Mitchell Family Civil War Letters

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 1)

[page 1]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's Sept. 16, 1862 letter]

September the 16th

Dear wife i take this

opportunity to let you see

that i am well

i have not drawn

but $25 dollars i send

you 86 dollars by phnlzet (?)

i will draw $26 dollars

more as soon as i get to

the regimant.

i will send it to all

yo

i am in a hurry

no more at

present so good by

fare well.

S. C. Mitchell

to M. J. Mitchell

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 2)

[page 2]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's Oct. 2, 1862 letter]

Camp near Fairfax Station

October the 2, 1862

Dear wife i tak my pen in

to inform you that i am

well at this time and hope that

these times may find you all the

same i have nothing of importance to

rite all that i can say is that i

wish you all well i would like

to see you all they are fighting at

Culpepper Courthouse yesterday and to

day our regiment is under marching

orders i am satisfied here but i would

rather be at home with you there is

some talk of sending us to columbus

to guard prisoners if you have heard

any thing from frank rite to me

where he is we are expecting to have

our money soon i will send it to you

try and get along the best you can

i expect to go into the regular

army, the ninth Illinois, it is near us

the boys from Ill. is here

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 3)

[page 3]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Samuel Mitchell's Oct. 2, 1862 letter]

Henry Paul is with the

ninth regulars and all the other

boys from there i hav a letter from

Bill and the folks is all well ?

i have not time to rite

any more at this time you must

rite as soon and as often as you

can the rebels is very short

of grub they are nearly starved

there naked slaves came to me and

Jim Elie they say the rebles have

nothing to eat nor feed there

horses you have no ide how the

houses and crops are destroyed here

and there is not a fence

where we have been. The people is nearly

starved out here

but still they have the guts

to fight tell all the folks

that I am well

take good care of the boy

don't neglect him for he is

all my hope

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 4)

[page 4]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Samuel Mitchell's Oct. 2, 1862 letter]

My dear wife i would to se you but

it is impossible i shall be home by e_ _ s_ _ ing (?)

if i hope to take french furlo i think that this

war cannot last much longer we had

some trouble in coming to the regiment

the boys was glad to se us come and i

was glad to se them our regiment is

provose guard in Sigles division

i am afraid we will not get in

any fight i am lonesome here

i would like to se or hear from

you tel the folks all to rite to me

for I no they like me tell your

father to rite to me if he will

tell lib that harry is all right

the ladys here are very clever

but spunky what they have to say

they say it right out i have been

guarding a house the folks are very

clever i have ben here four days

and they have boarded me ever since

i have been there i think that we

will whip them but they

fight better than our men does

we are advancing on them slow

but we will get whipt I think they fight

like the devil

S. C. Mitchell

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 5)

[page 5]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 4 of Samuel Mitchell's Oct. 2, 1862 letter]

no more at this time

rite soon direct your to

Mr S. C. Mitchell,

Washington City

D C

Milory Brigade

82 Ohio Regiment

Co I

in care of capt

Purdy

I would

like to see

my little

boy

lice is plenty

here

rite soon and often

tell Chris

to rite

My pen is poor

My ink is pale

My love to you

Will never fale.

tell lib

to rite

to me

From S. C. Mitchell

[Samuel continues this letter after it is signed]

we have got Jackson in a bag but

i am afraid the bag will bust

i want you all to rite to

me if they please rite soon (?)

i want you often if i go

to the regulars i will send you

the directions whare to rite

i will make arrangements to have

my letters sent from to me from the regiment

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 6)

[page 6]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's 10-19-1862 letter]

October the 19 1862


Fairfax Court House October 19


My dear wife i received your

letter and was glad to hear from

you i am well at this time. i

can only wish you all well i have

ritten your father a letter and

Cris one the boys is all

well i can't say nothing about

the boys but Jim ? all the

hare is of on his head he looks

like a ball headed eagle or else

had been struck with a shell

they is 20 thousand troops here

now there is a lively time here

george is sick eli is in alander

i am troubled with a pain in

my head other ways i am

well as ever i think that i

can get a furlo this winter

to come home i sent 86 dollars

to you by ? if you get it rite

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 7)

[page 7]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Samuel Mitchell's 10-19-1862 letter]

i am sorry that you and Bakes cant

get along dont have eny truble

with them if you can help it

tell lil to rite to me henry

sends his love to her doc ? also

? is as big a devil as ever

yancy is not much behind him

they are a devilish set of boys

the girls on the run better

keep there shirt tales down,

when we get home let your

father have that corn

if he wants it tel sam

smith and uncle bill to

answer my letter if they

please tell your father

that i will to him as soon

as i can i would like to

see my little boy but i fear

that will never be i think

of you and him evry our in

the day as soon as we are paid

off i will send my money to you

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 8)

[page 8]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Samuel Mitchell's 10-19-1862 letter]

there is nothing of importance

to rite we are all a laying still

now we have a light glimering

hope of coming to the ohio

river for this winter but i

fear that it is to good

to be true i can only

wish you well i am living

hopes of coming home this

winter you must live in hopes

of better times i would like

to see you and the boy and all

the boys and folks i
love

my country but i love my

family the best

I shall close my letter

by saying farewell

to
you and all my friends

and to my little boy

good by farewell to one

and all i am glad to hear

that Frank is alive

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 9)

[page 9]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 4 of Samuel Mitchell's 10-19-1862 letter]

take good care of the boy

and keep him with you

as long as you can

and if you haf give him

up don't let Jane have him

but keep him with as long

as you can i do not ever think

of ever coming home

if you can send your

and babbyes picture to me

do so

rite soon

claris says old camel (?) is

dead and lrehas (?)

is done seeding (?)

george

elie is

not well

and clark

sent no shoes

S. C. Mitchell

to M. J. Mitchell

rite soon

tell lib to rite

tell lib

that

blakely found

a baby a dutch

baby to sourerant (?)

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 10)

[page 10]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's 10/21/1862 letter]

October the 21 1862

My dear and affectionate wife it

is with plesure that i sit down

to inform you that i am well

and that i received your letter

and was happy to hear from

you and to hear that my

sweet little boy is well and all

the rest of the folks is well

i am verry glad that eli

is at home i suppose he ent

sorry i will rite to him as

soon as i can every thing

is moving on smooth here

now the boys are all well and

hearty we haf to stand guard

every other nite as guarding

prisoners and property this

solderin is hard business

those at home is the best

of but i am satisfied as

long as you are doing well

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 11)

[page 11]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Samuel Mitchell's 10-21-1862 letter]

My affectionate and dear

wife i hope that these few

lines may find you well and

the baby to i hope that you

and bakes may get along

with out a law suit if you can

you need not fear of any thing

that they can rite to me

it would be for your credit

to not have any fuss with

them you no that they are

very hard to get along with

if you can by a colt you had

better by it i expect we will

be paid of in few days

i will send the money

to you tel your father

that i send my best

respects to him i don't no

when to plant them

seeds but i expect the same

as any other grapes they are

called a basic grape good by

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 12)

[page 12]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Samuel Mitchell's 10-21-1862 letter]

[On the same paper is included a letter for his sister-in-law, Elisabeth Sloop.]

dear sister i sit down to let

you no that i am well at this

time and hope that these

few lines may find you

enjoying the same comfort

there is nothing of importance

to rite except henry is not well

he looks like a shadow he cant

stand it long here i dont

think the rest of the boys

are all well except george elie

lib you stick to what boys

there is there for the

sesesh [Editors note: slang for secessionist] gals will keep all that

is here i have ben guarding

a house for a week where there

is 8 girls and not a man

thats the way it is here

we had a dance here last

night 10 girls and 3 boys

and a fiddler i could not

let the other boys no it

yancy sends his love to you

fon the same jim the same

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 13)

[page 13]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 4 of Samuel Mitchell's 10-21-1862 letter]

No more at this time

Rite soon if you please

S. C. Mitchell

to Elisabeth Sloop

good by my dear and

affectionate wife and

child for this time

Rite soon and

often

S. C. Mitchell

M J Mitchell

it is impossible

to get stamps

here

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 14)

[page 14]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's 11-1-1862 letter]

November the 1 1862

My dear and affectionate wife i attempt to address

you altho far from you i received your letter of the

twenty seventh and was glad to hear from

you and my sweet little boy and to hear

that all the folks is well and i am glad to

say that you are in a land of peace for i

am not we are ordered to march tomorrow

at five oclock with five days rations

there was a battle at Washinton yesterday our

men was drove back 6 miles there will be a battle

soon and I just as live be shot as not for

the way we haf to live no man stand

it here tell eli we haven't got enny

tents yet we haf to lay down in the

cold and and rain o Jane it is hard

for me and all the boys there is

a great many sick here now and no

dout there will be a great many

more Jane this is an awful place to live

My dear and affectionate wife

i shall close my letter

for the present

So good by to you and my

sweet little boy

for this time

rite soon direct as before.

S C Mitchell

to Mary Jane Mitchell and child

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 15)

[page 15]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Samuel Mitchell's 11-1-1862 letter]

I have no stamps

but you need not

send enny

i got these you sent

i have sent to washington

for some

I have inlisted

in the regulars for five years

but I shall not

go till next week.

I will tell you

where to rite the

next letter

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 16)

[page 16]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's 11-3-1862 letter]

[Editor's note: This letter is on stationery with a picture of General McClellan and the

phrase ?We Have Beat Our Last Retreat?]

November the

3 1862

My dear and

affectionate

wife it is with

pleasure i attempt

to reply to your kind and

affectionate letter it found me

well and hearty you told

me in your letter that lake

refused to pay you for that

corn i will rite you the bargin

between lake and me for that

corn lake agreed to pay me

twenty one dollars for that corn and

agreed to leave it to two

disinterested men the first of

November and if it was worth

more he was to pay it to you

for i would not let him have

it no other way if he

refuses to pay you for it you

get some disinterested men

to tend to it for you

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 17)

[page 17]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Samuel Mitchell's 11-3-1862 letter]

you contend for

your rites

i will send

send you fifty

dollars as soon as

this battle is over

the pay master

is here but does

not want to pay

us it till this battle

is over

i can not rite eny

more for we are marching

my love to you

all my sweet

little boy

S C Mitchell

to Mary J Mitchell

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 18)

[page 18]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's 11-10-1862 letter]

November the 10 1862

My dear and affectionate

Wife and and child i am happy

to say that your letter of the

3 came to me today stating

that you and my sweet little

boy was yet alive and hoping

that the next letter from you

will say to me that my

sweet little boy is better

Jane i expect you feel hard

toward me for not sending

some money but i am not to

blame for we have not been paid

yet Jane i will send all my

money to you as soon as i am paid

i think of home as often as i

breath but i never expect to

see you again

o my sweet little child it

is you and your child that

that i love and i can never

forget you you are near and

dear to me altho I am far

away from you both

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 19)

[page 19]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Samuel Mitchell's 11-10-1862 letter]

o Jane i am lonesome

here now there is 10 of

us picked out of the regiment

and stationed four miles from the rest

in site of the rebbel army

the reason that i am lonesome

there is none of the boys with

me from the run

our army is advancing on the

rebels now but i fear that

we will be driven back

Jane you must try and get

along as well as you can til

i can send you some mony

keep your little boy with you

as long as you can for if i

should hear that he was not

with you i should feel verry unhappy

i hope that the time will

come when i shall meet you

and my little child and live

a different life to what I have

here to fore but I do not

expect it Jane i want to be

aloud the privilege of seeing

you and frank and my child

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 20)

[page 20]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Samuel Mitchell's 11-10-1862 letter]

you rote to me that

there was a bill on your

corn tel me what you ment

rit all the particulars

to me tel haner that

i thank her for her kind

letter and will rite to

her as soon as i can

I should close my

letter for this time

So ?

and my little boy

rite soon

from S C Mitchell

to his dear wife

and child

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 21)

[page 21]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's 12-5-1862 letter]

December the 5 1862

My dear and affectionate

Wife and child i am happy to

say that am blest with the

privilege of riting to my lovely

family once more and i can

say to that i am well and hope

these few lines may find you

the same and also my little

boy hope all your folks

is well we still remain in provos

guard of cor ? the boys is

all well how i would love to

Be at home with my little family

how happy i would be to enjoy

the comfort that i could enjoy

with you and little child

Jane i shall make an attempt

to come home this winter

to see my family but not to

stay the wether is verry

Warm here now for this time

a year

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 22)

[page 22]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Samuel Mitchell's 12-5-1862 letter]

Jane i shall haf to

close my letter there is

sad news in camp now

general McClellans wife

has gone crazy it is a sad

affair the reson of her

going crazy general McClellan

came home and braut

his privates and left his

Staff in virginia

the poor lady

Misses Mitchell

from your husband

rite soon

S C Mitchell

to Mary Jane Mitchell

and Child

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 23)

[page 23]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's 12-20-1862 letter]

December the 20, 1862

My dear and affectionate wife i am happy

to say that i had the pleasure of

of reading your kind letter of the 13

and was glad to hear from you

and to hear that you had not

forgotten me i read your kind

and affectionate with tears in

my eyes an all most ashamed

to rite to you with out

sending you some money

but i think we will

be paid in a few

days and then i will send

it all to you

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 24)

[page 24]

[corresponds to continuation of unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's 12-20-1862 letter]

we have marcht back to Farefax and

expect to march to washington soon

the rebbles are driving us back to

the Potomac we are now on the retreat

the rebbels came on us three different

points we have come from Gainesville since

yesterday it is raining all the time

and the roads is very muddy and

and we have not a tent nor a

shelter of any kind out to lay in

the ? mud and rain Jane it is rather

ruf there is only 18 men in our

Company befit for duty the rest is

on the sick list or at the

hospital John lake is not well

the rest of the boys is well unless

we get tents there will not be a

man fit for duty in the company

i have not had a dry thread of

close on me for four days even my

shirt

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 25)

[page 25]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Samuel Mitchell's 12-20-1862 letter]

Jane i think that we will stay

in or near Washington this night

and if we do i shall attempt to

come home to see you and to see

my little boy there is 3 men dieing

to where there is one kild it is

hard here to see men and

boys staggering about that look

as if they could not hardly stand alone

they are taking them daily to the

hospital this is not a life that is

calculated to suit every person

i wish the ? was in a house. I hate to

to fite in the mud and sleep

in the mud and sleep in the

mud and eat in the mud

and it is nothing but mud

i should close my letter

by biding you and

my sweet little boy

fare well for this time

rite soon and often.

S C Mitchell

to Mary Mitchell

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 26)

[page 26]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Samuel Mitchell's 3-6-1864 letter]

[Editor's note: It had been 15 months since Samuel wrote his wife and 6 months since his

brother wrote and told her that Samuel was in the hospital. Samuel now responded to a

letter from her.]

March the 6th 1864

Chattanooga Tenn

Dear Wife

your kind letter came to

hand after a long time and

And I feel thankful to hear

from you for it has been a

long time since i had the

[Editors note: This section of the letter is missing and looks as though a portion has been

cut out.]

to act the part of a friend and

am further more willing to

give you the regiment and where I

am for it is not at all likely

that I shall live to get out

this war and you can then get

what is your rights

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 27)

[page 27]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Samuel Mitchell's 3-6-1864 letter]

Jane I was wounded at Tullahoma

last July and in October I got

hurt on the cars and have

not been able to any duty sence

and do not think that I shall

ever be able to do any thing

ether here or at home for I

have lost the use of one

leg so that I can not walk

[Editors note: This section of the letter is missing and looks as though a portion has been

cut out.]

not been able to neither rite

nor any thing else so you

must excuse me for not riting

Jane I want you to pardon

And forgive me and remember

me as a true friend forever

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 28)

[page 28]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Samuel Mitchell's 3-6-1864 letter]

I have not heard from

frank since the fight

commenced frank went into

the fight on friday morning

Our regiment is badly scattered

and some of them taken prisoner

they talk of sending me to the

states for to recruit I do not

want to go till I get paid off

I have not been paid of for

eight months but expect to be

paid soon and will send you

some money for the benefit

of you and the boy if he is living

I was surprised to read your

letter for I didn't look for

it from you I am persuaded

to think that the rebellion is

nearly played out but they are

determined to fight as long

as they can rally a man they

have a great many of them

went to bushwhackin

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 29)

[page 29]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 4 of Samuel Mitchell's 3-6-1864 letter]

for the present I think

Close sending

My love to you

And the Boy and

All my friends

yours respectfully

Samuel C Mitchell

Adress

Samuel C Mitchell

Co A 39th Indiany

Mounted Infantry

Chattanooga Tenn

So good bye for

this time

yours in faith

from a true

friend

[This is the last letter we have from Samuel.]

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 30)

[page 30]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 11-27-1862 letter]

Nashville Tennessee: Nov. the 27 ,62,

Dear brother,

it is with pleasure that I

take my pen in hand to wright

you a few lines to let you

no that I am well at present

and I hoap that when these

few lines reach your hand that

they will fined you in good

health I have bin in one

battle at Chaplin heights in

Kentucky [Editors note: This is a reference to the battle of Perryville.]

we did not loose any

men out of our regt. our com.

and co. G. and H took 13 wagons

loaded with ammunition, 6 caisson,

one ambulance, 76 mules, 28 horses,

and 87 prisoners without firing

a gun we left ky. ? in pursuit

of brag and came to this

place their was nothing of

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 31)

[page 31]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 11-27-1862 letter]

importance took place on

our march untill we reached

edgefield junction we left

their with 900 men in pursuit

of a band of gurillers

we marched without tents

and throu constant rain over

one hundard miles in 5 days

and took 46 prisoners 18 horses

26 mules 100 small arms wee

came to the bank of the

cumberland river 40 miles below

this place when wee came

to the river their was

a lot of rebels camped

on the other side and they

fired at us our company

formed in a skirmish

line and returned the

fire they soon left

the river and we hurd

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 32)

[page 32]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 11-27-1862 letter]

from them no more their

was no way to cros the river

and we codnot follow them

so we returned to camp

with what wee had

I doant expect that we

stay here a great while

we had orders to march this

morning but they was

countermanded I must

close for this time

Direct your letter

to Louisville K.Y

38 regt. III V. M

Co H in care of

Capt Yelton

Your affectionate brother

E. F. Mitchell

S. C. Mitchell

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 33)

[page 33]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 4 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 11-27-1862 letter]

Wright Soon

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 34)

[page 34]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 12-22-1862 letter]

Nashville Tennessee Dec the 22 62

Dear Sister

I am blest with another ?

of wrighting a few lines in

haste to let you no that I am

well at present and I hope

that when these few lines reach

your hand that they will

find you in good health your

kind and welkom letter of the

18th of the present month came to

hand to day and its contents was

read with much pleasure by your

unworthy brother it has been

a long time since I hurd from

you untill now I hav wroat

several letters to you and

Sam lake sine I hurd

from either of you untill now

I wrote to Sam about

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 35)

[page 35]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 12-22-1862 letter]

three weeks ago there is no

news of importance in camp

we are close to the rebels their

pickets and ours are very often

in sight of each other I have

just returned from picket

You said that Rose and

several of the other boys

from that neighbor hood was

out here I would like to

know what regt. they belong

to I havent seen any

body that I new ?

John Williams, Elder Swarts

Dewey Landon I saw

them last fall at bolling

green I must close

your affectionate Brother

E.F. Mitchell

Mrs Jane Mitchell

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 36)

[page 36]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 12-22-1862 letter]

give my love to all

the girls

tell Elizabeth that I would

like to hear from her

again.

E. F. Mitchell

wright Soon ?

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 37)

[page 37]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 5-5-1863 letter]

Murfreesboro Tenn

May the 5th ,63,

Dear Sister

I again take my pen in

hand to reply to your

kind letter April the 30

which came to hand

yesterday it gave me

much pleasure to heer

from you and to heer

that you was in good

health your letter

found me well and

I hoap that when these

lines reach you they

may find you in good

health their is no news

of importance here I saw

Gery Hurd the other

day he was well and

I saw Derius Landon

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 38)

[page 38]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 5-5-1863 letter]

I cannot Send my

likenis this time but

I will send it as soon

as I can I want you

to let me no whair you

air a liveying and if you

need any help if you doo

doant be afraid to sa so

I should be glad to see

you but I cannot at present

so I will content myself by

redeying your kind letters

I must close for this time

Wright Soon and

giv all the neuse

Good By

E. F. Mitchell

Mrs Mary J Mitchell

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 39)

[page 39]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 5-5-1863 letter]

I will send you a few stamps

and 25 and 5 and 10 of our

? curancy

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 40)

[page 40]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 5-25-1863 letter]

Murfreesboro Tenn

May the 25th ,63,

Dear Sister

it is with much pleasure

that I take my pen in hand

to reply to yours of the 18

and 21 of the present month

which came to hand to day

and their contense was read

with much satisfaction by

your unworthy brother your

letters found me in good

health at and I hope

that when these few

lines reach your hand

that they will find you

and your boy well I

resieved Sams likenis

a few day ago and was

glad to see the picture

but would hav bin beter

pleased to hav seen him

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 41)

[page 41]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 5-25-1863 letter]

I am pleased with

that ring you sent

me I will you one that

I made out of a mussel

shell that I got out of

Stone river neer the

battle field wee hav

resieved good neuse from

Genl Grants army

he has taken al the

outer works of Vicksburg

with 9,400 prisoners and

fifty seven canon wee

air under marching

Orders I supose that wee

will soon hav the chance

to try our hand again

with the rebs the army

here is in splendid

condition and air eager

to meet their fose wee

take in Some of the rebs

every day their pickets

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 42)

[page 42]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 5-25-1863 letter]

and ours air in

sight of each other

Valandingham passed threw

here last night to the

South if you heer

from Sam I want

you to let me no I

am agoing to town in

a day or to and I will

get my likeness takon

and send it to you

I will send you some money

in a few days I would

be glad to see the war

end if the south would

return to the Union again

for my part I hav nothing

to liv for but my

country I enlisted to help

poot down this rebellion

and I exspect to remain

in the army untill it

is settled and then

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 43)

[page 43]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 4 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 5-25-1863 letter]

I shall be happy

to visit my friends

I will close by thanking

you for your kind

letter and asking you

to wright Soon giv

my best respects to

all the friends if their

is any and believe me

your affectionate brother

Seargt. E. F. Mitchell

Mrs Mary J Mitchell

Wright Soon

[Editors note: Clement Vallandigham, referred to in the letter above,

was an Ohio politician convicted by a military tribunal for giving a

speech with the intent of weakening the fight against the South. He was

banished from the Union and delivered to the Confederate Army. He made

his way to Canada and in 1864 campaigned from there to be Governor of Ohio but lost.]

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 44)

[page 44]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 8-22-1863 letter]

Stevenson, Alabama

Aug. the 22d, 63,

Dear Sister

Your kind letter which

had your likeness in it

came to hand a few

days ago and its content

was perused with pleasure

I was glad to hear that

you was well but I

was surprised at the your

ideas about what wee

was a fighting for I left

home to fight for the

Union and I am still

fighting under the Same

flag and for the Same

cause that I always hav bin

it is not the time now

to quit becaus some

body thinks that we

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 45)

[page 45]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 8-22-1863 letter]

air a going to

interfier with a niger

I can tel you one thing

we air agoing to poot

down this rebellion if

it takes the last niger

their is in the South

the the rebs cant blame

us for the los of their

slaves they brot it upon

themselves they first made

use of the negro to bild

foarts for them to get

behind and shoot us so

we just thot that we

would deprive them of

the greatest poartion of

their labor the presadent

thought that it was best

to take the slaves of the

rebs that would not

respect the oald flag

Some of our friends at

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 46)

[page 46]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 8-22-1863 letter]

home air a making

quite a fus about the

nigers becaus we air

aloweying them to fight

for my part I doant

cair how menny of them

they poot in the field

our friend at home

is making so much fus

about the niger must

be a fraid that if

we take the slaves away

from the rebs and set

them to work for us that

some of them will get

hurt they hav more feeling

for the niger than wee do

we air agoing to crush this

rebelion if it freas all the slaves

all that we ask of those

copperheads at home that haint

got pluck anuf to take their

guns and march out and

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 47)

[page 47]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 4 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 8-22-1863 letter]

help their Sothern

brothers to distroy the

best goverment that ever

was is to keep their mouths

shut until wee get home

and then we will settle

with them they hav caused

our friends that simpathise

with us too much trouble

for us to forget them

or forgiv them they

will resieve their poartion

in due time we hav it

laid up for them and

they shal not be

neglected

but a nuf of this

my health is good we air

again in sight of the rebels

pickets and I expect that

we will hav a chunk

of a fight with them

before long

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 48)

[page 48]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 5 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 8-22-1863 letter]

[Editors note: The letter continues on stationary that has an embossed seal

showing a building with three domes and the letters O. & H.]

The bois air all verry

anxious for to try their

hand again we air within

35 miles of chatanuga

they say that thay hav 40,000

men their and air agoing

to figh us that is the way

that I like to heer them

talk for I would rather fight

them now than to folow them

to georgia and then hav to

fight them I hurd from

Sam the other day he

has bin woonded and is

in a hospital his woond is

bad but not dangerous

I must close for the present

Good BY

E. F. Mitchell

Mrs Mary J. Mitchell

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 49)

[page 48]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 1-31-1864 letter]

[Editors note: This letter has an embossed seal that says Holyoak.]

East Tennessee

Camp of the 38th regt

in the woods

Jan the 31st ,64,

Dear Sister

Your kind note of the 23rd

of the present month has just

arrived and its contents read

with much satisfaction by

your unworthy brother I was

glad to heer from you and

the boy and to heer that

both was well my health is

good at present and I

hope that these few lines

will fined you boath

enjoyeying the same great

blessing we broak up camp

in bridgeport on the 26th

and arived heer on the 29th

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 50)

[page 50]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 1-31-1864 letter]

a distance of 40 miles

health is good in camp

there is no neuse of importance

in camp tell Isaiah and

his lady that I wish them

much Joy I hope they may

hav thumping luck and fat

babis them too at a time

and twist a year well

Jane I want you to pick

me out a wife if you can

find one that wants to

splise with a solger if you

find one let me no and I

will cum after hur in

about seven months I want

hur to be young and

good looking anuf on this

subject I hav not hurd

from Sam sinc I last

roat I must close

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 51)

[page 51]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 1 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 2-25-1864 letter]

[Editors note: In this letter it looks as though Edwin Frank is making up for

all the capitalization he left out of his other letters. Every line begins with

a capital letter ? but still no punctuation.]

Ooltewah, East Ten

February the 25th 64

Dear Sister

Well Jane your kind

Letter of the 14th is before

Me I have perused it

With delight and hasten

To reply I am glad to

Hear that the chanc for

Geting a wife was so

Good I think that I

Shal get married when

My time is out I am

Tyred of living without

A home as for making up

Lost time one cant loose

Any thing before they

Get it but I think

That I Shall claim

Back rations of ham from some

Of the girls when I

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 52)

[page 52]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 2 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 2-25-1864 letter]

Get back to Ohio

I would like to yoak

Some of them Oald galls

Back their again I think

That I cood hoald them

Leevill for a night or

Too just for oald

Acquaintance sake but

I exspect that all of

The girls that was their

When I left air married

Before this time If not they

Aught to bee Tell that

Fatt sister Of yours that

If she wouldnt be

Afronted, I would wright

To her if she would

Send me her adress

And reply to my letter

I like to corespond with

The girls it is all the

Pastime that we hav is coresponding

With the friends at home

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 53)

[page 53]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 3 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 2-25-1864 letter]

Their is some girls in

These parts but I doant

Fancy them verry much

If you get in conversation

With one of them the

First thing that she will

Ask you is if you air maired

And the next thing will

Be for a chaw of tobacco

They poot me in mind of

The dogwood girls no

More on this subject

This time

I havnot hurd from Sam

for a month our men air advancing

they had a fight yesturday

and drove the rebs from

tunelhill I doant no what

the los was on eather side

I cant send you the measure

this time you must not be

offended tel Bet if she

will name hur boy after me I

Mitchell Family Civil War Letters (p. 54)

[page 54]

[corresponds to unlabeled page 4 of Edwin Frank Mitchell's 2-25-1864 letter]

will by him a uniform

when I cum back I must

close this leavs me in

good health

Good BY

From

Frank

To

Mrs. M. J. Mitchell