55th Ohio Infantry

Item LTR-6004

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages written in period ink.

Camp near Brooke Station
June 1st 1863

Dear Sister,

I take my pen to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hope these few lines will find you all well and enjoying yourselves. I received Sarah’s letter last Saturday evening and was glad to hear that you were all well. I feel thankful to the giver of all good gifts for sparing our lives and giving us health to enjoy them. We moved our camp last Wednesday a short distance. We are in the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division of the 11th Corps, General Stineware commands the division and Colonel Smith of the 73rd Ohio commands the Brigade. Our brigade is composed of 11 regiments. The 33rd Massachusetts, 136tth New York, 73rd and 55th Ohio. The 33rd is a large regiment. They lost but few men in the late fight. This brigade didn’t lose many men. When we started from camp they equalized the companies. Nine companies had 18 piles each and one company had 18, that would make 379 men in the ranks, without the file closers to count all. We had about 1100 men with guns and now we have about 250 men fit for duty. It is a small regiment now to what it was when we left Ohio. And when you read of a regiment or brigade being a hot place and doing hard fighting and losing few or no men, you may calculate that they didn’t do much fighting. For where they are fighting, there are men hurt and killed. I don’t want to get in another fight but if it is necessary for me to go in a fight I will do the best I can. As I have done other times. Wilson??? It is a serious thing to go in a fight and see men falling on all sides and not know but what the next moment would be your last or get mortally wounded and be left to die without anyone to close their eyes. But we must not stop for anything. We much hope for long life and good luck and then take things as they come. But we must not forget that we are borne to die and after death judgement, Wilson. We have a nice camp. We are in the wood. We built up with logs about three feet high with one end open. With the open end to the street and covered with shelter tents. It has taken a good deal of work for all the stumps had to be grubbed out of the streets and all the ground swept over almost every day. And we have lots of duty. We go on guard every other day. Our men is fortifying here very fast. They are prospects of the rebels trying to drive fight Joe out of this but I think they will have a time before they drive Hooker out of this. But they might come round between us and Washington and give us some bother. Vicksburg is not ours yet but I hope it soon will be. For it is a very important place. William Stevens and the colonel’s wife got to Washington on Friday and got to the hospital Saturday afternoon. Bill was up to the company yesterday but I only spoke to him for I was on headquarters guard and came back to camp just as he was going to start to the hospital. He and Hamby Bauer went up to the 8th Ohio today. Captain Stevens has go up to lieutenant colonel. His commission came yesterday. I was down at the hospital this afternoon and I think Colonel Stevens is doing as well as could be expected. But some think he can’t get well. I’ve seen his wounds and they look very well and I hope he will get well. I was setting by him when Mrs. Stevens came in. I spoke to her but she didn’t know me till I told her who I was. She told me they had something in their trunk for me. But it wasn’t fetched up form the station yet. She stays at a private house a short distance from the hospital. I think Bill won’t stay long. The other boys that were wounded are doing middling. Well Isaac Livingbarger is the worst now but they think his leg can be saved. But I am afraid if he loses his leg he will lose his life. I got the last weeks Tiffin paper this evening. That letter written by a member of Company G is all good, except 2 or 3 mistakes. In the first place, we rallied twice. He said once and we didn’t go back more than 2 ½ miles and he said 4 or 5. That piece about the 11th Corps is a correct one. Wilson Clark Kline is with the company. He didn’t do any duty. He is still some lame. Yet, I must come to a close for it is late and I go on guard in the morning at Stinewares’ headquarters. This is the way most of the letters are directed.

Company H, 55th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry
2nd Brigade, 2nd Division
11th Corps
Via Washington

W. R. Tittle
To S. W. Tittle

Write often.