107th Illinois Infantry - NEW

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 8 pages, written in period ink.

Letter No. 10
 
Camp of the 107^th near Woodsonville, Kentucky
February 20^th A.D. 1863
 
Dear Wife,
 
I have just received Letter No. 7 from you and I shall endeavor to answer it today.
 
I started a letter to you today by Simeon Colliver and in that letter I sent some propositions to make to the Old Man, which is as good as I can do.  And if he won’t accept either of them, I will send the proper authority to your Father to act for me in the case.  And if he has to go to law, have him to take the property specified in those orders that I sent to T[om] Kelley and I will furnish the means to see him through with one snit anyway or as far as he may think it expedient to go in the case. [My brother-in-law] David Bell has wrote me several letters and in the last two he has failed to say anything about how things was working there.  And when you get those propositions that I have sent to you by Simeon Colliver, have good Father to take them and present them to the Old Man.  And if he won’t do anything near what is right, he will have to do whatever the law will compel him to do.  For there is no use in fooling along about it anymore.  For I am getting tired of that way of doing business. But if you and your Father can manage anyway to have him give up the property, or anything near it, do so and avoid going to law. I know that there is more than three hundred bushels of corn on the place, unless it has been destroyed by some means or other.  But when your Father presents the offers to him, I want you to use a little precaution and draw off a correct copy of the propositions and present the copy and keep the original copy.  For if it is a clear receipt if he gets it into his hands, he may try to keep it. I believe that is all that I have to say on that subject at this time. I will get a little advice from Major [Joseph J.] Kelley before I finish.
 
If you want to sell old Whiteface, do so for she is not much account for milk.  But get as much as you can for her but don’t sell her for anything less than what she is worth. You know more about that than I do.
 
I have been out for the last three hours on our parade ground to witness a scene that I would be sorry to happen to any of the 107^th Regiment. There has been a court martial in session at Munfordville the last week and the scene was the punishment of some deserters and some that were absent without leave from the 27^th Kentucky Regiment, which punishment was inflicted by this court. There was one that had one half of his head shaved and then drummed out of the service. One had half of his head shaved, all his pay forfeited, and to lay in a military prison to the end of his term of enlistment. One, half his head shaved and nine months pay forfeited and to work on the fortifications at this place three months. All for desertion. [All found guilty of] absence without leave [had] from three to five months pay forfeited and thirty days at hard labor with ball and chain.  And I fear that some of those that have went home from our regiment will be served the same way. There has, I understand, been a squad of men sent after them now and some, if not all of them, will be caught.
 
We had a very nice speech from Col. [Joseph J.] Kelley this evening after those other ceremonies were over. He had just received his commission as colonel today and he proposed to take command of this regiment in earnest. He is a splendid man and officer of the boys. Gave him three rousing cheers and scared his horse and the horse fell down and throwed the colonel off, but did not hurt him any. I expect that we will have some pretty strict orders for a while. We need them and it is very necessary that strict orders should be given. I will say no more on this subject for the present.
 
I am about well again — that is, I feel well but I am weak yet. But I have a good appetite to eat and I think by proper care I will get along very well. For fear that you should get this before the one that I sent by Colliver.  I will just say that I took sick last Tuesday night while on picket, the particulars of which you will get in the letter that I sent by Colliver. He was to start today but was too late for the train and will not start until tomorrow.
 
I must close for this evening and I will have time to write some more in the morning before the mail goes out. I dreamed last night of being with you and our dear little girl that is gone. How I wish that I could live those days over again with her to cheer us along our rugged path.  
 
For tonight, darling, goodbye.
 
George
 
 
Saturday morning, February 21^st
 
My Dear Wife,
 
I shall try and finish this letter this morning. I feel pretty well and am able to knock around again as usual.
 
There is another thing that I will mention and that is this. Of the Old Man wants Old Red, let him have her and I will pay your Father for keeping her — that is, if he demands her, [then] give her up. If not, say nothing about her. I believe that is all that I have to say on that subject at this time and I hope that you can soon get the matter settled so we will not have to mention it again. If I was there to attend to it myself, I would much rather but as it is, it is impossible for me to be there and unknown when I can come home.
 
There is one thing that I would like for you to do and that is to get me about fifty cents worth of postage stamps and put them in a letter and send them to me. I have eight stamps yet and I have money enough but it is not often that we can get them here. The Post Master gets them on but he doesn’t have near supply for the demand.  And if you can get them there, I will send you the money so you can keep what I have sent to you or use it for yourself and Eddie.  For I want him well taken care of, which I know you will do.
 
I have not much more to write at this time.  As I had just finished a tolerable long letter to you yesterday and then commencing this one so soon, that I have not had time to think of very much to write about.
 
The Colonel says that Major Chase gave him his word that he would be here to pay us off the first week in March.  And Colonel Kelley seems to think that there is no doubt but we will get our two months pay at that time.
 
We heard yesterday that Captain Brooks’ wife had died and left six small children. It is hard to have to bear such a loss and not be allowed the privilege of going home for a few days to see after his orphan children.
 
I believe that I will send this by Colliver too so you can get them altogether. He will get through nearly as soon as the mail and be as certain to get to you. I will have to close pretty soon for this time.  As I am now out of material to write about. I will write again in a few days. Give my respects to all enquiring friends and acquaintances. 
 
Write to me soon and let me know how you get along.  For nothing pleases me more than for you to tell me about everything and to know that you and Eddie are well and hearty. 
 
I will close for this time hoping that we may soon meet again — not to part again but to enjoy each other’s love and society for the remainder of our lives.
 
Goodbye darling for today. 
 
Your true and loving husband,
 
 George Messer
 
To Lottie Messer
Henry Graham starts to his regiment today by the way of Bowling Green. Has got as fat as a buck. 
George