Joseph F. Culver Civil War Letters

Show options Hide options Additional options

Avoid highways

Avoid tolls

KM

Miles

Get DirectionsPrint Directions

Head Quarters, 129th Illinois Volunteers
Mitchellsville, Tenn., Dec. 12th 1862

My Dear Wife:

May the richest of Heaven’s blessings rest upon you today. On this the first Anniversary of our marriage, let me present my compliments first to you, my own love, secondly, to the fine boy you hold in your arms. I imagine I can see a blush mantle the cheek of the maiden of one year ago at the thought or anticipation of the result now realized. God has been merciful and gracious, full of love, & we have reaped, largely at his hands, health & happiness. My heart is filled with gratitude: Oh Lord, continue thy loving kindness to us. Continue reading →

Show options Hide options Additional options

Avoid highways

Avoid tolls

KM

Miles

Get DirectionsPrint Directions

Mitchellsville, Tenn. – Dec. 11th 1862

Dear Wife

As a leisure moment offers opportunity, I cannot better reconcile myself to wait for your letters than by writing. I recollect in Abbott’s life of Josephine, he gives many sketches from Napoleon’s letters, while she was his wife, stating that so great was his attachment to her that scarce a day passed, while on the march or battlefield, but what a courier was dispatched with some missive of love. I am happy therefore that the disposition to love & manifest it is not only displayed in greatness, for then I could not be a partaker of its bliss. Continue reading →

East Villa Dec 10 /62

Dear Bro,

I have been purposing to write to you for a great while but have never got it accomplished until the present time. How do you like soldering by this time? Pretty well I guess. I had some notion of enlisting but they did not want to let me go so I thought I would not go I am going to Grammar School. I like it pretty well I will be freshman next year if I can go on I dont know whether I can or not If I cant I had some notion of going out west with Charly McGregor he expects he will have to go hom about Christmas as his mother cannot send him longer so he appears to think he gets along very well here he has a great many friends in College he is a first rate fellow. Wes is in the army he is assistant surgeon of the 56th reg [Co?] Vol

I have not time to write much more as I only have a half sheet to go upon

No more at present from

your affectionate Bro
Charly

Carlisle Dec. 8 1862

Dear Bro. Frank,-

I received your note through the politeness of Mr. McGregor, and enclosed a correct account of his financial affairs. He is daily expecting money from home or his brother in the army. He is doing very finely and I expect he will be full prepared to enter Freshman Class in September. I feel a deep interest in him. He has shown himself a perfect gentleman and has become quite a favorite out home. Jennie has written you a letter which I presume contains all the news Continue reading →

Pontiac Ill. Dec 7th 1862
Sunday Eve

My Dear Frank,

Our folks have all gone to church baby is asleep in his crib and I feel like talking to you Yours of the 2nd I received last night and was thankful to hear of your good health I have thought much of you today & often wonder where you were and what you were doing Continue reading →

A number of these with a pamplet came the other day I suppose they are of no consequence

Pontiac Ill. Dec. 3rd 1862

Lieut J. F. Culver

My Dear Husband

Yours of Nov 22 reached me last night I was glad to get it but would have been gladder two weeks ago I wish my letters would go as surely as yours have come lately I went to see about yours boots yesterday Bend says he cannot make them under two weeks. I heard that Maples was to start the 10th but had no opportunity of ascertaining whether it was true I will see him today & if he does will send to Chicago or some where else for your boots I saw Mr. Utley yesterday afternoon that as soon as he could possibly find time he would write you & that he ran no risk in the business he was in as he was buying horses for a contractor he also told me to ask you if you remembered anything about a County Order which Philip Rollings gave you in the Street one day Continue reading →

Show options Hide options Additional options

Avoid highways

Avoid tolls

KM

Miles

Get DirectionsPrint Directions

Mitchellsville – Dec. 3rd/62

Dear Wife

I just saw Mr. Crull at the Depot, who returns to Pontiac immediately being discharged. We are expecting marching orders for Nashville, but all is uncertain. The troops were [to] leave to-day.

I wrote you a long letter & sent [it] by Mr. Reader on Monday. He thought he would get to Pontiac by Saturday. I also wrote to monthly S. S. Prayermeeting & sent both by him. Continue reading →

Show options Hide options Additional options

Avoid highways

Avoid tolls

KM

Miles

Get DirectionsPrint Directions

Head Quarters, Company A 129th Ills. Vols.
Camp Near Mitchellville, Tenn. Dec. 2nd 1862

My Dear Wife

Yours of Nov. 25th came by to-day’s mail. I am very happy to learn that you are all so well but feel sorry at your disappointment when you learn that we are no longer at Bowling Green & with no prospect of going into Winter Quarters. You cannot experience a greater disappointment than myself; for it was a matter I contemplated for some time & even now, did I not feel so thoroughly convinced that the risk was too great, I would urge your coming but under the circumstances I dare not do it. Continue reading →

Pontiac Ill. Dec 2nd 1862

Joseph F Culver Esq

My Dear Husband

I am so sorry you do not get my letters I have written you five since you first mentioned the prospect of staying a Bowling Green & in each one have expressed the great desire I had of joining you there Yours of the 27th (Thanksgiving) I rec’d last evening I do wish I had gone when you first stopped at Bowling Green I could have been with you a little while, if not long, Mrs Smith has not gone, & I heard did not intend going. I have not seen her since she came home Continue reading →