Thursday, July 11, 2013

CIVIL WAR LETTER HOME MURFREESBORO TENNESSEE

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                                                       Murfreesboro, Tennessee
                                                                                            May 30th 1863
                                          Dear Sister
                                                             I received yours of the 22nd ins, yesterday and I am now trying to do what I can to handle my writing traps for your gratification and my benefit. I have been working all day and am a little nervous so that I do not think I can write much but I will give you a little account of what we are doing now and what  we are likely to  do soon.At this time we are laying in camp doing the regular  routine of camp and field duty. Our guards are sometimes shot at and some times our cavalry bring in some of the greasy butternuts who generally seem very glad that they have been so fortunately as to fall into our hands for they say that their officers are becoming very strict on them and they have not had (a) full ration of meat for three or four months and the rations are still getting less and some of them go so far as to say that the war will be ended in three months in our favor for the Southern soldiers are getting very much dissatisfied and the men it is thought will throw down their arms and go home feeling very glad to come once more under the laws based on the good old constitution of  of the U.S.
     Many think that if General Grant succeeds in taking Vicksbourgh that we will march on to Chatinooga, Tennessee but that General Woods  (we) will stay here at this place to guard the forts and stores which will be left here. I hope when this reaches you that Father will be perfectly well. General Grant has been very successful so far and I hope he may able to take the whole army for if he does I think that thing is about done with. It is now 8 o’clock and I will have to quit this time and go to bed. Write often while Father is sick and tell me of all the changes in his health. I hope he may be  spared by the all powerful God until I get home to receive his blessing and pardon for disobeying him in coming into the army against his will. I think we will soon be paid and then I will send you some money to use.
Dear Sister take good care of yourself and our dear Parents who have been so good to us in by gone days and now in their old days we should do all in our power to make them happy. You need not be particular about sending me anything  by express or by a private person for it costs too much.
No changes have taken place in the Medical Department yet but I think it will soon take place and then I will tell you if I  get the place I have been expecting for some.  It has been raining  two or three days but it was very acceptable for the ground was very dry and the streets were very dusty.
I suppose you remember  Weldgoklean the sadler Nelsons son. I seen him a few days ago he is a Sergeant in the 37th Indiana Regiment. Give my respects to all and remember  that it is your loving and affectionate  brother
                                    Luther M Beaver
Luther M Beaver was 21 years old on the 25th of May 1863

3 comments:

Buck said...

I love these letters, Curtis. Please keep 'em coming.

virgil xenophon said...

It should be noted how literate that era's writings are in terms of grammar,style, logic, idiomatic expressions, appropriate use of analogy and metaphors, etc., is by that generation (not to mention penmanship)--most barely having a HS education--compared to the woeful dreck produced/written by todays college-educated generations. This fact was first brought home to me when viewing the numerous letters on display at the Confederate Museum in New Orleans. (The 2nd largest display of Civil War memorabilia in the nation next to the one at Richmond, Va.) It was really an eye-opener. What a sad, sad, commentary on our modern education system..

HMS Defiant said...

While in Maine we went to the Maine Maritime Museum. I was struck by the logbooks they had opened from brigs that had made 23 passages to Cuba in the early '90s. Beautiful penmanship for a pitching deck. I post these in Edwardian script because that is exactly what he was writing in. I don't know if you see them in Edwardian font but that was the goal.