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Pitsburgh Battle Field
Civil War Cemeterties Within the next 10 days Samuel's regiment will move to the enemies country. They wish to strike one more blow on the head of the rebellion. He mentions that they had buried as many as 40 soldiers in one grave, side by side, right on top of each other. They also buried as much as 140 rebels in one grave. He describes death like an unwelcome guest that nobody wants around. -
Period: to
Civil War Letters
sep2 1862
oct 7 1862
june13 1862
july 12 1863
dec3 1862
dec22 1862
dec21 1862
april 6 1863
apr 30 1863
may 1 1863
apr 20 1862 -
Spring Creek Camp
Civil War Transportation Samuel's regiment reached their present camp. They are 50 miles form Memphis, 50 miles from 'Pitsburgh Landing', and 10 miles from 'Grand Junction'. With their troops and the transport wagons their line was almost 10 miles long. At a small river called "Big Muddy" rebels had burned the bridge which caused a delay of 5 hours. After that they marched until 5pm, when they reached their camp. -
Memphis Tenn.
Chores on the Farm Sam is giving his wife instructions on how to take care of their farm. He tells her to gather the peas, cutt the corn, and get their son to plow the field. He warns her not to sell the cow and to increase their stock as much as she could. -
1 O Clock Tuesday Morning
Soldier's Pay There is a sick boy in Sam's new camp that he thinks will die by the morning. The paymaster still has not paid his Division and he knows not when they will be paid, he thinks it will be put off til january 1863. -
Late Tuesday Morning
Death During The Civil War The young boy still lives, he is very sick and Samuel has decided to make the boys case his own. He talks about how sad it would be to just have to lay down and die. To have the mighty war horses trample the dying and dead beneath their feet. All parts of the horrors of war. -
"Wiatt" on the "Talahachie" River "Miss"
When they reached "Wiatt" it was raining and they had no shelter, they marched 18 miles to get there. Two deserters came from the rebel army and said that they could get the whole of their Brigade if those two could get away. The rebels also burnt down another bridge that needed to be rebulit in order to cross the river. -
Helena Arkansas
Gambling during the Civil War Sam is feling very sick and uneasy. Colonel Smith is also sick but it is worse with him, many people are getting fevers. He also talks about all the drunkenness, gambling, and profanity that had over taken many of the men. He says he is ashamed of them and that they are a disgrace. -
Below "Helena", 2 1/2 miles on the Arkansas shore in the woods
Samuel is talking about how he wishes to be home and how he is ashamed by his Regiment. He talkes about how they are a disgrace. Captin Watson also visited Samuel on their boat to talk about all the things that had happened since they left "Cape Girardeau". -
Camp near Youngs Point
In this letter he talks to his wife about how he is disapointed in her for not writing him. He tells her grief fell upon him when he did not receive a letter and he tells her that even if she has moved on he will still love her. He used the pay he got recently to by her a gift and he says even though he is tired and worn out he will still write her. -
Pitsburgh Battle Field
Civil War Mail Sam talked about how he was appointed Regimental P.M. He takes the mail to the boat and brings back any thing that has been recieved. Its nearly 5 miles on horse and since it has been pouring rain for days his job is even harder. All that aside he is very proud of his job and is very fond of it. -
Camp of Confusion again
Sam talks about how everyone is confused and sick. He also says that both armies are now opperating for the capture of Vicksburg and that the rebels have crossed the river and are ready to attack their camps. They are all ready to go when ordered and the rebels no doubt intend to attack the camps when the fighting men are gone. He stills longs for the war to be over. -
Camp of Cofusion
Samuel is upset that he cannot share the beauties of spring where he is with his wife. He talks about the soft velvet green of the valleys and how the birds in every group of trees "warble their sweetest songs". He wishes he was with her and that the war was over. -
Youngs Point La
He says that their troops are successful. A colonel from Genl. Rosencran's army with 2000 cavalry pitched on the rebels at "meridian" near Jackson Miss. burned 100 Locomotives, 600 cars, and 6 months provision of the rebels. That was published in the Vicksburg paper to show their victory. -
Vicksburg, Miss.
Genl Osterhouse of Samuel's army was killed, his brigade had been taken prisoner by the rebels near Jackson and he was shot. Rebel Genl Johnson was also taken prisoner. -
Vicksburg, Miss.
Sam wishes to be home with his children and his wife. He says that he would like to leave the army in late august. He believes the army doesnt need him anymore because Vicksburgs has fallen. He says unless God decides that he should stay he will not spend more that one month there.
