41st Ohio Infantry

Item LTR-9408

Description

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


Camp 41st Ohio in the field front
Near Atlanta, GA

August 19th 1864

My dear Cousin Nellie,

Your long looked for and much neglected (on my part) letter of July was read a few days ago. Cousin, need to tell you how happy I was to hear from you once more. I had seen by the papers that the rebels were in Maryland and I didn’t know but they might try to take Baltimore as so get to the home of my Cousin Nellie. And I was anxious to hear from you for I have had a great many opportunities of seeing how they treat innocent women, children and I trembled for your safety. But your kind letter relieved my mind and dispelled my fears and I thought of nothing else for the time but that Nellie was safe. Please excuse my liberty in using your name so freely. But I only take a cousins’ privilege. Nellie, you ask me why I can’t come and see you. You advise me to take a French leave. Well my dear cousin let me whisper in your ear that French Furloughs don’t pay at all. By no manner of means. You say that you would like to see me. How would you like to see me carrying a ball and chain. Or see me having my head shaved, dragged through camp, sent to prison, or stand up beside my coffin and be shot. And all for going to see you. Oh my dear, however much I wish to see you, I never could consent to desert to make you a visit.

You have most likely seen in the papers an account of the taking of Atlanta. But don’t believe it. I do not. Atlanta will be ours when we get it but there are numerous rebs in there at present. That are very much opposed to us yanks going in there at present.

Well it is supper time and I must go to cooking. You would no doubt laugh to see me but I consider myself quite a cook. Please give my love to everybody. Write soon and oblige your affectionate Cousin,

Johnnie

P.S. You say that your photograph is anything but pretty. Now if anyone else had told me so I would have been tempted to have gotten mad as I could be but I guess I will let you go this time. If you will promise not to do so again. But I must certainly have to go to getting supper for it is nearly dark.

My love to all.

Your loving Cousin,

J. L. B.
2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Please excuse poor writing and mistakes. Johnnie