1862-1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Header Record

Title: Collection of James K. Magie, C company, 78th regiment, Illinois, infantry [Decimalized .01-.51]

Private in the Army of the Cumberland. The letters are written to his wife, Mary, who lived in Macomb, Illinois. (There are 46 manuscript items plus 5 printed items which include 3 newspaper clippings.) Magie also held the position of Brigade Postmaster while stationed in Franklin, Tennessee. This position allowed him to make frequent trips into Nashville, where he bought newspapers for 5 cents each and sold them in camp for 10 cents. He frequently discusses his profits and cautions his wife not to let anyone else know how much money he is able to send her. At home Magie was a co-owner…

GLC05241

25 April 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written from camp near Franklin. Has not received a letter in over a week. Next Tuesday [28 April 1863], a man from the 125th Ohio will be shot for "desertion, stealing and using threatening language" (see GLC05241.43). In Franklin, Tennessee, six more rebel families were ordered outside the Union lines. Also describes a military funeral for a cavalry lieutenant. Mentions a rumor that Generals [Braxton] Bragg and [Earl] Van Dorn will attack. McCandles is doing well.

GLC05241.40

26 April 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written from camp near Franklin. Magie is writing in the doctor's tent and mentions the many sick soldiers who appear at the tent for medicine. He writes about his newspaper business and other men who speculate in food. Magie bought himself a watch and wants to get his picture taken, which could cost $1.50. He discusses pay and the bounty money owed by the army. He wants to find a doctor for Eddy's feet.

GLC05241.42

28 April 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written from camp near Franklin. The cavalry captured 136 Confederate prisoners. Mentions widespread sickness in camp. He shipped out a box and plans to send more money. Writes, "That man Jones was not shot yesterday. He was, by order of the president, sentenced to the Penitentiary during the war" (refer to GLC05241.40).

GLC05241.43

circa July 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Describes a battle of the Army of the Cumberland, and his regiment's valiant behavior. Details the bravery of certain individuals, especially a sergeant whom he credits with keeping their line from breaking. He promises to send a list of the wounded in a week (possibly GLC05241.46). Includes a list of newspaper subscriptions for the Macomb Journal. He notes that he has received the Journal up to 1 July 1863. Date inferred from content.

GLC05241.45

1861-1865

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: List of soldiers' names

List of soldiers and units that they served with. Later pencil note reads: "T[his] report might have been made at home when Allie died." Possibly related to GLC05241.45.

GLC05241.46

1861-1865

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Document

Title: Business card.

"The Canton Weekly Register. James K. Magie, Editor, Canton, Illinois."

GLC05241.48

3 April 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Newspaper clipping

Title: [Newspaper clipping reporting activities of the 78th regiment]

Possibly a printing of one of Magie's letters home. Accompanied by paper wrapper.

GLC05241.50

29 December 1861

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

His regiment is guarding a bridge between New Haven, Kentucky and Boston, Kentucky. Guerrillas (led by John H. Morgan) cut the telegraph lines in Boston and then stayed over night in the house of a noted secessionist. Also mentions Confederate raids near the Boston Bridge.

GLC05241.01

1 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Headquarters 78th Regt., Illinois Volunteers. Describes Morgan's raids at Springfield and New Haven, Kentucky, 30 December 1862. Magie, dressed as a southerner, undertook a dangerous mission to rescue the officers' horses. Union troops managed to drive back the rebels.

GLC05241.02

4 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Headquarters 78th Regt. Ill. Vol. Misdated 1862, discusses Morgan's raid at New Haven, see GLC05241.02. Recounts more of his adventures as a spy dressed in rebel uniform. Mentions his capture of a Confederate named Floyd Price. Asks for a copy of the Macomb Journal, which printed his New Years Address. Notes that the "colored ladies" of the town held a reception for them. Briefly mentions Unionist civilians.

GLC05241.03

8 January 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Writes from Headquarters of the 78th Regt, Illinois Volunteers. Notes that he has not received a letter from her in two weeks. Informs her about friends who were killed or wounded in recent fighting. Yesterday, January 7th, was his 37th birthday and he displays a hint of a mid-life crisis. Mentions Unionist civilians.

GLC05241.04

January 13, 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

He is in Louisville on regimental business. He received a letter which indicated that Eddie, their son, was gravely ill. He wants to know what was wrong with him. Another son, Charles has begun to swear. Magie advises Mary to tell Charles that if he respects his father "he will not take up the loafish practice of swearing." Wants to go to the theater before he must rejoin his unit.

GLC05241.05

January 21, 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Writes from Headquarters of the 78th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. He asks her to write at least once a week. They have received marching orders, but heavy rains made the river rise and they may not be able to move. He spent last night playing a game "with a very pretty young lady. You must not yet be jealous about it, although I begin to think I have some right to go about among the girls as you have almost [quit] writing to me." A runaway slave from Spencer County is employed by the Colonel. He does odd jobs, dances and makes speeches. Plans to stay with the regiment and go back to…

GLC05241.06

January 27, 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

The regiment has moved to Louisville. He and a few other officers have taken possession of a building to use as their quarters. The contraband cook is practicing his spelling. He received a letter detailing Eddy's illness. He wants his son Charles to stay with his mother and go to school.

GLC05241.07

January 30, 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written on board the steamer J. H. Groesbeck. Between fourteen and eighteen steamboats are loaded with troops and ready to move out, but no one is sure where they are going. He has been paid and will send the money home by express. He gives her instructions about paying and collecting debts.

GLC05241.08

February 2, 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written on board the steamer J. H. Groesbeck. Notes the regiment is bound for Fort Donelson. Says he has comfortable quarters in a cabin with some other officers but the enlisted men are very crowded. Mentions that his colonel is under arrest for refusing to search the boat for escaped slaves. Notes he was put in charge of the contraband cook, who now wishes to go home with "Massa Magie."

GLC05241.09

February 5, 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written on board the steamer John H. Groesbeck, anchored near Dover, Kentucky. Discusses the attack by Confederate Generals Forrest and Wheeler on Fort Donelson. Describes the Confederate dead and wounded soldiers and sends home a lock of Colonel McNary's hair [not included in the collection]. Colonel McNary served with an Alabama regiment and was killed in the battle. Continues writing 7 February 1863. Notes that they are about thirty miles from Nashville, Tennessee and do not expect to see battle before they reach the city.

GLC05241.10

10 February 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written three miles from Nashville on the Franklin Pike. Writes that the regiment is on its way to Franklin. Describes the vast destruction of local property: "There are the ruins of several magnificent places between here and Nashville. The soldiers have stripped down the fences, cut down beautiful shade trees, and in some places commenced on the houses for fuel. Residences worth two years ago $100,000 are not now worth $2,000."

GLC05241.11

20 February 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Written from camp near Franklin. Date inferred from content. Labeled "No 1." Writes that he travels to Nashville every other day to retrieve the mail. He buys newspapers for 5 cents each and sells them for 10 cents.

GLC05241.13

February 22, 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

"No. 2." He has been promoted to Division Postmaster. Recounts three incidents which occurred while traveling between Nashville and Franklin. First, he tells of finding a group of men in Butternut whom he thought to be Confederates. He thought the men would capture him but they turned out to be local laborers running telegraph lines. For the next story, Magie cautioned his wife not to read the passage outloud. He then wrote how he followed a trail of calico to find a soldier and woman in a "horizontal position." He adds the couple claimed to be married. Finally, he mentions seeing two…

GLC05241.14

February 25, 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

"No. 3." Writes of the basic itinerary he follows on his trips Nashville. Besides picking up the mail, he buys newspapers and for a fee runs errands for other soldiers. Laments the destruction of fences and houses for firewood.

GLC05241.15

1 March 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

"No 4." He makes a great deal of money by selling newspapers and running errands, and if he can hold his position he hopes to send his wife $1,000 by the end of the war. Asks that she not tell anyone how much he sends her because the soldiers do not know he makes such a large profit.

GLC05241.16

2 March 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

Sends his wife $10 and asks her to allow the bearer of the letter, Mr. Freeman, to stay at the house for one night. Notes that he believes there will be a battle soon but does not expect to be involved. A pencil sketch of a grave marker and verse appears on page two. "Gone to be an angle [sic] Albro K. Youngest son of J."

GLC05241.17

7 March 1863

Magie, James K., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Magie

He wants to loan out $50 with interest. Mentions a battle at Franklin [4-5 March 1863] including the fact that their general was arrested afterward for a blunder.

GLC05241.18