26th Indiana Infantry

Item LTR-351

Description

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

Lamine Cantonment, MO

January 28th 1862

Friend S. L. Dunn

Kind Sir,

It is by the blessing of our all wise being, our heavenly parent, that I am again permitted to address you by way of letter. Your kind letter of the 18th came safely through to me. I was truly glad to hear from you. For indeed it is highly gratifying to one’s self that has left home with all of its charms and all. The endearment of home. The members composing the family circle to go out to battle with the mighty to meet the might hosts in open contest. To battle for life and liberty. I say to one who has undergone all those trivial changes to it highly gratifying to know they are still remembered by friends who they hold dear. To them even though the time be long and ht distance between them be great. Yet their mutual desire are to know the social ties and ever kindred tie of nature are yet unbroken. Even though their voices are not heard to carry in the chords of music but lustrous details and vocal yet. Their familiar faces are not forgotten among those that compose the scenes of birth and joy. To know this all to be true in highly gratifying to the soldier who have been separated from the state f his notoriety for reasons already assigned. This is a very unpleasant day for soldiering, raining to sleeting and has been all night. Mud is something less than knee deep. Two degrees below zero. The health of the company is improving somewhat since I last wrote.

We have nineteen our of our Company out on furlough. Lieutenant [Campbell] Greenfield resigned and has gone home. Lieutenant [Thomas] Couchman started home this morning on a pass of thirty days. The recent battle at Old Fields Kentucky was received with great pleasure. Great was the enthusiasm of the troops in the exception of the death of [Matthew] Whiteford. The troops look upon the complete success of General Thomas and the flight of the rebels as being the greatest defeat the rebels have seen suffered since the commencement of the war. This show that the South has not the principle to fight or to lead them onto victory like the Federals have. This shows, judging from the superior numbers the rebels lost in the attack and the complete success of the federals under command of General Thomas, that all we like is good. To prosecute the war to see the troops and the fight would be done with but very little loss and defense. Compared to what will see of the rebs, laying around in camp doing nothing. It is the great expense they will put the government to by protracting the war. What a period there seems to be. As excessive in length as there is any necessity for it. You say the boys still move to make more soldiers but they will fail in the abstract. For it take a soldier to make a soldier. Consequently they will fail in the beginning. I want that secesh Milton Cox topped from running down that way. And when I come home I will speak his case. I hope and trust that the war will soon close.

God speed. The time to hasten the day when peace and prosperity may again be restored. When the Star Spangled Banner may again wave in triumph over the land of the free and the home of the brave. When we shall honor no north or south, no east or west but all built upon the one foundation, as were our ancestors and forefathers. The constitution being the chief corner stone. But I must close. Next time you write you must get a longer candle. Write soon.

I will close by saying I am your friend as ever until death.

Very respectfully yours,

Michael A. Nixon

To Mr. Samuel L. Dunn

N. B. The writer sends his compliments to you. John R. Hopper, writer.