47th Indiana Infantry

Item LTR-5076

Description

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

Camp Tipton
Tiptonville, Tennessee
May 18th 1862

Dear Brother,

As Henry Hippenstall is going home tomorrow on furlough, I thought I would write you a few lines and let you know how I am getting along. I sent a letter to Mother by Levi Abbott and also one to Papa by Henry Comstock but I thought it would do you more good to get one yourself. So I will try and write you a few lines although I have nothing very interesting to write about.

This morning the boys were all thrown into the greatest confusion by a report that was brought into camp that the rebels were coming upon us. We were immediately ordered to fill our haversacks with three days cooked rations. We went to work and in less than no time we had three days rations in our haversacks and ready to march. We were told to keep ourselves in readiness to march at any moment. Well, we laid around waiting anxiously for the order to fall in. But, we waited in vain. No such order came and at length we gave up all hopes of getting to meet the enemy this time. Colonel Slack has since been ordered to report himself at Fort Pillow with seven companies of our regiment. I guess we will not go tonight; probably we will go in the morning. We are prepared to start at a moment’s notice.

Well, Arne, how do [you] get along yourself. What are you doing this summer? Are you going to school? When you write let me know what you and Jim are doing. I expect you would all like to see me but I cannot come home at present. A soldier can’t go home whenever he gets in the notion. I would love to see you all very much but it is no use talking about that now. I can’t get a furlough at present. But I think when the weather gets so warm this summer that we can all get furloughs for a while. I am going to try to sometime this summer.

William Tilman arrived here last night with a metallic coffin for John McGuire. They took him up this morning. I did not see him.

Henry Comstock and Levi Abbot started home last Friday with Cyrus Williams and Lewis Abbott. Well I guess I must close for I have nothing else to write about that would interest you. But I think when we get back from Fort Pillow I can write you an interesting letter. We had a general inspection of arms this morning and each man was provided with fifty rounds of cartridges. That looks a little like we was going to have something to do. Don’t it? No more. Write soon.

Yours affectionately,
John Wallace

Direct your letter as before.