42nd Ohio Infantry - Killed at Thompson's Hill, MS

Item LTR-6870

Description

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


Camp Youngs Point
Tuesday
February 17, 1863

Dear Mother,

I received a letter from you about a week ago dated December 12. The letter had been up to Charleston, Virginia and it took a long time to get around. You said that you wanted me to write all of the news from Medina. I have heard of some pretty sad news. George Smith is dead.

George and Frank Parlintes and Alec were out coon hunting. They chopped down a tree and when it was falling, George’s dog ran under the tree and George ran forward to catch the dog and before he could clear himself the tree caught him and crushed all pieces. He lived about ten minutes after he got home. I don’t believe that his wife can stand it – she has lost so many of her family. She must suffer a good deal. George was a good man to deal with.

There is a great many people dying nowadays, both at home and in the army. We lose a man out of our regiment every day. They are dying off very fast in this Army of the Mississippi. The diarrhea is what takes them off so fast, some cases of fever.

We are encamped at the same place as when I wrote you before and a hard place it is to camp. Plenty of mud and water. We don’t have much cold weather if any. I am on duty every other day. Standing camp guard and picket and doing fatigue duty.

All of the Medina boys are well and enjoying themselves the best that they can. There is no chance for a fight right away. We are digging a canal to change the course of the Mississippi River. The water is getting very high in the Mississippi and I shouldn’t wonder if we get drowned out before many days.

Maybe you would like to know what we have good to eat. Of course I must tell you we make lite bread biscuits, fish cakes and vinegar pies and we call them pretty good. We use salt rising for our bread and soda for our biscuits. Vinegar and sugar flour for the filling of our pies. Butter sells for 50 cents per pound, three dollars a bushel for potatoes and everything else accordingly.

Since I have no more news, I must quit writing for the present and give you the directions.

Direct
Memphis, Tennessee
Company K, 42nd Regiment O.V. I.


P.S. Mr. Edson Lyman Dear Sir,
If you should happen to read this letter please excuse my poor hand and give my best respects to all of your friends but be sure to keep a few yourself and oblige,

George G. Harris
Company K, 42nd O. V. I.