Joseph F. Culver Civil War Letters

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Head Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vols.
Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 30th 1863

My Dear Wife

I have been prevented from writing regularly, or at any great length for several days, owing to the press of business. We have been preparing for Inspection & Review which takes place to-morrow, also muster for Pay & the closing up of our monthly accounts. Jos. Allen was left sick in Gallatin, & Alf Huetson has been home on Furlough, leaving all the writing on my hands. Huetson returned yesterday evening. He has been sick all the time he was home but is improving rapidly & will be well soon. Continue reading →

Carlisle Penna. Aug 28th 1863

My Dear Husband

I reached this place safely & in health yesterday afternoon. I had rather a tedious journey & do not think I shall ever travel the road again alone, with a baby. I could tell you of a host of troubles, I had on the way which do to laugh over now, but I think would occupy too much time & space to enumerate Suffice it to say I had to change cars five times, & get my baggage checked as many, & wish one exception the only attention or politeness I received from a man was from a black one – long may he live – who got up and offered me his narrow front seat rather than see me stand up with a baby in my arms, while his white brethren comfortably kept their seats, I sat down and cried, I could not help it, I believe they thought I was a bad woman or they would not have treated me so. – – Continue reading →

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Head Qurs. Co. “A”, 129th Ills. Vol.
Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 28th 1863

My Dear Wife

I recd. two letters from you this morning dated the 22nd & 23rd & am happy to hear that you enjoy such good health. ((Mary Culver’s letters of August 22 and 23 are missing from the Culver Collection.)) I presume ere this you have arrived in Carlisle & have recd. my former letters. I have not recd. Sister Hannah’s letter yet of which she speaks. ((Hannah Culver’s letter is also missing from the Culver Collection.)) I recd. a letter from Bro. Sammy this morning, dated the 22nd; he was quite well & enjoys himself finely. He was after Morgan & gives quite a glowing description of his marching. ((Samuel Alexander Murphy, Mary Culver’s youngest brother, like thousands of others had been called up to oppose Morgan’s raid north of the Ohio. Like most of these, he never got within 100 miles of the raiders.)) Continue reading →

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Head Quarters, Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol.
Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 27th 1863

My Dear Wife

I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you since our arrival here, but hope very soon to be made happy by a letter. I am in the enjoyment of excellent health. Our duty thus far has been very pleasant. ((On reaching Nashville, Colonel Case of the 129th Illinois reported to Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, who was charged with responsibility of protecting the Army of the Cumberland’s depots and lines of communication. General Granger assigned the 129th Illinois to the 2d Brigade of Brig. Gen. Robert S. Granger’s Third Division of the Reserve Corps, and the men were turned to pitching tents, between Fort Negley and the Murfreesboro Pike, near the southeastern outskirts of the city. O.R., Ser. I, Vol. XXX, pt. III, pp. 37, 372; Grunert, History of the 129th Illinois, p. 34.)) I went out on Picket on Monday [the 24th] & had a very pleasant time. Our post was in a very pleasant grove quite near a house, the ladies of which supplied us with some fine music, both instrumental & vocal.

We made an exchange of Arms yesterday & have all new guns (rifled). ((Col. Case on May 30, 1863 had notified General Paine that the regiment’s caliber .69 muskets were obsolete. These weapons, manufactured more than 30 years before, had been altered from flintlock to percussion, and could not “be relied upon except at close quarters.” While they “would do a great deal of execution at one hundred yards if directed upon troops en masse,” at ranges in excess of 150 yards they were “very uncertain even in the hands of good marksmen, if fired upon an enemy deployed as skirmishers.” At a range of 300 yards, they were practically worthless. If the regiment
were attacked by “an inferior force” armed with Springfield rifle musket, the “only
salvation would be to advance rapidly upon the enemy in his own chosen position, and come at close quarters at once.” Case to Paine, May 30, 1863, Regimental Papers, 129th Illinois, NA.
When no action was taken on this request, Colonel Case on July 27 addressed a communication to General Gordon Granger. Besides repeating his former arguments, he pointed out that the caliber .69 muskets were “constantly getting out of repair,” and he had been “compelled to turn over so many as broken and damaged that we have not enough now to arm our men. ” Case to Granger, July 27, 1863, Regimental Papers, 129th Illinois, NA.)) Continue reading →

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Head Quarters, Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol.
Nashville, Term., Aug. 24th 1863

My Dear Wife

We arrived in Nashville yesterday morning [the 23d] after a tedious march. ((The 129th Illinois left Gallatin at 5 P.M., on August 21, and reached Nashville at 9 A.M., on the 23d. The distance marched was 30 miles. Regimental Papers, 129th Illinois, NA.)) The weather is excessively warm. We are camped on the South side of the city & have a fair prospect of remaining some time. We are all very busy to-day fixing up our tents & cleaning up. I have not got my desk up yet & am occupying the adjt’s. [adjutant’s] desk to write a few lines. Continue reading →

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Hd. Qrs. Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol.
Gallatin, Tenn., Aug. 19th 1863

My Dear Wife

I have been disappointed in not hearing from you for the last five days. I have written three letters since the receipt of your last to New Hartford & have concluded to write to Carlisle to-night in anticipation of your arrival there.

I received a letter from Sister Hannah this evening, informing me of the sudden death of Sister Jennie’s children, ((Hannah Culver’s letter, conveying news of the death of the Rev. H. C. and Jennie Culver Cheston’s two oldest children, is missing from the Culver Collection.)) & Mother’s earnest desire for your presence [in Carlisle], which, together with your intention of visiting there this week, has induced me to write to you at Carlisle, believing my letter will find you there. Continue reading →