Civil War Letters
1864
Camp near Culpeper, Va.
January the 7th, 1864
Dear Miss,
I have the pleasure of riting you a
few lines, I didnt think that
I would answer your letter. Their was
talk of the Regiment a going home
I thought it no harm to rite a few
lines. The wether is very cold here.
at the present time, our Camp is about
one mile and a haf from town.
We have plain view of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. The wind blose very rough
and cold. We are doing pickett duty
near the Rhapidan River. I wish
this war was over so we could come
home, live a white mans life once more
I think that the rebs is about played
out. Well, Kate, I dont believe I
have no more to rite at present, answer,
if you think proper to do so.
This leaves me well, hoping it will
find you the same
Yours with respect.
S. A. D.
C. Hawk
I give the other to W. Galyean
Note:
I believe this is a letter from Samuel
Dickover to Catherine Hawk.
Camp of the 19th Vols.
Near Culpeper, Va.
April the 9\64
The weather is vary rainy this morning
and for our business. The drumbs
are beating for picketts, Bales is
on picket this morning, he dont like
it much, I wouldnt if were in his place.
I came off duty yesterday and
went out, it was snowing, raining,
the weather is worse hear and it is
in Califorinia.
Daniel Gervis has arrived hear and
doing well over the arrival.
John, I think is morning over the lost
of one in Randolph Co. We are
having some fast old times a bout this
time a day. I think it will best
old Burr. You are right a bout soldiers
gitting married, some are crazy
because they have been a way two
or three years, a good time if ever
they go, they go hull hog, while they
are young. I dont believe I was
to stay a way twenty years, I should
keep my sences as ever. much like
never bothered me the least bit, dont
care who gits weded, it is all
together out of my line of business.
I heard from Marth the other day, by
way of mail by a citizen
She could best me, commencing of a
letter, she commenced, my dear
intended. You can form you own idea
a bout the rest. that is all I am
supposed to tell. I think Bedwell had
a better stay at home with the girl
he loves best, than to come down hear
with veterans volunteers.
You must not look for me to write a
loud letter, for I have such a
cold, I cant talk but little but I
can keep thinking over the left.
I am sorry to hear that Marry has not
got the measles or the mumps.
I had forgotten to tell you I have
had the mumps since I have been hear but
I didnt have so bad but what I could
eat pickles or cut love.
You speaking of having good times
at Mr Burrs, I cant see it in that
light, I have more fun in battle but
we dont have any preserves. We take
bumb soup on ouers skin and it is good.
You had better git you some.
I am glad to hear Williams giting married
but am sory John come back
with out being a married man, I think
he would.
I ant going to tell you that we are
out of rations, nothing to eat to
day. Chigley is so fat, he cant love.
I think I had better take it on
my self to love for him. if that will
do.
I suppose you all have seen old roan
and what did you think of the
old gentleman, Madam?
I dont believe it worth while me trying
to write any more this
morning, it is no use to tell you my
health has been good for if it
hadnt been so, we might of had rations
left.
Very respectfully
return approved
A. W. Galyean
Headquarters Co, B,. 84th Reg.
Blue Springs, Tenn
April 11, 1864
Dear Aunt,
It is with great pleasure that I seat
my self to drop you a
few lines of pleasure. I am well and
harty and hope this may find
you the same. It has bin a long time
since I have heard from you
and I thought I would write you a few
lines to see if I couldnt
get a answer. Well, I will change subjects,
I have hurd that
Uncle Will has come home on furlough
and re enlisted for three
years longer. Well, If I dont git to
come home on furlough until
I enlist for three years, I will stay
my time out and then they cant
git me to stay any longer but we dont
have to stay only seventeen
months longer any how and that wont
be long and I heard uncle
Washington More had enlisted in the
19th Regiment and I want you to
write and tell me whether he had or
not. If he has, he will wish
him self out before he git out but
I say it is the duty of all loyal
men to take the place of the old soldiers
that is coming out this
summer, some may say, well, I am good
looking , or to well off, or
my business is so I cant go to the
army, well, I say they dont know
anything a bout it for there as many
men in the army that has business
left in the hands of some man or woman
as there is good looking men in
the army or as sick men in the army
as their is at home. Well, I
must bring my letter to a close by
asking you to write as soon as you
git, direct to Chattanooga, Tenn. so
no more at present but still
remain you Nephew untill death
John W. Turner
To Catherine Hawk
Blountsville, Henry County, Ind.
June 23, 1864
Satterlee U. S. A. Hospital
West Philadelphia, Pa.
Miss C. Hawk
I have gust been talking with
some vary nice young ladies that had
come in the hospital to see the soldiers,
they looked so gay, I thought
I must write a few lines to you to
find out whether you thought they
looked gay. There is some sisters hear,
I am sure they look gay, there
are two of them, every ward, they are
kind, do every thing they can for
a person.I hate to see them, I dont
have as much to say as they
would like, I dont want to get acquainted.
I dont believe its any use to say any
thing a bout one gitting hurt,
for there are so many that has got
shot ducking Grants Campaign, but
I am sensible, that I accidently got
it pluged to my own self and it
was the cause of me throwing my knapsack
away and beating a hasty
retreat to the rear, leaving your minature
and the Bainters, in the
knapsack and I expect they are martally
wounded before this time, it
was thier first battle and last one.
I am glad that I got shot, I
git to liv with the Sisters of Charity
Well, I am doing well, I hope you are
doing the best you can, did
think I would been at home a gainst
the 4th of July but I have heard
diferent since.
Dont forget the pictures some time,
when you git ready and send
them or tell me whether you will or
no. You may tell Catharine Bainter,
that I would except a letter, if she
feels disposed to write one or
half dozen, yes or L. Walradt, or any
body else, dont care, any one
thats in favor of the Country breaking
up the war up.
Write soon, if you please
Allen W. Galyean
I give in my name, Allen W. Galyean
and they dont know me by the
name Wesley Galyean and its some trouble
gitting a letter. Direct to
Satterlee Gen. Hospital, West Philadelphia,
Penslvania.
Allen W. Galyean
Near Petersburg,
Va.
July 5/64
Dear Wife,
It is with pleasure that I seat myself
to drop you a few lines
to let you know that I am well and
I hope you are
the same. we are still in the pitts
in front of Petersburg, where
we expect to remain the greatest part
of this summer, picket firing
and a few cannon shots with a shell
from the Mortars now and then, is all
that breaks up on our ears these sultry
summer days.
Yesterday was the 4th of July and we
were expecting lively times
but if there was any difference at
all it was more quiet than common,
scarcely a shot was fired from either
side.
Today, it is so warm, that our boys
and the rebels are lying around
in the shade, very few of them are
shooting at one another. Brother
Daniel has a very severe flesh wound
just above the kneee joint. He is
in the U. S. A. General Hospital, 10th
Pavillion, Davids Island, New
York, and will get a furlough
as soon as he is able to travel. The
Doctor says it will be some time be
fore he will be fit for duty again.
In reference to some money, I can not
send you any now for we have
not been paid or yet, and I do not
know when we will be. The officers
and men are all out of meney and the
paymaster says he is sick and he
cannot come out but just as soon as
we get paid, I will send you some.
I am in hopes that the seige
will have some tendency to demoralize
Lees army and bring this war to a speedy
close, for the present, I will
close, hoping to hear from you soon,
from your affectionate Husband
John Hawk
Company K. 19th Ind.
If you cannot do without the money,
go to Henry Jacobs and tell him
you must have some money and I think
he will let you have some
J. H.
Note:
It would seem John has been home and
gotten married...
Near Petersburg, Viriginia
July the 11th, 1864
Dear Father,
It is with great pleasure that I seat
myself to drop you a few lines to
let you know how I am getting along
and so forth, I am enjoying the
very best of health, and I hope that
these few lines will find you
enjoying the same blessing.
I have not heard from you since I was
at home last spring, I
would like to hear from Perry once
in awhile, how he is getting along.
What has become of uncle Washington
Moore? I have not heard from him,
whether he ever got well or not. We
are in front of Petersburg and I
expect we will remain here for some
time yet. We are Siegeing the City
and it will take a long time to get
them out of thier fortifications.
I would like to hear from you once
in, so that I will know whether you
are alive or not.
There was a battery of six mortars
(brass pieces throwng a shell
weighing 24 lbs.) passed along here
going out to the breastwork of our
Division, there will be a lively time
here one of these days. We have
Artillery enough here to Shell the
whole Southern Confederacy, if it
was in range of our guns, I never saw
so much Artillery in all of my
life. I say success to the Yanks.
For the present, I will close, hoping
to hear from you often and
soon, your affectionate Son till death
John Hawk
Company K
19th Ind. Vet. Vols.
If Wes Galyen is at home , tell him
I would like to hear from him once
in while, how is he getting and
c,.
J. H.
Satterlee U. S. A. Hospital;
West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sept, 5th/64
Miss C Hawk,
I thought it nothing more than
right to write you a few lines by
way of old acquaintance for they say
old acquaintance is the best.
I have heard them say to day was the
day for the People to come to
out of the Draft, What you say? It
has been raining for two days
and nights. The weather is a little
cool to day but all the better
for the wounded. There is a bout 4000
in this hospital at the
present and a portion of them are negroes
and fine looking patience
they are too. I have gay old
times, stay in the city the most of
my time, gitting acquainted, most too
well. I will have to leave off a
while. My duty is to help the Sister
give out the extra Diet after it
is carried in to the tent and when
I am not there she will do the
work and never say any thing about
it. My birth is a easy one.
The place on my shoulder hasnt healed
yet and I am not sorry as it
either or wont be. If it doesnt heal
in six months, I am going to lay
back and see what effect the Draft
has before I volunteer for the
front again. I stay where thers the
least of those bomb shells. I
have my fill of them things but I feel
for the Draft. The magority
of soldiers ar going to vote
for little Mac but I dont believe the
Citizens of Blountsville will. The
band has just come back from
burying a Priest, the Soul Saver, and
a great man he is to, I reckon.
Write when ever you feel like doing
so and oblige me.
Allen W. Galyean
NOTE:
Although this is the last of the letters
in this collection, the men
continued to serve with the exception
of Allen W. Galyean, he was
discharged October, 1864. John Turner
was mustered out June 1865,
William Hawk was mustered out December
1865 and John Hawk was
mustered out July 1865
Henry Co. Home