John H. Borger

1st Lieutenant, Co. B, 12th Iowa Infantry

James G. Andrews

Private, Co. C, 7th Illinois Infantry

“Residence: Oswego Kendall County Illinois”

Letter of L. Bolles, Jr. to his wife, August 20, 1864

Milford, Mass.  Aug 20th, 1864

My Dear Wife,

I have received nothing from you since the letter which I replied from Hopkinton. I did very well at Hopkinton in selling town lots. I worked quite hard and got quite warn out. I preached Sunday, lectured on the west Monday eve and on Tuesday on the siege of Vicksburg. The collections were very small amounting to about $6. But I sold 10 Town Lots making all together $201. so that I have nearly enough to vet $500 above expenses. I hope to make it up to this though times are harder for laboring people than I thought off. Everything to live is so terrible high that men who get good wages have to pinch hard to live. Warren has a nice peddling team and thinks he is closing pretty well selling dry good and Yankee rations about in neighboring towns. It is somewhat sickly here and they have two or three funerals a day. Mrs Saml Templeton died suddenly last night. She was miserably poor. Had been forsaken by her husband who you recollect used to be one of my special friends doing all he could to ---- me but never succeeding. He is now in State Prison for marrying four different wives. There appears to be a good deal of the Devil’s ----- these days.

I stopped at Parker Coburns some in Hopkinton and sold him 2 Town lots. They live a perfect Hell upon earth and it is difficult to tell which is the most to blame. She says that he is worth $300,000 and will let her have but little money to get by with and she has to work like a slave. She now had a green Irish girl and is expecting another. She has had a dozen different girls within a few months and can’t keep them. She complains bitterly of his treatment of her. Their quarrels are town talk. She says he has used personal violence on her many times and misused her in every possible way. She wanted my advise as she had more confidence in me than any other. I told her she had better be in a factory carrying her living than to be in such a Hell upon earth, that I would demand a settlement of $25,000 or an annuity for my support and if this were denied I would sue for a divorce. She says he had told her 500 times to leave him and her Webster says that Coburn has tried every way to get rid of her and offered to leave it to arbitration how they shall part and settle but she won’t do it. Mr Harris told me that May told his daughter that she overheard them talking last week and that she called him a --- old tyrant and said that all he wanted of her was to work like a slave all day and then ride her all night. I have not detailed this gossip because it is rich or palatable to you though this may be true but it is a good illustration of a good part of the legal marriage in high life. Wealth, lust and pride make a Hell which I thank God that he has not suffered us to fall into but I do hope that his spirit will lead us to the opposite result of a divorce unity which is higher and sweeter that the world or the flesh ever dreamed of. We shall find if we follow the truth in the Love of it, that Heaven is not far off as we used to imagine. I feel quite in a hurry to get home but you know the journey has cost a good deal and I want to do my work up faithfully.

I feel very grateful for the success which I have met with and for the prospect of getting up a little church. This will be the finishing stroke of the colony job and then we will see what the Lord will lead us to. I know that the Lord has led us in all the past and his goodness has been wonderful indeed and I expect it will be even more clear to us hereafter. I am very happy in Christ and I do expect to continue to be forever and I hope you will be as much so. God is no respecter of persons. Make room for him and he will fill you with the Heaven of his own joy and the calmness of his security. To give all is to receive all, to loose all is to gain all. To die totally is to live completely. What beautiful paradoxes there are in the truth. I gave all my property to God and he has given me all things. The farther I go from you the nearer I am to you. When you give me altogether to Christ you will possess me as you never did before. He who said “Behold I make all things new” is infinite Love and he will not take away any old thing without giving us something for better to supply its place. But he will come on all the world as a ---- and I trust we are not of the world as he is not of the world.

I think I shall go to Albion to see your folks next week. I have a letter from Father that Caroline will be at home in a few days so I shall return that way. Elisha is a little shakey about going west. The draft is coming off and his town has made no provision and substitutes are $1130. and if he is drafted his family need all his money. The world is in a terrible fix these days. But it is all preparing the way of the Lord.

Oh! How I thank him that he has taken us to the mountain top and showed us his glory and set his seal upon my heart. He will do the same for you if you will open your heart toward Him and let Him in to keep with you and the feast will be Eternal Love.

Elisha says she won’t write now. Tell her you are all right and seeing she couldn’t come you are both one and you are visiting for both.

We are going to have cabbage for dinner by the smell.

I shall probably preach half a day tomorrow and lecture Monday.

Love to all.

Your affectionate husband,

L Bolles Jr.

David Bremner Henderson

1^st Lieutenant, Co. C, 12^th Iowa Infantry

Colonel, 46^th Iowa Infantry

39th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

Charles Knapp, Corporal, 3rd Iowa Light Artillery

William H. Main, Sergeant, 3rd Iowa Light Artillery

Henry J. Preble

Quartermaster Sergeant, 3rd Iowa Light Artillery

Lewis H. Everts

1^st Lieutenant, Co. D, 52^nd Illinois Infantry

Quatermaster General's Office, Washington, August 3, 1866

(Form No. 2)

QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, August 3, 1866

Mr. 2nd Auditor

Will please state how Jno. J. Reed , "Priv," " A " Company, 7 Regiment Iowa Volunteer Inftry, Appears on the following rolls, how mustered, and the amounts paid.

Augt, 1861 , Major Cooke

account, No.		113 ,	9214
Oct '61	Sheaman	257	8078
Dec "	Johnson	306	3943
Feby & Apl 1862	Camp	792	542

J.W. Nicholls

General John M. Corse

Letter of James Wilson, Co. C, 36th Illinois Infantry, May 18, 1864

Culan, Georgia

May 18, 1864

Friend Albert,

I received your welcome letter several days ago with the stamps enclosed.  I have had no time to answer it until now and at this time we are on the march close after the enemy.  For several days our Division has been in the advance fighting and skirmishing.  Today the order has been changed and some of the others take the advance and we the rear.  That is the reason we are stopped now for a couple of hours only.  We have had some hard fighting to do.  Our regiment has been engaged three times.  Our loss in all has been about 75 killed and wounded.  Jimmie Barton was badly wounded yesterday morning on the skirmish lines.  We was in the advance and men on the enemy who were parted behind a fence.  We had an open field to cross and they fired into us.  Jim was struck in the head a little above the temple.  He was carried to the hospital and the ball was extracted with several pieces of his skull.  It is very doubtful if he is alive yet.  The doctor said his wound was mortal.  Yesterday evening the rebs made a --- and our Brigade fought them over three hours.  In our company have one killed and two wounded.  James Davis was the one that was killed (he used to live at John Paine’s) shot through the heart.  On the 14^th and 15^th we had a regular battle.  We was engaged over five hours on the 14^th and about one hour on the 15^th under a very heavy fire of musketry and grape.  Our 2^nd Lieutenant had one foot taken off by a piece of shell.  John Porter was struck on the head by a limb of a tree and lay senseless for several hours.  We expected he would not live but the last word I heard he was getting along very well and would recover.  The same day we has one man killed and two wounded of Company C which makes in all two killed and seven wounded of our company.  I had some close calls but didn’t get a scratch.  We are following the enemy up closely and tomorrow reach Kingston where we expect to have another battle as the deserters say it is the intention to make another stand there.  It is where the Railroad branches off to Rome and after they leave there Rome is gone.  I am getting tired of this kind of business for nearly three weeks now it has been march and fight all the time.  This is a hard campaign and one that is pushing the Rebs to their fartherist point as fast as it can be done.  We are all nearly wore out form fatigue and want of sleep yet in good spirits and willing to push forward and get the matter wound up as soon as possible.  The news from the East has been pretty sprinkled and has caused considerable excitement and enthusiasm.  Good news from other quarters are good to make a fellow fight well.  It does me good to hear the hundred day men turning out as well.  I wish I could see a roster of the Warren County Companies.  I want to know who all are going.  They will certainly help a great deal but the time is rather short and they ought to be out now.  I would like to write you a long letter Bert but I haven’t time and probably wouldn’t have much time for a week or two.  If we push on to Atlanta it will take that longer.  All of the boys that are with the Company are well.  Bill Mitchell got knocked down last night by a limb cut off by artillery but wasn’t hurt much.  Mercer has not been ---.  Captain and Turnbull are all right and will write just as soon as we have another break.  Give my kindest regards to all.

As ever your friend.

Jim Wilson (Sgt.)

Source: Posted on Ebay, June 20, 2011

Rachel M. Bolles to Lorenzo Bolles, Jr., March 28, 1863

Sand Spring [Iowa]

Saturday eve 28th March, 1863

My Dearest Husband,

I had made up my mind if I did not get a letter from you today to sit down and write you a good long old fashion love letter but yours came so loaded with love that I need pay extra on it but I don’t care for that. (I mean yours of 15th and 23rd) It expresses my own feelings so well and makes me feel so nicely that I think I will write until I feel low spirited. That won’t be a great while. I presume though I have done pretty well I think under the circumstances. Am in good health. So are the children. Anna has been unwell with a cold on her lungs. A bad cough. She has had a good many such sick spells since she had the diphtheria. She is nearly well now. Carrie wanted to know if you did they pay anything for the milk that we let them have? Don’t intend to say anything about it but have often thought I should like to know but don’t want to ask her.

Marsk is fencing in a lot for the sheep from the SW corner of the barnyard to Hubbard’s fence then from the corner of the pig pen to Bowen fence. We have eleven lambs now. Mr Campbell is quite sick with lung fever. Has been raising blood. They are boarding at Sherwood’s. Mr Greer has buried another child. Has 2 left out of 6. Mr Clines buried another this week, I had a letter from E Spalding this week with $3.00 to pay taxes. He know you are in the Army and yet writes as though you was at home. Has been to Eastbard. Saw your father, Mr Taylor called here today. Said he could do nothing about Mr Warner’s taxes. Should let it remain until you come home then you could attend to it with your own. So you see it must fall to your lot after all to take care of all these folks taxes.

I have an excellent letter from our old friend, Deborah will send it to read. Please send it back. You will see what she says about taxes in behalf of others perhaps you had better write to Doc Holding. I don’t know what to tell them. I will send you a stamp. You say you will answer somebody’s letter that I sent you. I have sent so many that I don’t know which you mean. Did you get Brother Patters letter?

Sabbath eve.

I must get this ready to go in the morning. Don’t know where it will find you but I hope in a good place, well and happy. Wish you was here tonight. It would be so pleasant to have your company. The children have all gone to bed. Anna is in the cradle by my side so I do not feel that I am all alone. She is a great deal of company for me both night and day. Carrie’s last request before going to bed was to send her love and Ann’s to Father and tell him not to forget Anna. I think she sent you a short letter in one of mine. She thinks it rather strange that you don’t answer it.

I have been to meeting today. It was rather hard for Brother Bell to get into the works but after he did he done very well. The largest half of the congregation was children. Saw Mr Boldin. Gave Brother Bell some money. They feel obliged to pay him and I am glad they do though nobody likes him. I wish they were obliged to give me something for the services that you have rendered them. Perhaps I shall get along just as well with out it. I never have suffered yet. Don’t think I ever shall. I hope not at least.

It is bedtime and I must go to bed. If you was not pretty good on reading writing also spelling I should not dare send this.

Are your old shirts and stockings worn out yet? If you have any old clothes that I can make use of when you come home take them along if you can.

I must close. Wish you a good nights rest and sweet dreams.

From your affectionate wife,

R M Bolles

Sand Spring, March 29th 1863

I have sent you all the Republicans that have come.

Letter of William Kelley Steele, Oct. 3, 1861

Benton Barracks

St. Louis Missouri

Oct. 3d 1861

Dear Parents,

I received your kind letter this morning and was glad to hear from you and that you were well. I also am well and enjoying myself very well. You ask where we are. At present we are at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, but expect to leave here in the morning, for what point I cannot say. It is unknown but for the field of battle probably. Borrow no trouble about my turning traitor, neither about my turning my back to the enemy, and further I will try to do my duty both to my country and superior officers. Tell Mother that it is impossible for me to get my picture for her at present. I would if I could and be glad to. News came to hand this morning that the Rebels had taken Jefferson City, but that is doubtful. Our pickets were driven in last night. Now I believe I have told you all the news and must do a little begging. Father, I wish you would send me some money for I had bad luck and lost all the money I had and am without a cent. We received our uniforms yesterday. I like all the officers well and a fine lot of boys there is in the Company. Give my love to all the family. Remember me to all the friends. Write often. Direct to William Kelly Steele, Company H, 9th Regiment Iowa Volunteers, St. Louis, Missouri. I have written two letters to Mary Ann and have received no answer, and now good bye dear parents.

Your Affectionate Son and Brother,

William Kelly Steele

Nathan J. Moore

Sergeant, Co. H, 3rd Iowa Cavalry

Nathaniel Livingston

Corporal, Co. H, 77th Illinois Infantry

Written on the back:

Yours Truly

Nathaniel Livingston

Co H 77" Ill Vol Inft

New Orleans, La

February 10" 1865

Joseph Husman

Private, Co. D, 31st Iowa Infantry

Declaration for Original Invalid Pension of Abram O. Blanding

Palmer, Fla.  Mar 6, 1891 –

Declaration for Original Invalid Pension

Had a good many attacks but can’t now state time & place.  Except a very severe attack of Dengue, a form of Malarial fever followed by jaundice, bilious disease about 1st Aug 1864 at Brazos Santiago, coast of Texas doctored myself as was no other Surgeon there.  All the troops had gone the week before to Fort Morgan, Ala.  I was detailed to [remain a for] day with Col of our Reg. who was detained on some extra duty when got to N.O., was not fit for duty, was loosing rather than gaining.  So applied for sick leave went North, some sixty days, joined Reg out at Duvals Bluff Ark, was never sick in Hospital except Regimental was never detailed from Reg to Hospital on my other duty, always with Reg & always in the field all times in Malarial Country & exposed to all kinds of weather. Doctored self when sick & attended duty most of time, other assistants where [sic] on detached service a good deal & Surgeon away on sick leave a good deal & when with Reg let me do most of work.  

Since leaving the army have had repeated attacks of Malarial fever which has been more severe yet nothing to cure. 

A.O. Blanding, Enrolled Sept 1_, 1862 [In] 20 Iowa Inf Asst Surgeon, Vol commanded by Wm McE. Dye, honorably discharged Clinton Co, 30/day Aug 1865.

Dr. A. O. Blanding, Asst-Surgeon, of 20 Iowa Inft Vol.  Enlisted about Sept 1_ 1862 at in Clinton, Iowa.  In fall of 62 & winter 62 & 63 was in N.O. & Ark in battle of Prairie Grove, Dec 7th 1862, at the Seige [sic] of Vicksburg in June 1863, after fall of Vicksburg, was some time in Miss & La.   Then on Coast of Texas, was not with the Reg at Fort Morgan in Aug 1864.  was sick.  Was at the battle of Blakeley in Apr 1865.

First time sick with Malarial fever poisoning at Vicksburg Miss, June on or about 18th 1863.  A number of attacks after the most severe one at Brazos Santiago, Coast of Texas, Aug 1864.  It was followed by a severe attacked of jaundice, deafness caused by in[illegible]ing quinine.

Agent –

Geo. Bancroft & Co., No 604 fifth St N.W. Washington, DC  Applied at about July 1890 after new law also under old law.   Age 67 years. high 5 feet 9 inches.

Light complection [sic], light hair, grey eyes.  In line of duty, Vicksburg, Miss, about June 18th 1863 malarial poisoning contracted.



Jacob Keiler

Pvt., Co. H, 13th Iowa Infantry

1st Iowa Cavalry: Receipt For Fodder

Wolf Creek March 5 [18]63

Recd of Mr Henry Smith five bus corn and one hundred & fifty pounds fodder for A Co 1st Iowa Cavalry. A. P. Boyse

Brevet Brigadier-General John M. Hedrick