76th Ohio Infantry

Item LTR-9997

Description

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


Paint Rock

April 28, 1864

Dear Parents,

I have just received your long looked for letter this morning. I thought you would never write. It has been nearly a month since I have received one from you. There was a terrible storm here last night. I was out on picket. It was so awful dark that I could not see a foot ahead of me. Trees blew down all around in camp. It blew down our tent and C. Nettleton and E. Briggs had to run to a tent to get out of the rain.

N. Steffa arrived here last Friday. He is not in our company. He was assigned first lieutenant of Company D. He says he will be in ours before long. I sent the overcoats last week. I suppose you have got them by this time. Mine is pretty dirty on account of sleeping on the duty boards with it on. I wrote to Mell Schuckers a couple of weeks ago to tell Johnny Schwarm to give Mary a pair of rabbits. Johnny said he would give her a pair. I saw in the Massillon Independent that the citizens were holding large temperance meetings to suppress the sale of liquor. Mr. Worster and Folger are some of the head men. I don’t think Folger will be temperate very long he likes whiskey to well. I hope though they succeed. It will save many a man last cent that would spend them if he could get it. There are some boys in this regiment that ain’t as old as I am. Drinks as bad as some men. There is a boy in our company that we left at Huntsville in the hospital nearly died just by drinking too much. He is one of the new recruits. I never intend to touch any kind of liquor.

I will be glad if George sends me a card with some advice on it or something that he thinks I need. I suppose Mary Smith does not want me to know that she is married. She did not say anything in the letter about it. Did you get any wedding cake. In what part of the farmer’s block has Albee moved. I saw that he had fixed up a nice grocery. It must be right next to the wareroom. It will bring customers down that way. I am glad to hear that pop does a good business. I suppose the hearse is pretty well known by this time. He has not got a horse yet, has he. It’s a good think that Sladden died. It will be better for the children and for himself. He won’t drink anymore. That is the way all drunkards and their lives go. Dave Merwin told down here that George was foreman of our shop when he went home. I told them it was not true.

William Locke is promoted to quartermaster sergeant and C. Willison is clerk at Brigade headquarters. Jim Sippy is engineer on this rail road. I am sorry that I forgot to send a cotton bud in the box. I will send you some more cotton seeds. I am glad to hear that you are all well. I am well. Also, my pants are so tight that I have to let them out. I am getting so fat. I have no more news at present that I can think of. So, I will close. I will do as mother said I should. I know that I am helped a good deal by other powers than my own. My love to all.

From your affectionate Son,

William Baugh