-
Christmas day
John writes about how he had a sad Christmas day because he was on guard duty all day. It is kind of sad because the things that we look forward to such as holidays and birthdays and anniversary's are all swept away in the war, it doesn't matter. All that matters is fighting and staying alive.
( A link about Christmas https://theconversation.com/how-the-american-civil-war-cemented-modern-christmas-traditions-69370 ) -
Men were drafted into the camp
Hundreds of new men were drafted into the army camps to be soldiers. Getting drafted is when you are forced to take part in the army, many people volunteer but not enough, the majority of people who got drafted were family's sons and younger fathers.
( A link about being drafted https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/everything-you-need-know-about-military-selective-service-system.html ) -
Period: to
John Miller
John Millers' experiences over the civil war. -
Will Landis
A friend named Will Landis came home to Johns family after being pronounced dead
(A photo of Greencastle Indiana where John's family lived) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greencastle,_Indiana -
Measles
There was a Measles breakout in camp Lindsey and many men were extremely sick. Measles was a common infection that now is only common in children and easily prevented with a vaccine. Although back during the civil war there was no vaccine and sense it spread so easily it was more severe than it is now.
( A link to give you information about measles https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/measles-plays-role-civil-war ) -
Camp Carrington
Traveled to Indianapolis and was then sent to Camp Carrington which was in John's opinion much better than Camp Lindsey.
(A photo of Indianapolis in present time) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis -
Chattanooga
Being sent to Chattanooga but not for long. Chattanooga was a very popular camp in Tennessee. It was bigger and better than a lot of camps that John visited on his journeys, it is mentioned a lot meaning he probably went to it a lot of times.
(a photo of Chattanooga Tennessee and a link about Chattanooga https://www.chattanoogan.com/2020/5/9/408833/Chattanooga-s-Contraband-Camp.aspx ) -
Headed to the fields
He leaves Chattanooga to go to the fields and get ready to fight. The fields were a makeshift camp that was always ready for action and was usually on the move. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/defining-battles-civil-war/#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20Civil%20War,Gettysburg%2C%20and%20the%20Vicksburg%20Campaign. -
Buzzard Roost
There was active fire and they were being fired at Buzzard Roost. The Buzzard Roost battle is a part of a bigger battle in history called the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge.
( A link with information about Rocky Face Ridge Battle, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/rocky-face-ridge ) -
Attack
On week seventeen they attacked the rebel lines and killed 5-6 thousand men. This is a big deal because a lot of soldiers have been around so much death that many don't see it the same way we do. They're used to it so they often don't care much or barely think about a death in the family or friends.
(Civil war graveyard) -
His uncle passes away
Uncle Si' jones' died it was very tragic for the whole family. He heard from his brother Preston through a letter.
( A link about death during the civil war https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/family-life-during-the-civil-war/ ) -
Soldiers
John tells his brother about the people who died during war. No one so far has died in action but around 12 have died in the hospitals, thankfully the hospital was able to save many.
( a photo of what a hospital looked like during the civil war and a link about hospitals http://www.pbs.org/mercy-street/uncover-history/behind-lens/hospitals-civil-war/ ) -
Prices
John talks about how expensive items are near camp Chattanooga which is interesting because you can see how much prices has gone up sense the civil war. Now in present day (2021) a dozen apples is average price 5-8 dollars but back during the civil war a dozen apples was only 25 cents. Which is quite expensive for a soldier because they almost never get payed and when they did it was very little. (http://sundaymagazine.org/2018/01/civil-war-food-prices-were-lower-than-those-of-today/) -
Laying in the trenches
John and the people he were with moved out of Chattanooga and marched within 2 miles of the rebels camp fires, while writing this note ( note #20 ) he was laying in a trench expecting attack at any moment. This event is important because imagine how terrifying it would be laying in the dirt waiting for your death in the dark.
( an image of what the trenches looked like and a link https://www.nps.gov/articles/training-for-trench-warfare.htm ) -
went out at sea
The camp went out at sea to get to Wilmington North Carolina and the whole crew (including John) got seasick
The image is what a boat used in the civil war looked like. ( And a link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City-class_ironclad ) -
Birthday
On February 27th 1865 John sent a letter to his younger brother Preston telling him about the history around him and asking him to write back soon and in the end of the letter he said "I am 20 years old today" Which I assume indicates that it was his birthday. ( link https://emergingcivilwar.com/2020/02/12/a-birthday-party-for-lincoln/ ) -
Stolen Stamps
John asked his father to send stamps so that he can send more letters to his family which his father did although when he received the letter it was torn open and the stamps were gone. This is kind of a big deal because stamps were expensive back then and now he has to go out of his way to find stamps so that he can communicate with his family during the war.
( The photo is a common stamp used in 1864 https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2014/pb22392/html/info_006.htm ) -
Heading home
John talks about how "The humiliations of the rebels is complete" and that they will be heading homeward. This may seem like a relief although they still have to make it all the way home which many might not survive. He seems excited to go home because in many recent letters he talks about how much he misses his little brother Preston and his mother and father. ( https://www.ncdcr.gov/news/press-releases/2015/04/30/soldiers-walk-home-new-bern-durham-commemorates-civil-wars-end -
$5
John receives a letter from his father containing a five dollar bill and for a lot of people this may not seem like a big deal but not only was a five dollar bill equal to about $109 dollars in present time but soldiers from the civil war barely ever got money. This $5 dollar bill could buy him dinner and clothes etc. so it was a very important event.
( Link to a site supporting my evidence on the value of a $5 bill https://www.officialdata.org/us/inflation/1800?amount=5 ) -
The last letter
In the last letter written John talks about how happy he is, he talks about all the things he has been doing and coffee. He also talks about how he and his friend John Matson went out and picked a bunch of blackberries to eat and to trade for potatoes and vegetables. He asks his father for 3-5 books because he wants to read. I assume that he never received those books. ( https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/between-the-lines-trading.html )
