1862-1930

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Header Record

Title: [Collection of Matthew Wood, C company, 9th regiment, Ohio, Infantry] [Decimalized .01-.52]

This collection consists primarily of Civil War correspondence from Matthew Wood, 9th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, to his wife Sarah Wood. Matthew Wood served in the Ohio Ninth Cavalry with Burnside's army in Tennessee, and William T. Sherman's army during the burning of Atlanta and capture of Savannah. His correspondence originates chiefly from areas in Tennessee during the period of November 1863-May 1864 (#9-17), and additional letters indicate a brief return to Tennessee from September-October 1864 (#20-23). Wood's remaining correspondence is dated from Camp Dennison, Ohio (#3-6), London,…

GLC02176

5 December 1862

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written at Camp Zanesville to his wife. Talks of arrival at Camp Zanesville via steam boat ("smoke boat.") His goods were lost in shipping between home and the camp. Finally, tells his wife if she sends $100 quickly, he could come home, as he won't be mustered in for another week or so. First page is quite faded. Stationery shows an image of the American flag and reads "Long may it wave."

GLC02176.01

February 1, 1863

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written at Camp Dennison to his wife. Anticipates being paid soon, and will send the money home, saving a few dollars to live himself. Talks of hiding tears when reading his wife's letters as the other soldiers find it feminine. Expresses sentiment to his wife that he loves her and wishes he could be with her, looking forward to being with her again. Stationery contains image of a victorious Union soldier in battle reading "The Captured Battery." Written at Camp Dennison .

GLC02176.03

February 16, 1863

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written at Camp Dennison to his wife. Says the arms have arrived, and they have been drilling with sabers. Observes the wickedness and sin, and hopes that in piety they could defeat "seceshdom." Discusses how his "little family" makes him want to survive. Comments "our leading officers who are a conducting this war for speculation and worldly honor." Lastly, exhorts that though he may be tempted by sin at camp that she stay pure, mentioning he has already done "something here that I would not have done at home but the Lord was always with me to chastise me." Stationery features an image of…

GLC02176.04

28 March 1863

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written at Camp Dennison to his wife. Reports he is finally paid $62.50. Expects to move soon, though "grape vine dispaches," or camp rumors, are unreliable as to where. Mentions some soldiers' receiving packages from home. Laments vice in camp, commenting "I have heard profanity in its worst form I have seen allmost every form of vice and its affects." Finally, reacts to news of an incident in Noble County, Ohio (the Hoskinville Rebellion) in which the "rattle snakes," or "butternuts," as Wood calls them, i.e. Southern sympathizers demonstrate opposition to war. Written at Camp Dennison .

GLC02176.05

23 April 1863

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written at Camp Dennison to his wife. Tells of a dream he had that he was at home again and that the war was over, though expresses certainty that the end will come soon. Is waiting for orders to march any day. Talks of how much a soldier values a letter from home. Stationery contains image of a victorious Union soldier in battle reading "The Captured Battery." Written at Camp Dennison .

GLC02176.06

26 June 1863

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from London, Kentucky to his wife. Describes raids in Tennessee and Virginia, destroying railroads, burning bridges, tearing down telegraph wires. Also describes the rainy weather. Expresses concern because he sent a dollar in a letter, but does not trust the mail. Tells of the soldiers' dismay at Robert E. Lee's successes, but expects victory will come when they're on the "brink of despair." Expresses fatigue from the harsh treatment and difficult duty he endures.

GLC02176.07

12 July 1863

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Stanford, Kentucky to his wife. Is concerned that the $10 he sent won't get to her because 'it is such a secesh place." Observes "all armies is on the move it appears to be the grand rally now that is to decide the contest." Continues "now is the time to make the decisive blow and it greatly depends on the willingness and unity of the new recruits. Then, speaks of death: "let us not set our heart too mutch on the fleeting pleasures of this world but set our affects on things above." Mentions a rumor that General John Hunt Morgan has been taken prisoner. Though he doubts that this…

GLC02176.08

13 November 1863

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from around Knoxville, Tennessee to his wife. Mentions rebel citizens are rumored to be stealing soldiers' mail. Talks of new clothes, his battalion's shabby outfitting, hopes of buying socks for a dollar with his new pay. Mentions nearly freezing on picket duty and wearing his blanket as an overcoat. Says soldiers are also so hard up they steal, describing an event in which his revolver was stolen.

GLC02176.09

9 January 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from near Knoxville, Tennessee to his wife. Justifies war as a chastening from God for the nation's previous sins. Mentions Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty. Describes the comforts of God as a companion. Written on military stationery.

GLC02176.11

January 11,1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from near Knoxville, Tennessee to his wife. Mentions his good appetite and ragged clothes, but quartermaster is requisitioning more, rumors that Generals Ulysses S. Grant and John Foster will soon defeat James Longstreet's men. Deliberates whether to send money to his wife. Mentions sending a verse by a Kentucky soldier. Talks again of religion and happiness that their deceased children are in a better place. Written on military stationery with the image of a camp.

GLC02176.12

January 22, 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written at a camp near Knoxville, Tennessee to his wife. Sends his wife thirty dollars, though he is uneasy because of the insecure mail. Sends the money because the rebels could come any time. Keeps ten dollars because "if the rebels come here again I don't want to sufer for the want of a little mony like I did before." Written on military stationery with the image of a camp.

GLC02176.13

16 April 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Nashville, Tennessee to his wife. Was sent to Nashville to retrieve a horse, but there are many cavalrymen waiting for horses. Compares the cold weather to Ohio winters. Describes the terrain of East Tennessee, the abundance of fruits, and compares Tennessee farms to Ohio farms and Tennessee tree species. Mentions the cemetery where General Felix Zollicofer is buried, and the tomb of Stonewall Jackson. Mentions again he has not received any letters from his wife in a while. Discusses ephemeral nature of life and how he looks forward to a more peaceful afterlife.

GLC02176.14

18 April 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Camp Smith to his wife. Posits that he is missing some letters, expects "back mail" to arrive soon. Expresses concern again that his wife should receive the money he sent. Mentions an eye operation his wife is recovering from. Complains his bad officers who will not let him go on furlough, but rather make him stay to guard the camp. Laments the shame of soldiers, talking of an unburied boy at Cumberland who has no one to demand his burial.

GLC02176.15

25 April 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Camp Smith to his wife. Describes spells of depression after sinning. Continues speaking of trust in God. Mentions receiving some old letters. Says the Colonel is determined to keep them there on duty, even if they have to ride mules. Tells of Company G which was captured by guerillas after sleeping without sufficient guard in a barn. Finally, describes failing at quitting tobacco: "remember I said I was a going to to quit using tobacco and send you the price it was costing me but you see I tried it a while but no go I believe I would have went Crazy or got sick or done both so I…

GLC02176.16

27 May 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Pulaski, Tennessee to his wife. Describes the situation of refugees (including African Americans) in the camp: "...and the darkies are here by thousands, by field fulls like cattle, they call these darky Camps corrals. The same that we call the lots where the broken down horses is put to be recruted." Talks of former bad health and the kindness of his officers who gave him easier duties. Mentions the tightness of his money situation. Expresses hope of victory and returning home soon: "Well as soon as you hear that Richmond and Atlanta is ours you may put on the tea kettle I will…

GLC02176.17

26 July 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from "Moore's ville," Alabama to his wife. Describes recovering from illness, and the weakness and the light duty that he can do as a result. Describes in some detail the news of General Lovell Rousseau's success in tearing up the area. Hopes that the ninth will return without a loss and looks forward to seeing his friend Smith again. Expresses concern for his lonely father at home, and wishes to see him again. Mentions the wife of a friend who is working at the tobacco factory, making a dollar an hour. Asks for more stamps, as he has run out.

GLC02176.18

21 August 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Talks of cut rations, but says they function better on half rations. Describes somewhat dangerous duty accompanying the engineer, and his duty. Also describes the unreliable news he gets, even when a mile from the action, but says there is a "constant cannonading and skirmishing night and day." Expresses conern that William Tecumseh Sherman is at a standstill in his efforts to destroy Georgia.

GLC02176.19

17 September 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Camp Smith near Nashville, Tennessee to his wife. Mentions being in the hospital, some of his comrades are in pursuit of General Joseph Wheeler's cavalry. Discusses tobacco he uses in camp. His regiment will go to Louisville, Kentucky to get horses and then proceed to the front (most likely with Sherman in Atlanta). Includes small illustrations of a pointing hand and a heart pierced with an arrow.

GLC02176.20

14 October 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Camp Webster to his wife. Describes the movements of his regiment (9th Ohio Cavalry) in pursuit of General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his men. While still ill, hopes to be reunited with his regiment, as "It would be the next thing to getting home to get to the company with the boys that I have soldiered so long with." Mentions the attempts by one of his comrades to obtain a furlough because of illness. Concludes with, "Hurrrah for Lincoln and Jonson! and the union forever, is the sentiment of your soldier boy..."

GLC02176.21

October 27, 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood and Lydia Jane Wood

Written from Chattanooga, Tennessee to his wife and daughter. Talks of reuniting with a friend from home named Dempsy. Speculates his regiment will move on to Atlanta. Is too ill to ride, so in free time will have another likeness taken with money obtaining by selling his watch. Says some men took a tour up Lookout Mountain, which presents "a perfect scenery." Discusses the popular conception concerning the 1864 election, saying "I dont think like some of our McCllelan men do that" believe the Confederates "will fight us four year longer if Old Abe is reelected."

GLC02176.22

31 October 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Chattanooga, Tennessee to his wife. Is unsure where he will be sent next. Talks of an acquaintance who went home on furlough for being very ill. Compares weather at home to Tennessee. Compares the winter--without snow--to seasons at home in Ohio, explaining the warm days and cold nights is what gives the men "the shakes."

GLC02176.23

December 2, 1864

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Savannah, Georgia to his wife. Describes the march through Georgia from Atlanta to Savannah, after receiving orders from General Judson Kilpatrick, and being harassed by guerrilla fighters. Describes the destruction in good detail: "All the main wealth of the country was consumed by fire as we marched along the country was filled with smoke." Joins with General Judson Kilpatrick's division, who had a fight with Joseph Wheeler's cavalry, and they are then pursued by Wheeler's men. Moves on to Macon and Waynesboro. Describes being driven from camp by shelling as "the most trying…

GLC02176.24

January 17, 1865

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Savannah, Georgia to his wife. Predicts they are "preparing for another grand march the Lord only knows what the result will be, we hope the success will crown our effort." Mentions that the rest of his regiment that had been left behind during the march from Atlanta to Georgia because of they lacked equipment rejoined the regiment by way of New York. Says the general opinion is that they will next proceed to South Carolina.

GLC02176.25

8 April 1865

Wood, Matthew, fl. 1862-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Wood

Written from Mt. Olive, North Carolina to his wife. Describes again the differences in climate between Ohio and North Carolina. Comments on the state of the Confederate cause, saying "Old Lee has got out of Richmond and a going round like a roaring lion seeking how he may save his old treacherous neck," and "I am in good heart about the war ending if Lee did get out forty men will desert him, and another thing they can not feed a concentrated army two weeks any where...They have no artillery of any account so if they come facing Old Bill with Grant in their rear they will soon get their feet…

GLC02176.26