Written at camp on Lookout Mountain

GLC02415.102

to Mary

Never has the end of the war looked so promising as it does now. Even if they draft more soldiers, they will be sent home soon if the war ends. David English came by and is doing well. Written at camp on Lookout Mountain

GLC02415.103

to Mary

He has not received any mail lately. He reminds her not to neglect writing.Written at camp on Lookout Mountain

GLC02415.104

to Mary

He says he is not an abolitionist, nor did he enlist under an abolitionist administration Then talks of whether the constitution should be reinstated or reconstruction should take place altogether. Written at camp on Lookout Mountain

GLC02415.105