Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Camp Blackwater, Missouri. Several acquaintances have gone home on furlough but Jacob does not think he will be able to get home because it will cost about fifty dollars for the trip. He is only on guard duty once a week. They have fresh pork and can buy honey for one dollar a gallon.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter while he was at Fort Ridgley, Minnesota. He made his way from Rochester, through Mankato and New Ulm to Fort Ridgley. He is waiting for the pay master and will send money home as soon as possible. He mentions several acquaintances and reports on their health.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Independence, Missouri. His health is still good. He has newspapers from Saint Louis giving accounts of General Grant driving Lee towards Richmond. Jacob thinks the war will soon be over. He plans to buy Mary a ring as soon as he is paid. He only has ten cents left. He hopes to be paid for four months wages in July. He thanks Ellen for sending the book mark. He thinks it is a great blessing to have a chance for his children to go to school. In the south, the poor do not get any formal education and have to make do with what they learn from home. He has not had any drills recently and is doing mostly guard duty. Sam Mott has small pox.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from camp in Independence, Missouri. He was impressed with the beauty of the countryside. Bushwhackers have been operating in the area and they passed many burnt buildings on the way to Independence. He is now three hundred miles south of Rochester and about one hundred and fifty miles east.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Jefferson City, Missouri. He mentions that he has sent twenty dollars home. He has guard duty frequently because most of the companies have moved south.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Osage City, Kansas. He had two boils on his face. Mail has been slo9w coming from home but he believes that it is due to the heavy snows in Illinois and Wisconsin. New Years day it was twenty-two degrees below zero in his camp. He has been working and has earned sixteen dollars since he came to Osage. He spent five dollars and twenty-five cents for a pair of boots and another dollar and a half for an ax.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Osage City, Kansas. He is doing well and expects to earn some more money if they stay in the same place. It is warmer and the snow is almost all gone. The rings that he sent home cost one dollar and fifteen cents.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Osage City, Kansas. He is well and hopes they are all doing fine. He has already sent ten dollars home this month and expects to send another three dollars as soon as he gets paid. He earned one dollar splitting rails. He mentions wanting Martha to get a cow from Nat Irish. It was rumored that the paymaster was in Jefferson. He has not heard from his brother, William. He is anxious to hear how his father is doing.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Osage City, Kansas. It has been very cold and snowy. He bought himself a pair of boots. He is owed two months pay. He asks if Martha received the jewelry he sent.
Jacob Dieter wrote this letter from Warrensburg, Missouri. He has earned twenty-eight dollars working out, but does not know if he will get more work. He tells Martha that Parks Penharlow is in the hospital, so the rumors that she had heard that he was dead are untrue. While they were in Osage City they slept in a building, but in Warrensburg, they are sleeping in tents. He received a letter from his father. His company expects that they will move about five miles to guard a bridge.
Rhoda George wrote this letter from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky to her children. She describes the trip from Fort Snelling to Lebanon, Kentucky and life with her son, George. A mortgage, property and James George's military duties are mentioned. She expresses concern over the state of the nation. On the last page, James George sends greetings and tells his family how to find the location of Lebanon on a map.
James George wrote a short greeting to his children at the beginning of the letter and tells them that his regiment will march out the next day. Rhoda and Ned were expected to stay in Lebanon, Kentucky, until other lodgings could be found. Rhoda mentions her cooking, Mr. Cilley and other acquaintances. The letter is continued by Rhoda the next day as she describes her loniness at the departure of her husband from Lebanon Junction, Kentucky.
James George wrote this letter while in camp near Columbia, Tennessee. He expects to go south again in a few days and join a force of about 170,000 men. He talks about his prospects for a promotion. Ned is scolded for using bad language.
This letter is unsigned, but presumed to have been written by James George. It is dated eighteen sixty one, but James George's unit was not in this area until January of eighteen sixty two. This letter was written from camp in near Jamestown, Kentucky. They are about sixteen miles from the enemy. There are rumors around camp the the enemy force is between nine thousand and twenty-five thousand men. He thinks Clinton Cilley will be promotes to one of the offices of Company C. He belives politics will prevent Cilley from being promoted to captain now.
James Greorge wrote this letter from camp near Nashville, Tennessee. He has heard reports that the rebels destroyed parts of the railroad between the camp and Louisville. His unit will be marching south the next day. He does not feel that they will be involved in any more fighting because the rebels have been retreating and disbanding in all directions. He does not think that the South can make a stand against the superior force of the North. He hopes that Rhoda and Ned got home safely.
James Greorge wrote this letter from camp. He has not received mail in about a month and presumes it is because the Confederate forces control the area to the rear of his unit. He has heard of Union victories from the Potomac to the Gulf, but has no news of the enemy forces near him. He hopes Rhoda and George had a good trip home and arrived safely.
James George wrote this letter from camp. The previous Sunday, they were attacked by rebel forces, but were able to drive them away. The rebel force left about two thoudsand mules and horses and other equipment worth about a half a million dollars. His regiment had twelve killed, five badly wounded and 20 slightly wounded. General Zollicoffer was killed.
James George wrote this letter from camp and describes life with his troops and their regiment's battles. He mentions that Captain Markham was wounded and would be returning home. Rhoda George and Ned are in Danville and are on their way to meet him. He has communicated with his wife by telegraph.
James George wrote this letter from camp. After the general died the day before, they started marching. They had no tents the night before and he got wet from the dew. The men of the Ninth Ohio had been acting badly since the general died. James George drove off some members of that unit who were abusing two young ladies. The weather has been very hot. He mentions possibilities for General McCook's replacement. There is word that the rebels are marching towards his regiment. He is fearful that the war will go on indefinitely.
James George wrote this letter from camp near Cornith, Mississippi. He has sent three hundred dollars by Captain T. Eifer to the express office in Red Wing. He expects to get paid another four hundred dollars at the first of the month. He has done all the paper work to discharge Darwin Rassitor. They are expecting a big battle any day. His health is not good and he has trouble getting around.
This letter was written by James George from camp near Cornith, Mississippi. He is very close to the enemy, but is not sure if there will be a battle. He is unwell and intends to leave when the battle is over.
James George wrote this letter in camp south of Cornith, Mississippi. He is very tired after several days of engagment with the enemy. Captain Kiefer returned after delivering three hundred dollars to the Red Wing express office for Rhoda. The weather is very hot. A few days later, he adds a note to the letter stating that he will be going into a house and taking some medicine.
James George wrote this letter in camp about four miles from Cornith, Mississippi. The weather is very hot. He now has additional medical aid and his health is improving. They are three miles from the enemy and expect a battle soon. The Fourth Regiment is about eight miles east of their location. Clinton Cilley now commands Comapany C.