Camp Butler
April 17th, 1862

Dear Friend John:

It is always
a great source of pleasure
for me to answer letters &
especially those coming
from friends, upon whom
I can depend to be
true friends.  Remem
bering as I do the many
pleasures of youth, and
those youthful associates
who enjoyed those pleas-
ures with me, I am
now made to wish that
I could live my short
life again. I am sure
that it would be pleasant

[page 2]
to me; would it not be
pleasant to you John?
But our School-days have
fled–youth has nearly
past with all her bloom
and gayeties–our lovely
associates are scattered
abroad oe’r this cold
hearted world to act
each for himself, and
we must be content
with reflecting upon
the past, acting in the
present, and looking
forward with hopes to
the future.  John
as you say “I hope, if we
are not permitted to meet
on earth, that we may
meet on a fairer clime
and not only us; but all
our loved friends and acquaintances

[page 3]
I do not now know
when I shall be at home
but probably before long,
as the war is fast coming
to a close.  The great
victory at Pittsburg Landing
explains the determination
of our northern Army
We find there that nothing
but victory or death would
do our northern boys; and
so it will be in every Case
Years will fly by and
Ages roll in to eternity
but the bravery and
heroism which our troops
showed at Pitsburg Landing
shall never be forgotten—
We are expecting hourly
to hear of another battle
at Corinth. This, it is
thought, will decide the War

[page 4]
All the boys who went
from Genesee Grove
were in the battle, or at
least their regiments were
Lafayette Wilcox lost one
finger.  So the papers state–
I have not heard from
any more of the boys.  I
suppose that they are
all right  It is thought here
that the war will not last
much longer. About one
thousand more prisoners were
brought here a few days ago
from Island No. 10.  There are
here now about three thous-
-and they are rough
looking criters indeed.
How long we shall stay here
I cannot tell you–probably
untill we are disbanded–
You will please excuse poor
writing and answer as soon
as convenient.
Yours Very Truly
W. H. Redman

John Overhol[s?]er

William Henry Redman,  Co. C, 12th Cavalry Regiment of Illinois Volunteers


MSS 7415

Praise of Capt Chandler Fort Albany Apr 18th 62
Friday Eve
Dear Priscilla,
Your welcome missive has just
been received,  I am always very glad to receive any
word from you, and most especially this last–
because I was very anxious to from the dear
ones at home, who are, and have been, unwell,  I hope
the next time you write, you can tell me they are
well or much better.  For myself, I can say that I
still continue in good health and spirits, I never
was better in my life, I am geting very fat and rugged
Ten days ago I weighed four pounds more that I did
when I left home, and am still gaining.  Today has
been very hot, the Thermometer stood at 90° in
the shade. This evening we are having a big thunder
shower, it rains in torrents.  We are in tents, but none
of the rain touches us, we have been in tents two
days and we like them much better than the
barracks, they are both cool and airy.  There are

[page 2]
fourteen in each tent, all told (a Corporal, and thirteen
men), One of our “boys” in my mess has just had
a box arrive from Lynn (his name is John Lindsay)
containing goodies, such as doughnuts, cakes, candy
oranges, &c &c. and you better believe we are having
a good time over them.  We hear here, that in Lynn
stories are in circulation, that are doing Capt Chandler
great injustice,such as, that he is a great tyrant, abusing
his men,and treating them in the worst manner.  Now
I want to contradict that story in in every particu-
lar.  In the first place Capt. Chandler does everything
in his power to make the men comfortable, and
contented, I dont believe there are two men in the Com-
pany, but that would speak in the strongest terms
of the gentlemanly, kind, and humane, actions
of Capt C. To the sick (when there are any)
he is very attentive, in short, he has, so far, proved
himself a gentleman in every sense of the
word,  (Please contradict any thing of the kind you
may hear and you will do me a favor, and all the
rest of the Company

[page 3]
You speak in your letter of hearing of deaths in our
our company, we have not had a death in our
company, the health of the men has been very
good since we came here,We have had four or
five cases of sickness, neither of them serious
There has been one death fro Co. L. of a boy from Quincy
and one or two others, from other Regmts.
Yesterday was payday for the old companies here
and today they are having a great time (some of
them) Co M. & L. will probably be paid off about
the first of May.  You need not put yourself
to any inconvenience about those Shirts
I spoke about, I dont need them very much
if it is going to be so hot, sometime maybe
you can get them as well as not, Dont you
trouble yourself about them.  Nathan Bickford
and Allen Lewis are here in a cook house, cooking
for the Regmt Teamsters, I see them most every
day.  Charly Atherton comes up from Fort Runyon
quite often to see me, you can tell Ellen, and she can
tell his sister.

[letter of “Robert” an unidentified soldier in the 14th Massachusetts
will continue on the 19th]

MSS 1242

Friday  April 18th / 62

Friends

We are now in
Camp, 5 1/2 miles from york
town, virginia we came
here last evening But
cannot tell how long
we shall remain here
we may stop here 1,2,
or 3 weeks & we may
be called in that num-
ber of times, to move
forward.  This is a very
pleasant country & we
have  a as warm weather
here now as we have
in york state in
June or July.
We should like
soldiering much better
if we had plenty of

[page 2]
of the staff of life
our Bread is crackers
our meet is pork & beef
but we do not have
that all the time we
have beans to spoil[?]
beans peas once in
a while but they are
like angels visits few
& far between Potatoe
are scarce.
When we can
get things to eat we
generally have plenty
but that is not often
our feed for the last
three days has been
crackers & coffee
as soon as we are
called to take a part
in the ba battles I

[page 3]
I shall have to go
for we are now near
the rebels. & we do not
know when we may
be called to take
a part in the strife
as to defend ourselves
Our tents are made
temporary concerns crotches
stuck in the ground with
poles on them & our blan
kets covered over them
& Brush underneath us
to lay  on, which makes
a very good bed & which
is very acceptable when
we cannot get any
feathers to sleep on
give my love to
all enquiering friends
& keep a good share

[page 4]
for yourself, yours
with much love
& my best wishes hop
hoping that the war
will soon
[illegible line]
my life is spared

[unidentified New York soldier to Jane E]

MSS 1021

April 18th 1862
Dear Grandpa (General John Hartwell Cocke)
Yours of the 15th inst came
duly t hand–I have not been able
as yet to get the other shoe soled as
the man who made them lives over
in Buckingham & some distance
off.  Between ow & Monday, however
I will try & make a pair for you
myself–as near as possible the
ones I saw–
I entirely agree with you in regard
to the good & evil of this war.  I
doubt not we shall come out
of it a purified as well as a
powerful nation–And to our
enemies it must be ruin,though
as they are the Lord’s creatures
as well as we, it cannot be
doubted that He will punish
them too in his mercy for all
the iniquity & injustice which
they have committed.

[page 2]
I heard indirectly the other
day that the government agents
had pressed your riding mare
into the service & some of your
mules.  I would not on any
account have you to inconvenience
yourself by allowing me to retain
the young horses if they would be
of any service to you.  One of them
rides very well & I think has
qualities which would  suit you
very well.  The other is now a
fine work horse & has made
himself important here, tho” I
can spare him if you are put to
it for team–He was the wild one
but is now so thoroughly broke
that we have driven him in our
carriage–If you will write me
by the next boat whether you
want them I will send one or
both, at once.

[page 3]
I shall not be done planting corn until
some weeks in May–not having com-
menced as yet.  I am well up in
my fencing ditching & other hard labor
but have some plowing to do–& all
my land to harrow for corn–I started
an ox team at the latter to-day
& have all my farm-pen manure
to haul out & a good deal of my
hogpen–I think I shall have
considerably over a hundred loads of
the latter & whenever it is applied
the land is made–
We are all well here now.  when
we heard last from Norwood, no one
was complaining–Pink is writing
to Aunt Sally & her letter will
go with this–The children will
soon go down to Aunt Sally to remain, at least
for some time–
You have no doubt heard f the
death of Dr. Gessner Harrison–His
remains were taken over to the University,

[page 4]
to-day–His illness was short & his
death attributed very much to a
depressed state of mind on account
of his pecuniary affairs–
My willow cuttings are all
budding finely–I find we have
at least one of the prolific
mulberrys living–which my
mother planted -last
Present  us all affectionately to
our friends at Bremo & Recess
Being overseer now I do not
know when I can see you all–
Can you not come up to see us
some time soon?

Your affectionate grandson
P. B. Cabell

Genl J. H. Cocke

Philip Barraud Cabell, 1836-1904, nephew of General Philip St. George Cocke and grandson of General John Harwell Cocke , was one of the few antebellum students at the University of Virginia to obtain a master’s degree. After the war he was a professor at Urbana University in Ohio, and later a minister of a Swedenborgian church in Wilmington Delaware. 

MSS 640

Camp Tyler Woodstock Va
April 17 1862

Stern Tyler Esqr
Sir thinking a line from a member
of your big Brothers Regt would be read with pleasure
I seat myself this morning to pen the same to you.
17 3 Oclock in the morning A.M. Our Brigade left
Camp one hour ago Marching in direction of Mount–
Jackson where the Rebel General Jackson is supposed
to be with his force & it is said he intends making another
stand, now you may ask yourself the question why it is
that I am Back in Camp & our Regt gone on, I have a
very sore beeling [bleeding?] on one of My legs the Capt advises me
not to undertake to go on March unless it become
actually Necessary, I always Obey Orders but I would
sooner been with the Boys when there is a prospect
of a fight which I dont think Jackson & his men
will stand to face the Music of our instruments for
I dont think they have forgotten us since the Battle
of Winchester yesterday I had the pleasure of reading Genl
Jacksons account of that fight this is taken from the
Richmond Whig it says Jacksons whole force was but
2200 Men the whole Confederate loss in killed wounded
& missing is 465 of whom 90 were killed it would be well to
remember that 249 rebel prisoners was sent from
Winchester to Baltimore the rebels admit that 200 wounded
were carried to Staunton & we know that over 100 of the
Rebel wounded  are at Winchester Genl Shields says
that 27- of the enemy dead were buried on the field
thus it is shown the enemy has at lowest figures is
867, their force in Infantry 9000 Cavalry 6600 their
Artillery consisted of 36 pieces, We had 6000 Inft. and
a cavalry force of 750 & 24 pieces of artillery, So says
our General Stern it was a hot old time which I am
personally aware of for we was in front which position
we held with honor to ourselves & our officers

[page 2]
the Col was amongst us all the while as Acting Brigadier
Genl the Officers of our Regt has since signed a petition
to have him Commissioned Brigadier which I along
with a great many others hope will be done. the
Cols hea[l]th has not been very good for the past few
days but he is off with the boys this Morning
My hea[l]th is good with the Exception of the a sore
leg hoping yours & all the ballance of the folks in NewCastle
to ge the same without the sore leg.  Stern give my
Kind Regards to all the boys Tom Falls Bill Cochran
Bill Emery & any others who may enquire for me
& tell them to write & I will answer & Keep them
posted if they open the correspondence, say to the
three Month boys that are at  home I say they dont
know the first principles of war had they been with
us through our long Marches Bivouacing in the Brush
for ten days at a time the coldest part of the
Winter with Nothing but a Blanket to shelter
ourselves from the piercing winds we had to encounter
& not More than we could Masticate of Hard bread
Salt pork & coffee they would have experienced
a change between this & guarding the Northern
Central R.R. in warm pleasant weather
but so far I have regretted that I come
if I get home safe & sound which I always thought
I would I have seen Enough to talk about & think
of for the ballance of My days,
Now Stern write soon & often & I will answer
Now I will close by signing Myself
Very Respectfully Yours
W. W. Houk
Direct to Washington D. C.
Co. I 7th Regt Ohio Inft
Shield Division
stamps not to be had in this county I leave you to pay postage
when you Call at Capt Duffys think of your humble servant
for there is none to be had out here you may depend–Houk

Sterns Tyler, the recipient, later joined the Union Army himself and the remainder of the letters in this collection were written home by him to his wife Mary.  Your “big Brother’s Regt” refers to his older brother General Erastus B. Tyler, 1822-1891, the successful merchant who raised the 7th Ohio and tangled with Jackson in the Valley.  William W. Houk eventually was promoted to Sgt.  Nothing further is known about him.

MSS 15204

[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]

Thursday 16th (sic)  Nothing new all day–At eleven oclock at
night there was a loud knocking at our door–when on open
-ing it to our great surprise and joy Jessie and her family came
in–Had been sent from Durham in the hack–I kept them
in my room all the remainder of the night and next day procured
her a room–She represents Wilmington as completely deserted
by inhabitants–& filled with soldiers–Says beef sells at 50 cts a pound
& butter 75–& people almost fight over it–she was glad to leave–

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former owner and editor of the Staunton Spectator, employed by the Quartermaster Dept.]

[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh, private, Cutshaw’s battery]

                                  Saturday 17  1862
   Left University with Va. Battery to join Gen. Jackson in the Valley of Va.
   Camped 4 miles N.W. of Charlottesville, Va.

[from the diary of Daniel D. Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan, and a Sgt., Co. b, 1st Special Battalion (Rightor’s), Louisiana Infantry]

     ‘Camp Rawle’     Thursday – April 17th 1862
This was a quiet day spent in Camp – reading most
of the time “What will he do with it” – as was
my spare time yesterday also – Norcum & Fry ret’d
today from camp   also Bob Hume [?], to join the
“faithful few” – We got 26 Grivot rifles today
& Capt Dunn promises us the same more tomorrow –
as soon as he finds who else are going to leave –
desert the field at this critical moment – I feel
sorry for my friends, Roath, Hall & Folger N.C.
who left yesterday & hope their reasons for leaving
are good – I cannot however imagine any
that could take me away – these men are all
true as steel, or I think they are – Not I fear [–]
satisfied with himself for going – The reports
today confirm those rec’d yes’day of the fight at
Dam No 2 – We rec’d a mail today, dates
from N.O. Apr. 6th – but I am still without a line from
Sallie – or anyone there.  Saw papers today of 14 Inst.
Janin visited us today – Wrote to Aby today urging him not
to leave til 1st May – Rec’d a letter from Harry
Fairchild –
Today saying that he was going too –
No one blames him as he is very sick &
unable to do much duty – yet I am sorry
to see him leave even under these circumstances –
he ought to be willing to stay & try to get well for
the battle – he is influenced I suppose by
Ned Phelps & those who are going home – Norvell
is detained in Camp Sick with chills.  Fry
says fretting himself to death at not being able
to come down – Scanlan died of
his wound late this Evening.
     The trees are just budding, & the
fruit trees in full bloom – Everything
looks so fresh & fair!  the past
four days have been balmy & delight-
-ful – Spring is upon us! & with
it thoughts crowd upon one of other
days & amid the stormy scenes
around us, we wander more
than usual to other’s – in spirit!!

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards[

MSS 6154