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Feb 21 2014

I feel rather certain that I shall get home this Spring

Posted byThe University of Iowa LibrariesPosted inUncategorized

Joseph Culver Letter, February 21, 1864, Page 1

Head Qrs., 1st Brig., 1st Div., 11th A. C.
Nashville, Febry. 21st 1864
My Dear Wife

I recd. two letters from you yesterday evening, both mailed on the 12th, but one written on the 6th & 7th & the other on the 12th.1 I am happy to learn that you enjoy such good health. I will not undertake to answer the questions you have asked, for I feel rather certain that I shall get home this Spring. If not, I will telegraph for you.

If you get an opportunity to see Thomas Hill, ask him what he can do to assist me.2 The money of Tom Smith’s & Joe Shellebarger’s that I expected to borrow is in his hands.3

Mrs. Harrison will be here this evening; the Col. recd. a dispatch from her to-day. My going home will be delayed on Mitchel’s account.4 He has sent in an application for leave to go home & get married. I will cheerfully wait on him. I think he is more nervous about it than I was. He will probably bring his bride here.

I was at church to-day & heard a very good sermon. It was late when we got back, & now it is mail time & my letter very brief. I have been almost tempted to telegraph for you & give up the idea of getting home. I am afraid by the time Jim returns, which will be full one month, we will have marching orders. If I succeed in being sent for the instruments, it will not interfere with my getting a leave of absence next fall, but to get a leave of absence now would prevent it.

If I do not get home, I will write in full about the matters of which you write. Hoskins will be home next week; I will send by him. He is ordered to Chicago to appear against C. J. Beattie.5

You want me to tell you the next prettiest name to Mary. For dark eyes & dark hair, brunnette, I like Ellen, & for light hair & complexion, Jennie.6 Give my love to all. I must close. I hope to get home. May God bless you.

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

  1. Mary Culver’s letters of February 7 & 12 are missing from the Culver Collection.
  2. Thomas Hill was a 43-year-old Pontiac Township farmer. In 1860 he valued his real estate at $13,000, his personal estate at $1,400, and lived with his wife, Mary, and four children. One of his four farm hands had been Chris Yetter. Eighth Census, Livingston County, State of Illinois, NA.
  3. Joseph Shellenbarger, a 19-year-old fruit tree agent, was mustered into service on Sept. 8, 1862, as a private in Company A, 129th Illinois. Private Shellenbarger died in the brigade hospital on March 31, 1864, at Wauhatchie of pneumonia. Thomas R. Smith, a 23-year-old farmer, was mustered into service on Sept. 8, 1862, as a private in Company A, 129th Illinois. Private Smith was hospitalized at Quincy, Ill., with wounds to the left arm received at New Hope Church, Ga., May 27. 1864. He received a medical discharge on May 18, 1865. Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers, NA.
  4. Adjutant Mitchell of Harrison’s staff was granted a 10-day leave on February 19, 1864, “to attend to personal business” in Bloomington, Ind. Ibid.
  5. Charles J. Beattie, a Livingston County lawyer, had been indicted for forgery in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Ibid.
  6. Mary Culver had written J.F.C. of her hope that their next child would be a girl and had asked his preference for a name.