Joseph F. Culver Civil War Letters

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Hd. Qurs. Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vols.
Behind the Fortifications, June 17th 1864
My Dear Wife

Yours of June 9th came to hand last night, & I read it this morning. ((Mary Culver’s letter of June 9 is missing from the Culver Collection.)) As I may possibly get an opportunity to send a letter to-day, I hasten to write. Continue reading →

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Head Qurs. Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vols.
In the Field, Near Marietta, Georgia
June 14th 1864
My Dear Wife

As an opportunity offers to send mail to the rear, I am happy to be able to write. We are still lying behind the fortifications on the same line we occupied a week ago. The army has been in motion and fighting, but the centre has not advanced over two miles. ((Reinforced by Blair’s XVII Corps which had arrived from Decatur, Ala., General McPherson’s Army of the Tennessee of the left advanced, occupied Big Shanty on the railroad, and found the Confederates strongly posted on Brush Mountain, with Noonday Creek to their front. General Thomas had divided his Army of the Cumberland into three columns. Palmer’s XIV Corps on the left, in contact with McPherson, inched its way ahead on the road to Newton’s Mill; Howard’s IV Corps in the center and Hooker’s on the right felt their way toward Pine Mountain. Schofield’s Army of the Ohio was on Sherman’s right and pressing slowly closer to Gilgal Church. Brig. Gen. George Stoneman’s cavalry guarded the “army group’s” right toward Lost Mountain. General Johnston to cope with Sherman’s move to the east had massed his infantry on the Gilgal Church-Brush Mountain line. Hardee’s left was at the church, Polk’s corps extended from Pine Mountain across the railroad to the Acworth-Marietta wagon road, and Hood’s on the right was massed behind Noonday Creek and along the foot of Brush Mountain. Cox, Atlanta, pp. 95-96.)) We have heard fighting all along the line each day. It has rained almost incessantly for 13 days, so that you can imagine the conditions of the roads, almost impassible. We are still held in readiness to move at a moment’s notice. Continue reading →

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The first page (or pages) of this letter is (are) missing. [June 10, 1864] ((Internal evidence suggests that J.F.C. wrote this letter on or about June 10, while the 129th Illinois was posted at Mt. Olivet Church.))

I apprehend that for bold, daring, and careful and successful movement, it [Sherman’s Atlanta campaign] has never been equaled. ((Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign is considered a classic by many military historians. Sherman’s skill in employing a superior force to flank a foe out of a succession of formidable defense lines and Johnston’s ability to conduct a successful retrograde are still studied in military schools and colleges.)) We have advanced our lines over 100 miles through the heart of the Enemy’s country, through some of the strongest natural fortifications in this country, in a period of 40 days. ((The 129th Illinois had broken camp at Wauhatchie, Tenn., on May 2.)) To guard a base of supplies from Louisville, Ky. to this place is of itself a herculean task, it being very nearly 500 miles. ((Sherman’s greatest fear was that Maj. Gen. Nathan B. Forrest’s cavalry corps, based in northeast Mississippi, would raid into Middle Tennessee and destroy the single track Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, severing his supply line. To keep Forrest occupied in Mississippi, Sherman ordered out a series of expeditions from Memphis.)) Continue reading →

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Hd. Qurs. Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vols.
In the Field, Ga., June 7th 1864
My Dear Wife

Your letters of 22d, 25th & 27th have just come to hand ((Mary Culver’s letters of May 22, 25 and 27 are missing from the Culver Collection.)) with the Sentinel of 20th May, and 3 New York Tribune & 3 Nashville Times, with a letter from Sarah Williams. I have read none but your letters yet, as I am informed we can send our mail at 5 P.M. We have Genl. Inspection at 3 P.M., &, as I do not know how long it may last, I hasten to write before. Continue reading →

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Head Qurs. Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vol. Infty.
In the Field June 5th 1864
My Dear Wife

We are lying behind the 3rd or 4th line of fortifications in the mud to-day. ((Sherman’s cavalry on the 3d had occupied Acworth on the Western & Atlantic Railroad. On June 4 Butterfield’s division, including the 129th Illinois, was called to the front to occupy the breastworks erected the previous day by Hovey’s soldiers. That night the Confederate army abandoned its New Hope Church line, and retired to the new positions selected by General Johnston’s engineers, covering an 8-mile front from Lost Mountain on their left to Brush Mountain on their right. O.R., Ser. I, Vol. XXXVIII, pt. II, p. 384; Cox, Atlanta, pp. 92-93.)) It has rained very hard for several days and the mud is, as a matter of course, plenty. We keep out of it in our tents by laying limbs of trees, first, and leaves upon them, with our rubber blankets on top of them, our tents over us, and two woolen blankets to cover us. Continue reading →

Camp in the Field
Near Dallas Ga. 5 June 1864.
Dear Sister Mary:

I commenced a letter to you yesterday evening but a shower intervening prevented me finishing it. I must confess to some delinquincy in writing home of late: but will do better hereafter circumstances permitting. I am happy to have the privilege of acknowledging the receipt of another letter from you. Mother’s of the 20 may and yours of the 23, reached me at the same time – six days ago. It is needless to say they were very welcome. I saw Frank last Monday, and he let me read one or two of your late letters. Frank was quite well. The 129th have been in no engagements since then. As I was writing to you yesterday evening I said “the rebs are still lying intrenched before us”: but I can not write this now, for during the last night our honorable foe “sloped” and up to present writing (as the newspaper correspondents say) 10 oclock A.M.- nothing has been heard of them. I an unable to conjecture whether they will make a stand at Maryetta, or go still farther. Continue reading →

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Hd. Qurs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vols., 1st Brig. 3rd Div. 20th A.C.
on the Battle field, Ga., June 3rd 1864
My Dear Wife

We commenced moving from the centre to the left of our lines June 1st. The first evening we spent very pleasantly being sufficiently in the rear not to be disturbed by the roar of cannon or the roll of musketry. ((General Sherman, finding his way barred by the Confederates, employed his superior forces to begin a gradual shift to the east toward the Western & Atlantic Railroad. General Johnston’s Army of Tennessee moved in the same direction to keep between Sherman’s “army group” and Atlanta. On the afternoon of June 1, troops of Maj. Gen. John A. Logan’s XV Corps, which had been posted on the Union right, relieved Hooker’s corps in front of New Hope Church. The 129th Illinois, along with other units of Butterfield’s division, pulled out of the line and marched to the northeast several miles, halting for the night in rear of the sector held by the XIV Corps. Grunert, History of the 129th Illinois, pp. 70-71; O.R., Ser. I, Vol. XXXVIII, pt. IV, p. 362.)) Continue reading →

Camp in the field near Dalis Ga.
3rd of June 1864
Dear Sister Mary

I received yours of 12th ult. at Kingston and was glad to hear from you. I did not received the one you directed to Springfd for me We staid at Kingston 3 or 4 days. and I saw Frank several times. the 129th are on our right now but as we are in the line of battle and do not know when we may get into a muss. I cant leave to go over there. There is only 1 section of the Battery in position at this point. the other two are about 1 1/2 miles to the left, Jack is with them and I have not seen him for three or four days. Continue reading →

Covington June “64
Dear Friend Culver,

Please pardon me for not writing sooner, I have been almost sick now for several weeks and you may guess did not feel much like writing.

It is so hard for me to write to your Co & Regt. now that my brother is gone. I wanted so much to write to you but could not. It brings everything so distinctly before my mind’s eye.

I can in imagination see my brother lying sick no mother or sister near him. I doubt not but that he had good attention, as good as could be given him. We shall never forget your kindness. God will bless you for being kind to the widow and orphan. Continue reading →