Joseph F. Culver Civil War Letters

Carlisle Penn Sept [25?] 1863

My Dear Husband

Yours of Aug. 27 & 28 I received tonight, also one from Bro Jonnie. I am so much disappointed to hear that there is so little prospect of your getting home I cannot give it up yet perhaps something will turn up in our favor Is there any difficulty now about ladies getting passes at Louisville. You have not told me if the women of the 129th went home or to Nashville, I am very glad to know that Mrs Smith is so far recovered as to be able to travel Do they hope for her entire recovery? Father is very poorly tonight, has suffered intensely all day. The Dr. told Jennie that with the fall of the leaves he would probably pass away, though he might live much longer. Continue reading →

Chatanooga Tenn. 25 Sept. 1863

Dear Brother Frank:

About a week ago I received from you, through J.P. Lathrop and the mail, a bundle of papers, for which I am very thankful. This is the first opportunity I have had of writing you since the receipt of the papers, as we have been in very active service in the field, away from our baggage. Rosecrans has been driven back to this place. Our Brig. participated in the battle of Sunday last. It was severe during the afternoon: we lost 14 men. I am well.

Yours in haste
W J Murphy
Battery “M” 1st Ill. Arty.
2d Brig. 1st Div. R. C.
Army [?]

PS Send me some letters from home. Jack

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Head Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol. Infty.
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 24th 1863

My Dear Wife

Yours of the 18th & 19th came to hand to-day. ((Mary Culver’s letters of September 18 and 19 are missing from the Culver Collection.)) I am truly happy to hear that you & Frankie enjoy such good health. I wrote a long letter to you night before last, but forgot to tell you to draw on Remick whenever you are in need of money. ((In the missing letters, Mary Culver undoubtedly called attention to her need for money.)) There is at least $30 in his hands & should be $60 or $70. I will inform you of the Amount as soon as I learn. Should it fall short of your necessities, write to me; I have made arrangements here to borrow if I need it. Continue reading →

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Head Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol.
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 19th 1863

My Dear Wife

We are notified to be prepared for marching orders, an indication at least that we will soon leave here, & though we have no definite idea of where we are going, yet, as the whole Brigade is to move, we anticipate being sent to the front. ((On September 17 General Rosecrans, to strengthen his army at the front, suggested to General Gordon Granger that it would be possible to reduce further the garrisons and posts guarding the supply lines and depots in Middle Tennessee. Rosecrans urged that one infantry regiment be withdrawn from Fort Donelson and Clarksville; one cavalry regiment from Nashville; three battalions of infantry and one of cavalry from the Murfreesboro area; and three infantry regiments from the ten currently posted at Caperton’s, Stevenson, Bridgeport, and Jasper. If Granger knew of any garrisons which could be pared further to provide troops for the army at the front, he was to do so. O. R., Ser. I, Vol. XXX, pt. III, pp. 713-714.)) As I shall probably be on duty to-morrow & not have another opportunity, I wish to-night to give you a full understanding of our business affairs at home. Our communication will be necessarily less frequent & should we cross the Tennessee River, it will doubtless be very irregular. I have often thought that I should have embraced the opportunity while we were to-gether to make you fully acquainted with all our affairs, yet [I] postponed [it] from time to time until it was entirely neglected. Continue reading →

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Head Qrs. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vol. Infty.
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 18th 1863

My Dear Wife

Yours of the 11th inst. came to hand this morning, also a catalogue & 3 [news]papers for which I am much obliged. ((Mary Culver’s letter of Sept. 11 is missing from the Culver Collection.)) I recd. the Philad. Ledger a few days ago.

I know exactly where you are, as I boarded nearly a year at Mrs. McGary’s in that same house. ((Mary Culver evidently had written J.F.C., describing a visit to Mrs. McGary’s.)) Please remember me to them kindly; I am indebted to them for many favors. Are the girls married yet? I have not seen or heard of any of them for years. Continue reading →

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Head Qrs., Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vol. Inft.
Nashville. Tenn., Sept. 16th 1863

My Dear Wife

I attempted to write to you to-day but signally failed, yet, for fear that opportunity might not be given to-night, I sent the few lines I had written. It is seldom that I find myself in no state of mind to write, but it so happened. I can explain in a few words. While on duty last night, Corp. J. M. Chritten was taken suddenly ill, & I sent a messenger for the Dr. & an ambulance, ((James M. Chritten, a 20-year-old Pontiac farmer, was mustered into service on Sept. 8,1862, as a private in Company A, 129th Illinois, and was promoted to corporal, May 9, 1863. Corporal Chritten was mustered out near Washington, D.C., June 8, 1865. Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers, NA.)) but Dr. Johns refused to allow either, & Chritten lay all night in an old shed. I felt angry, &, when I came in this morning, made a written statement to the Col. [Case], &, for myself, I must confess I was not in any mood for writing. Continue reading →

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Head Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vol. Intry.
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 16th 1863

My Dear Wife

I rather expected to be greeted on my return this morning with a letter but was disappointed. We had rather a gloomy night of it on picket. It rained very hard & the lightning & thunder was terrific. One house in the vicinity of Camp was struck, but I have heard of no further accident. Nearly all the tents were blown down & many of our things spoiled. My health is quite good. Continue reading →

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Head Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vol. Infty.
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 14th 1863

My Dear Wife:

I have before me a photograph of Frankie & you, & I try to imagine you both here, but it is hard work & poor success. I was made the happy recipient of three letters this morning on my return [from Stevenson] mailed on the 5th, 9th & 7th inst. The photograph is excellent, though I can plainly see the result of your sickness. I hope, however, from the assurance your letters give that you have recovered good health. Frankie looks wide awake with mouth & eyes open. I apprehend he attempted to exhibit his teeth but failed, not even the half tooth is visable. ((Mary Culver had forwarded a picture taken of her and Frankie by a Utica, N. Y., photographer. Commenting on it, she had observed, “It was taken just after I was able to get about and being very weary the expression of my countenance is anything but intelligent.” Mary Culver to J.F.C., September 7, 1863, Culver Collection.)) He will persist in prophecying & Mamma is to be gratified, so says the adage, & I can cheerfully say Amen! Continue reading →

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Head Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol. Infty.
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 10th 1863

My Dear Wife

I shall start for Stevenson at 6 A.M. to-morrow if nothing happens & shall not receive the letter I expect is in the mail for me until I return, which will most probably be Monday evening [the 14th]. I wrote a long letter this morning & have but little more to write. ((J.F.C.’s letter to his wife, written on the morning of the 10th, is missing from the Culver Collection.)) I am quite well. I intended to write to Sister Maggie [Utley] & Sarah Williams to-day, but have failed after I concluded the one to you. It was so warm, & this evening we were out on drill until after dark. I don’t know why it is, but, aside from the letters I write to you, I find but little time to write. Continue reading →

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Head Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol. Infty.
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 7th 1863

My Dear Wife

I wrote to you to-day but was so frequently interrupted that I fear my letter was very much disconnected. I commenced it just after Reveille roll-call & did not get it sealed until a few moments before Drill this afternoon. I sit down therefore to-night to talk to you a while. Continue reading →