45th Pennsylvania Infantry - Wounded at Wilderness

Item LTR-326

Description

4 page original Civil War soldier's letter, written in period ink and war dated.

Camp Dick Robinson, KY
April 18, 1863

Dear Father,

I was much pleased yesterday by the receipt of your letter of March 26th and Mother’s of April 6 enclosing Maggie Sallie Way’s letters. I can’t understand why your letter was so much behind and even Mothers was much behind letters that have been received by others. Other day I wrote to Willie. Gen. Welsh arrived at camp and was received with three cheers by the boys but I have not yet had an opportunity of speaking to him for shortly after he arrived a citizen rode up and asked for a guard to protect a house where some drunken soldiers had been misbehaving. The consequence was that Brenaman and I were detailed for the purpose and have been at this house for the last five days. We have it very pleasant here. Not having much to do, getting plenty to eat of good victuals and having good featherbeds to sleep on. You can hardly think how we enjoy the beds after enduring deprivation of that luxury. I don’t know how long we will bet to stay here but of course we ain’t very anxious to move. Since the General arrived there have been a number of arrests for selling liquor to the soldiers and that traffic is now nearly stopped and as he has not much mercy on the dealers. I guess it will soon be stopped entirely. The family with whom we are stopping is possessed of the rather unique name of Smith. The forefathers immigrated from Virginia to this place in 1779 and the family has been living here ever since. They keep a kind of inn but sell no liquor. The head of the house is an old lady, 77 years of age who was born on the place. She is still quite rigorous and is the manager in chief although she has a son who attends to some of the duties. Unfortunately there are no young girls. The family has quite a large farm and a number of slaves. They have lost pretty heavily by the rebel raids of which there have been three or four within this section of the country. At one time this house was the headquarters of General Bragg and it is amusing to listen to the descriptions of the rebel generals and the losses he has been subjected to from our worthy host. We had a warm rain the other day and now it has cleared up quite pleasantly. It is great growing weather. The fruit trees are all in blossom, the fields are dressed in green and the forest trees are beginning to put forth their leaves. It is said, though, that the season is about three weeks slow this year. As far as I have been able to see the people around here are mostly loyal although of course there are some secessionists. Since we have been here a number of East Tennesseans have come in to join our army. They look pretty rough and say that they have had a hard time of it. One of them tells me “that any kind of a man, down there, had to crawl into a hole and then pull the hole in over him” or he would be abused, conscripted or hung.” Some of them are quite intelligent men and they all profess great anxiety to go down and drive the rebs from their homes. I saw one man who had bought thirty five over the mountains with him, taking by roads to avoid capture by the rebs. There is a regiment, the 8th Tennessee, now recruiting at our camp. I believe it is to be in our Brigade. General W. is now in command of our Brigade, division and from Lexington to Staunton.

One company of our regiment is now guarding the bridge over the Kentucky River, about six miles back. It is rumored that Sam Wright is or is to be on General W.’s staff but I do not know whether it is correct or not. Loyal Kentuckians seem to be well pleased with Burnside and particularly his order concerning traitors at home. I say with regret a rumor that the conscription act is not be enforced. If the government hesitates there we are lost I fear. I suppose there is no truth in the rumor but thought I would tell you the soldiers want that act enforced. I have come to the conclusion that the repulse of our ironclads in the recent reconnaissance of Charleston is a James Island over again. To be served with such a great loss of life but still quite unsuccessful I fear. Things generally do not look very encouraging just now but still there is nothing very discouraging either I suppose. Before you receive this, General Foster’s fate will have been determined. I don’t see how he got himself into such a bad fix.

You sent me six stamps in your letter. If you have not sent me any more please send enough to make up the twenty five for they are scarce out here and I am out. The trio is all in good health and spirits, ready for action.

Hoping that our heavenly father will preserve you all. I remain,

Your affectionate son,

M. A. Cowden
Co B, 45th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers
3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th A.C.
Via Cincinnati, Ohio

P.S. Alf. Meyers has been here and brought me ten dollars, sent by you through General Welsh, but as we were paid off of course it was not needed.