Civil War Letter - Dear Wife and Parents

An original letter from my Great Great Grandfather who served in the Civil War. My dad painstakingly deciphered his letter. Below is also a letter I would write to Thomas.

The next letter he writes, “We have had to hunt our one grub on this trip. We cou get all of the swet potatoes and hogs with some meal now. we have lots of rice and must stop ast the mail goes to nite. write as sone as you get his. I will write some to. Kiss the children for me. be carful of your and ther health”.

*****

I would love to write a letter to my GG Grandfather, Thomas, from his wife, Sarah’s POV.

Dear Thomas,

Thank you for the letters home and for inquiring as to our health and the corn crop. We are all well, but miss you tremendously. We understand why you felt the need to go off and defend our union. Please be safe. The children and our parents miss you and worry about your safety. Please take good care of yourself. Please make sure the water is clean and pure. Every night, I kiss the kids, Charles, Carrie, Minnie, Hattie, Viola, and Ed, and tell them how much you love them and that you wish them to grow righteous and strong. We are managing fine with the help of the family. Don’t you fuss about us. You take care of yourself out there in the wild. I know in my heart that your return will be soon and our family reunited. That barn requires your attention when you are home. Take care of your brother soldiers. Say your nightly prayers and hear ours from Kankakee. I know our daily prayers are answered. Make sure you always duck when needed.

With much love and affection, your ever-loving wife.

Sara

Please write again when you can. We anxiously await the mailman’s delivery. We miss you so.

****

Thomas returned from the war. He had several bouts of illness while he served. The relatives say “he died from TB after the Civil War. He wasn’t strong after the war - he was fixing a barn, rode on a load of stone for two miles to get home - perspired and became very ill.”

My Great Grandfather was Thomas’ son, Charles George Smith, who later married Alta Ora Williams.

I will be forever grateful to Thomas’ descendants, who kept his original letters and shared them with the extended family. Life in the Civil War was hard, and I can read firsthand about their daily struggles.