Harrisburg, Pa., Febr. 13th 1865.
My Dear Wife
I left home on the afternoon train and have to wait until 3 o’clock to-morrow morning for the N.Y. train. The Dr. says Mother has Erysipelas, but he thinks it will not be severe. Bro. Charlie & Sister Jennie both promised to write to you.
I called to see Mrs. Annie Van Horn Daires this evening & found the family well.1 Mr. Daires was not at home but is well. Annie played a few new pieces on the Piano for me. I left at 8 o’clock, & on my way back to the hotel came by a church where they were holding a revival meeting. I went in & remained until half past ten. They are having a good meeting, & I enjoyed it very much. There were fine ladies at the altar. It was a Winebrenenan Bethel, a denomination not much known in the West.2 I presume you would scarcely have enjoyed it as it was a very noisy meeting. But the Spirit of God was manifestly present.
I am in a study whether to go to bed to-night or not. It is nearly 11 o’clock & the train leaves at 3. I am not sleepy. I have been thinking much of Home. I wish I could spend the hours intervening with you. “When shall we meet again?”
I did not enjoy my visit [to Carlisle] as much as I anticipated. The only sleighride I had was from John Miller’s to Pagues’ & from there to Carlisle.3 The roads were so drifted that we could not drive off a walk. The sleigh bells are jingling merrily around the city to-night.
Sherman is still moving North.4 I cannot imagine where I will find the Regt. I look for a letter on my arrival in New York to-morrow morning. Kiss Howard for me. Give my love to all. May Our Father in Heaven bless you both. Do not fail in writing. With much love, I remain, as ever,
Your affect. Husband
J. F. Culver
- Annie Van Horn Daires by 1867 was a widow and dressmaker and was living on Harrisburg’s Canal Street, near Walnut. The Harrisburg City Directory 1867-68, compiled by William J. Divine (Harrisburg, 1867), p. 53.
- The Winebrenenan Bethel Church met on Fourth Street at the corner of Strawberry Alley. Ibid., p. 193.
- The Miller farm was in Middlesex Township, on the Sterretts Gap Road, six miles north of Carlisle.
- General Sherman had advanced into South Carolina. Ward’s Third Division of General Slocum’s wing had crossed the Savannah River into South Carolina, at the beginning of the New Year, at Screven’s Ferry, and had marched to Hardeeville, while General Howard massed his wing in and around Pocotaligo. On January 29 the 129th Illinois marched from Bethel Church to Robertsville, where it rendezvoused with the remainder of the XX Corps. Four days later, on February 2, the Third Division broke camp and started north. Near Lawtonville, the 1st Brigade was engaged by Rebel cavalry. The Confederates were bested, and the Federals continued to advance, having lost ten men in the skirmish. The XX Corps, along with Sherman’s other columns, pressed steadily ahead, crossing the Big and Little Salkehatchie, and on the 7th reached the South Carolina Railroad. The next 72 hours were spent wreaking havoc on the railroad between Graham’s and Williston. Meanwhile, Howard’s wing had reached the railroad at Midway. On February 11 the XX Corps left the railroad and started north toward Columbia. Destruction of the bridge across the South Fork of the Edisto caused a short delay. Fording the river on the 12th, the XX Corps forged ahead, and nightfall on the 14th found the troops camped at Tucker’s, 18 miles southwest of Columbia. Howard’s wing meanwhile had reached Orangeburg, as it converged on Columbia from the south. Grunert, History of the 129th Illinois, pp. 163-196; Cox, March to the Sea, pp. 168-70.
