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July 29th/63

Dearest Wife

I feel much better, & I think before night I shall be well as ever. I dreamed of seeing Frankie & you last night. I thought we were on our way to Carlisle. May God bless my Wife and child – Farewell –

J. F. Culver

 

Head Quarters, Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vol. Infty.
Gallatin, Tenn., July 28th 1863

My Dear Wife

Yours of July 22nd is duly received.¹ I hoped to hear that you were quite well & feel sorry to hear that you do not enjoy good health.

I have hoped for a favorable return of my last petition until now. I dare not anticipate the granting of a leave of Absence any longer for the present at least. I intended yesterday to try & go to Nashville to-day & press my suit with General Rosecrans, but Orders have been received forbidding any Officer to go without permission from the Post Commander at Nashville.² I feel disappointed & I know you will, but let us conclude that all is for the best.

I have been sick myself to-day with strong symtoms of a Billious Attack. I am taking medicine to-night & hope to be much better in the morning.

If it becomes essential to your health to wean Frankie, you must not hesitate to do it. The weather will soon be getting cooler, & with his good health I think there would be but little danger.

In answer to your letter, I saw Dr. Moore on Saturday; he was here a couple of hours. His family are all well & were seemingly glad to hear from you. I have written to Bro. Fisher about the matter you forgot, thinking that in your hasty departure you might have forgotten it. It was not of much importance, probably would have been attended to without saying anything.

I am happy to hear that Frankie has such a good appetite, as it denotes good health. I hope in taking “after his Papa,” he may improve on the Example set him.

I am unable to say how long Beer has been in use, but probably something of its nature has been used even in our Savior’s time. I have used more of it during the past month than I have for years. I think it does me good, but it is not palatable.³

I presumed that you would consult Mother about your condition before this, & conclude that if nothing has been developed by this time, or within a very few days at least, that I have won the bet.⁴ I have never thought of laughing at you, nor am I much surprised if you are mistaken. I earnestly hope that you are gaining Strength, as you seem to think in closing your letter that you are improving. Tell Frankie that Papa sends a kiss to him & Mother inside this ring. (Kiss)

I am inclined to believe that all your letters have reached me but some of them are at a very late date. I have letters from New Hartford mailed on the 10th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 21st, 22nd of July. You can tell if that is all. You wrote in one of your letters for my opinion of your going to Carlisle. I hope if you are able you will go if it is only for a short visit. I had planned to meet you & go with you, but all is past for this time. Do not let my failure depress you, for you will need the more courage. I presume ere this if my letter has been received, that you have heard from Mother [Culver] perhaps through Hannah or Jennie. You need fear nothing. Yet I know I could have added materially to your enjoyment if I could have been with you.

I regret very much that I did not know that Mother [Murphy] was with you when I wrote home. I told my Mother that I thought it probable she was, but I did not know as you did not mention it, either in your letter from Pontiac or Detroit. I shall write again to Mother to-night.

I recd. another letter from Bro. Wes. Father is no better but declining. I would ask Bro. Charlie to meet you in Harrisburg, if I thought you had fully fixed upon a time to go, but I presume after receiving my last letters you will wait for my coming. If you will write to him the time of your coming, he will be happy to meet you.

I wish both Mother & you a very pleasant visit. I know our Mothers will enjoy each other’s society. Tell Mother M. not to feel any hesitancy in making herself at home there for my sake. It is my old home & very dear. There are so many things I intended to show you & tell you about that I should fail to Enumerate all in a letter. I shall write to you at Carlisle as soon as you let me know the time you will start & try & open the way for you. You must not get frightened at the host of Bros., Sisters, Nephews & Nieces you will meet. The girls will take delight in showing you around.⁵

Christ Yetter is enjoying good health. He said yesterday that he was going to write to you. Alf Huetson says that if you come again, he will take Frankie & make him a bed beside his.⁶ Mrs. Smith is growing better slowly & hopes are entertained of her speedy recover. Her Father is here.

Bill Russell started for Pontiac yesterday morning. I am sure I never saw any one so homesick. He could hardly stand the prospect of being once more in Pontiac & talked & acted like a little Boy. He told us how he intended to conduct himself, & all he intended to say. He is determined to flirt with Miss Turner, Mrs. Green, and Mrs. Mott if he can, but professes no desire to go farther. If he were beseiged by all three at once (as he fears), I do not know what he would do. Miss Turner has kept up a regular correspondence. You must be discreet with my secrets, I do not wish to be in the least compromised in any way or event. But Bill & I have been confidents for a long time, & it is not improper that I should see & read for myself. I shall surely use my influence to secure his happiness. Though I may have been guilty once of looking after my own happiness in antagonism to what might have been strictly proper, I have surely no interests at stake now. I hope he may be as happy as I am in possessing the love of a noble, pure, & good wife.

May God bless you, my Wife, and make you happy always & never allow anything to transpire to mar your happiness. I wrote a long letter to the S. School on Sunday night. I have been waiting for a letter from Maggie [Utley] for sometime. I fear she has forgotten her promise to you. I have not heard from Bro. Johnnie [Murphy] yet. I must write again to-morrow. I should not be disappointed much if the money I sent him was lost. Bro. Thomas [Murphy] has not written yet.

I shall look for a full account of your Visit soon. How did you find your old haunts of pleasure. I hope beautiful as ever. Kiss Frankie & Mother for me & accept very many for yourself. I shall add a line in the morning informing you how I feel. Remember me kindly to all our friends. Hoping that God will bless you with health & happiness for which I shall ever pray, I will say Good Night

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

1. Mary Culver’s letter of July 22 is missing from the Culver Collection.
2. General Rosecrans was in Nashville from July 22-25, and on the 26th he returned to the front, establishing his headquarters at Winchester, Tenn. O. R., Ser. I, Vol. XXIII, pt. II, pp. 550-560.
3. In her letter of the 22d, Mary Culver must have broached the question of beer drinking.
4. J.F.C. is alluding to the possibility that his wife might be pregnant.
5. This would be Mary Culver’s first visit to Carlisle, and she had misgivings over meeting her in-laws for the first time.
6. Alfred C. Huetson, a 22-year-old farmer, was mustered into service on Sept. 8, 1862, as a private in Company A, 129th Illinois. He was promoted to corporal on May 9, 1863, and on March 21, 1864, was detached as brigade topographical engineer. On April 6, 1865, Corporal Huetson was placed on duty at headquarters, Army of Georgia. Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers, NA.

East Villa, July 27th/63.

Dear brother Joe,

I have just finished a letter to Mary directing it to New Hartford N.Y. which is the place you spoke of. I sent her an invitation to spend the remainder of the Summer with us which we will be very glad to have her do for Jennie is going to house-keeping in two or three weeks & we will be very lonely here. Father’s health is not improving any He frequently suffers with pain in his Stomach beside has rheumatism in his back and limbs & of course is growing weaker. Jennie’s children have been sick for a week or two & I have not been very well but we are all feeling better to-day. There is a great deal of sickness in town and through the country too. The weather is very warm & sultry which I think makes it worse. Anna & Kate Yong have both been quite ill but are again recovering My mind was so much occupied with the Rebbles when I last wrote that I neglected telling you some other things which I have no doubt will interest you among which is the marriage of Annie Yong. She was married on the fifth of this month to Hiram Good. I think you must have known him for he lives but a short distance from the Schoolhouse where you taught School. She was married very quietly on Sunday evening & we knew nothing of it for near a week afterward. I have not seen her since. Wes is still at home but speaks of going into service with a cavalry company now forming in Carlisle. Charlie has been working for Gustie all harvest; hands are not to be had at any price. Harry is in Bucks County at his home but we expect him back in a few days. College opens about the middle of next month. The prospects for a prosperous year are quite favorable just now.

I think from what I read that Brag’s army must have joined Lee’s as reports say Lee has been heavily reinforced and again threatens Penn. If Rosecrans should follow Brag you may not have very far to come home when you are permitted to come. Gov. Curtin is censured somewhat for sending home the Malitia as it weakens the defense along the border but the draft is expected to take place in a few days and the vacancie will no doubt be filled by the drafted men. I will let you know if any of our friends are drafted. The family all join in sending much love. Let us hear from you soon.

Your affectionate Sister.
Hanna Culver

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Head Quarters, Co. “A” 129th Regt. Illinois, Vols. Infty.
Gallatin, Tennessee July 26th 1863

My Dear Wife

Yours of the 16th reached me yesterday evening and of the 14th a few days ago.¹ I am very Sorry to hear that you do not enjoy good health. I hoped the climate would produce good results & that you would gain rather than lose Strength. I wish Frankie could be weaned for I think he is the principal cause of it, but you know best; only be careful of your health.

I have almost despaired of getting leave of Absence. It is ten days since my petition was forwarded & no answer yet. I dare not look for a favorable return & have almost given up the anticipated pleasure. When the time will come, I cannot divine but earnestly hope it may be soon.

Russell is almost entirely well; he will start home to-morrow. He comes as near being homesick as any one I ever saw. Maples returned yesterday. He brought a letter for me from Abbie [Remick]. Our friends in Pontiac are all well. Your shawl is at Dehner’s; Mrs. Smith is getting better, & if she does not relapse may get well. She is very poorly. Her father arrived here Friday evening. I shall write to the S. School to-day & send by Russell.

He [Russell] denies having sent Mrs. Green any present. He is smitten with Fanny Mott, & says he is going home to see her.² I am of the opinion that he is becoming anxious to get a wife. When you married, he said he would never try again (such is life).

I wrote you an account of Jim Abbe & Soph (Frost) Stephen’s Elopement. They have been caught & are now awaiting trial.³

I recd. a letter from Bro. Wes [Culver] a few days ago. Father is no better. All the rest are well. When do you expect to visit Carlisle? Mother is very anxious for you to come. Jennie was on a visit with her husband. Annie Zug[‘s] sister, Lizzie’s oldest daughter, was married recently. Bro. Charlie [Culver] got a fine horse & equipments from the Rebels while they were in Carlisle.

Frankie, you say, will soon be able to walk alone. I wonder if he would know me; how much I should like to see you both, I presume ere this you have recd. my letters anticipating my visit home. I am sorry for the disappointment.

Our Chaplain [Reverend Cotton] has resigned. He would have gained credit by doing so long ago. We had some Company Records printed. I will send one to Pontiac & have it framed by the time you return, also one to mother.⁴ They make quite a handsome picture.

Dr. Moore was here yesterday; his family are well.⁵ Mike Collins is editor of the Sentinel.⁶ Gagan has gone to California.⁷ There were none of our Regt. captured on the train Morgan took; it was only a report.

I must close or I will not get my letter in the mail this morning. My health is quite good. We got new tents on Friday & the Camp looks very nice. Write to me often as you can. Remember me kindly to all our friends. Kiss Babie & Mother for me. Let me know when you go to Carlisle. I shall write to Mother to-day if possible. May God bless and keep you and hasten our return to home. Let us praise him for all his goodness thus far.

Farewell,

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

1. General Morgan and his raiders on July 13 had invaded Ohio. The pursuit was vigorous, as the Confederates rode eastward, in search of a way to recross the Ohio into Kentucky. There were frequent skirmishes. Many of the Confederates straggled, and on the 26th Morgan with the remnant of his once-feared division surrendered near New Lisbon, Ohio. With Morgan hard-pressed and unable to halt long enough to seriously damage the railroads, communication lines south to the army leading through Louisville were promptly reopened. O. R., Ser. I, Vol. XXIII, pt. I, pp. 632-633.
2. Fanny Mott was a recent widow, her husband the regimental hospital steward Isaac Mott having died at South Tunnel, April 12, 1863. Sarah Green was Silas Green’s 25-year-old widow. Eighth Census, Livingston County, State of Illinois, NA.
3. Jim Abbe, the Pontiac city clerk, had deserted his wife and family for the charms of Sophia Stephens, the 23-year-old wife of William Stephens, a Pontiac carpenter. Ibid.
4. A Civil War fad was for a unit, usually a company, to have its roster engraved on parchment and reproduced. J.F.C. was mistaken about Chaplain Cotton’s resignation. Cotton would remain with the unit another year before resigning.
5. It has been impossible to further identify Dr. Moore.
6. Mike (Marcellus) Collins was a 31-year-old Pontiac attorney, and he had purchased the Sentinel from Cook & Gagan. Eighth Census, Livingston County, State of Illinois, NA; History of Livingston County, p. 317.
7. William Gagan had resigned as regimental sutler on March 27, 1863. His replacement was Ed Maples, a former sheriff of Livingston County. Regimental Papers, 129th Illinois, NA.

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By Eric Rumsey and Janna Lawrence

Much of the power of PubMed searching is due to the elegant Medical Subject Heading [MeSH] system used to index articles. When you type words into the PubMed search box, it looks for the most appropriate MeSH terms to use for your topic. When PubMed searches those MeSH terms, it also searches for closely related terms that are narrower in scope. This is especially useful because it makes it easy to search for broad categories of subjects. Search for cancer, for instance, and you’ll get every type of cancer, from leukemia to melanoma, whether the actual word cancer is used or not. The MeSH system works well for most all subjects in PubMed. A glaring exception, however, is food and nutrition.

Unlike most other subjects, to do a comprehensive food and nutrition search, it’s necessary to search for at least four different concepts:

• Food and Beverages (a MeSH term)
• Nutritional Physiological Phenomena (a MeSH term, which includes Diet as a narrower term)
• Diet Therapy (a subheading)
• Nutrition (Unlike the concepts above, this is actually not a MeSH term; it includes searching for the word nutrition as a text word, and several MeSH terms that use the word nutrition or nutritional)

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• Plant-derived health: the effects of turmeric and curcuminoids
• Antioxidant supplements for prevention of gastrointestinal cancers
• Aspartame ingestion and headaches: a randomized crossover trial

New post: How to do a comprehensive food and nutrition search by creating a saved search or search filter in PubMed.

UI affiliates: For help with food and nutrition searching in PubMed, please contact librarians at Hardin.

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