Joseph F. Culver Civil War Letters

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Head Qurs., 129th Regt. Ills. Vols.
Wauhatchie, Tenn., April 29th 1864
My Dear Wife

Your letter of the 23rd and 24th was received just now, & I haste to reply. ((Mary Culver’s letter of April 23 and 24 is missing from the Culver Collection.)) I am very happy to hear that you enjoy good health, a blessing for which we should be very thankful. I presume you have received the letter I sent by [Amos] Clark before this. George Bay returned to his Company to-day but brought no news for me; ((George Bay, a 34-year-old carpenter, was mustered into service on Sept. 8, 1862, as a corporal in Company G, 129th Illinois Infantry. He was sent to the General Hospital at Nashville on April 30, 1864, and did not rejoin the regiment, being mustered out at Keokuk, Iowa, May 3, 1865. Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers, NA.)) he says he did not see you. You have learned all about Bros. Johnie and Sammy before this from my former letters. Continue reading →

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Hd. Qurs., 129th Ills, Vols.
Wauhatchie, Tenn., April 27th 1864
My Dear Wife

I was detailed this afternoon as Adjt. of the Regt. to act in the absence of Phil [Plattenburg]. He went to Louisville this afternoon to purchase a horse to be presented to Col. Case by the officers of the Regt. ((The money collected would also be used by Adjutant Plattenburg to purchase a saddle and bridle for the gift horse. Grunert, History of the 129th Illinois, p. 56.)) The duties will not be very heavy as there are two clerks on duty. To-morrow we have Division Drill. Continue reading →

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Monday morning — April 25th
My Dear Wife

Bro. Johnie has not got up yet, & I will add a few lines. Here comes Alf. [Huetson] with my mail, two letters from you, both dated the 19th, one containing stamps. ((The subject letters are missing from the Culver Collection.)) The one of the 18th aluded to has not yet arrived. Continue reading →

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Head Qurs., Company “A”, 129th Ills, Vols.
Wauhatchie, Tenn., April 24th 1864
My Dear Wife

This has been a Holy Day, & I feel much refreshed. We had preaching at 10 A.M. Bro. Cotton preached the funeral of Jos. Shellenbarger & 4 others who died since we left Nashville. ((Pvt. James C. Monday of Company H had died of pneumonia at Bridgeport, Ala., on March 9; Pvt. John R. Phillips of Company E had died of smallpox at Tullahoma, Tenn., on March 17; Cpl. William M. Scott of Company K had died of smallpox at Bridgeport on March 21; and Pvt. James Burk of Company H had died at Louisville, Ky., on March 24. Compiled Service Records cf Union Soldiers, NA.)) Continue reading →

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Head Qurs. Co. “A”, 129th Ills, Vols.
Wauhatchie, Tenn., April 24th 1864
My dear Wife

I arrived here safe on yesterday evening. Bro. Johnie came with me & is now here. ((Sergt. John Murphy, having received a three-day pass, accompanied J.F.C. on his return to Wauhatchie from Cleveland.)) We went to church this forenoon, & this afternoon we will take a walk to see some of his acquaintances. He will leave for his Battery this evening or in the morning. Continue reading →

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Hd. Qurs. Co. “A”, 129th Ills. Vols. ((On April 18 Lieutenant Culver was detailed for temporary duty as an aide-de-camp to General Butterfield, and 48 hours later he was relieved from that assignment and rejoined Company A, 129th Illinois. Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers, NA.))
Wauhatchie, Tenn., April 20th 1864
My Dear Wife

I recd. a pass this evening with recommend[ation] to get pass from Chattanooga to Cleveland. ((Company M, 1st Illinois Artillery, the unit to which Sergt. John Murphy was assigned, had left Loudon, Tenn., on April 18 for Cleveland, Tenn. Adjutant General’s Report, State of Illinois, Vol. VIII, p. 666.)) I will start on the 5 o’clock train to-morrow morning, & will try to get to Bro. Johnie & Sammy to-morrow if possible. My pass is only for three days. Continue reading →

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Head Qurs., 1st Brig., 1st Div., 11th A.C.
Wauhatchie, Tenn., April 15th 1864
My Dear Wife

I recd. three letters since I last wrote: two yesterday and one to-day, mailed, respectively, Apr. 7th, 9th & 11th. ((Mary Culver’s letters of April 7, 9, and 11 are missing from the Culver Collection.)) I am very happy to hear from you so frequently & am sorry that I have not written more regularly. I will try and answer all of your letters to-night if I am not interrupted. Continue reading →

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Head. Qurs., 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th A.C.
Wauhatchie, Tenn., April 13th 1864
My Dear Wife

I did not have the pleasure of hearing from you to-day as I expected, nor did I write last night as I promised. I felt very confident yesterday morning of getting an opportunity to visit Lookout Point but was disappointed. Continue reading →

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Head Qurs., 1st Brig., 1st Div., 11th A.C.
Wauhatchie, Tenn., April 12th 1864
My Dear Wife

Yours of April 2nd came to hand yesterday, also one from Mother [Murphy]. ((The subject letters are missing from the Culver Collection.)) I am very happy to learn of your good health. Your letter had been torn open by some one. Tell Mother I will write to her very soon. Continue reading →

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Head Quarters, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Army Corps
Wauhatchie, Tenn., April 10th 1864
My Dear Wife

I delayed writing last night hoping to hear from you by this morning’s mail. The train did not get in until just before noon, but it brought me no letter. I felt so much disappointed that I did not attempt to write before the mail went North. Continue reading →