I received my petition for leave of Absence to-day returned rejected

Joseph Culver Letter, August 2, 1863, Page 1[google-map-v3 width=”400″ height=”300″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”hybrid” mapalign=”right” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”false” pancontrol=”false” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”falso” streetviewcontrol=”false” scrollwheelcontrol=”false” draggable=”true” tiltfourtyfive=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”36.381389; -86.451389{}1-default.png” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]

Head Quarters, Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vol. Infty.
Gallatin, Tenn., Aug. 2nd 1863

My Dear Wife

I am disappointed in not hearing from you to-day & earnestly hope the state of your health has not prevented your writing. I hope that I may be more successful to-morrow. Continue reading

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Your letter containing $20 arrived duly

Joseph Culver Letter, August 1, 1863, Page 1Camp near Shelbyville, Tenn.
1st August 1863.

Dear Brother Frank:

Yours of date 29 Ult is at hand. Your letter containing $20 arrived duly, and its receipt was acknowledged the same day of its arrival.

I am glad to hear from our folks. I hope Mollie will soon entirely recover her indisposition I have not heard from home directly since 13th May. The mails or something els are very irregular. Untill very recently, I reported to headquarters at home about twice a week. But I’m not writing letters now “so much as I was.” It don’t pay. Continue reading

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I felt somewhat surprised before opening your letter to find it Post Marked Clinton

Joseph Culver Letter, July 30, 1863, Page 1[google-map-v3 width=”400″ height=”300″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”hybrid” mapalign=”right” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”false” pancontrol=”false” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”falso” streetviewcontrol=”false” scrollwheelcontrol=”false”  addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”36.381389; -86.451389{}1-default.png” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]

Head Quarters, Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vol. Infty.
Gallatin, Tenn. July 30th 1863

My Dear Wife

Yours of the 28th inst. came to hand this evening. I felt somewhat surprised before opening your letter to find it Post Marked Clinton, a name not at all familiar, ((Mary Culver’s letter of July 25 is missing from the Culver Collection. Clinton, another Oneida County town, is about five miles west of New Hartford.)) & I feared you had removed where my letters would not reach you. I was very agreeably disappointed upon opening it, however, & finding you still among warm friends. I have felt great anxiety about your health & hope you will not hesitate to make use of any means to restore you to your accustomed good health. Continue reading

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I dreamed of seeing Frankie & you last night

Joseph Culver Letter, July 29, 1863, Page 1[google-map-v3 width=”400″ height=”300″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”hybrid” mapalign=”right” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”false” pancontrol=”false” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”falso” streetviewcontrol=”false” scrollwheelcontrol=”false”  addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”36.381389; -86.451389{}1-default.png” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]

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

 

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I hoped to hear that you were quite well & feel sorry to hear that you do not enjoy good health

Joseph Culver Letter, July 28, 1863, Page 1[google-map-v3 width=”400″ height=”300″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”hybrid” mapalign=”right” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”false” pancontrol=”false” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”falso” streetviewcontrol=”false” scrollwheelcontrol=”false”  addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”36.381389; -86.451389{}1-default.png” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]

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

My Dear Wife

Yours of July 22nd is duly received. ((Mary Culver’s letter of July 22 is missing from the Culver Collection.)) 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. ((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.)) I feel disappointed & I know you will, but let us conclude that all is for the best. Continue reading

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I have just finished a letter to Mary directing it to New Hartford N.Y.

Joseph Culver Letter, July 27, 1863, Letter 2, Page 1East 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. Continue reading

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I am very Sorry to hear that you do not enjoy good health

Joseph Culver Letter, July 26, 1863, Page 1[google-map-v3 width=”400″ height=”300″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”hybrid” mapalign=”right” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”false” pancontrol=”false” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”falso” streetviewcontrol=”false” scrollwheelcontrol=”false”  addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”36.381389; -86.451389{}1-default.png” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]

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. ((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.)) 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. Continue reading

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An old Proverb says “That whom the Gods would destroy they first make mad.”

Joseph Culver Letter, July 21, 1863, Page 1[google-map-v3 width=”400″ height=”300″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”hybrid” mapalign=”right” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”false” pancontrol=”false” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”falso” streetviewcontrol=”false” scrollwheelcontrol=”false”  addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”36.381389; -86.451389{}1-default.png” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]

Head Quarters, Co. “A” 129th Regt. Ills. Vols.
Gallatin, Tenn., July 21st 1863

My Dear Wife

I have delayed writing for four days hoping to be able to answer your last two letters in person. An old Proverb says “That whom the Gods would destroy they first make mad.” Whether it will apply in my case or not cannot be determined, except as time may solve the problem. Continue reading

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I have received no intelligence of you yet nor any from home

Joseph Culver Letter, July 15, 1863, Page 1[google-map-v3 width=”400″ height=”300″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”hybrid” mapalign=”right” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”false” pancontrol=”false” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”falso” streetviewcontrol=”false” scrollwheelcontrol=”false”  addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”36.381389; -86.451389{}1-default.png” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]

Head Quarters, Co. “A”, 129th Regt. Ills.
Gallatin, Tenn., July 15th 1863

My Dear Wife

I have received no intelligence of you yet nor any from home. I recd. a letter from Bro. Johnie yesterday. He is quite well & in Camp at Shelbyville, Tenn. He writes for money, & I will send him $20 by mail this evening, though it is a great risk.

It still continues to rain. I found some of the small streams yesterday almost impassible. A continuous fog overhangs the Country.

We are all well. My anxiety to hear from you has become alarm for your Safety, and yet I cannot believe that if anything serious has happened our friends would not telegraph. May God’s blessings rest upon you. Kiss Frankie for me. I must close for this morning’s mail.

Farewell,

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

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I leave at 10 o’clock to-night on a scout

Joseph Culver Letter, July 11, 1863, Page 1[google-map-v3 width=”400″ height=”300″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”hybrid” mapalign=”right” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”false” pancontrol=”false” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”falso” streetviewcontrol=”false” scrollwheelcontrol=”false”  addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”36.381389; -86.451389{}1-default.png” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]

Head Quarters, 129th Regt. Ills. Vols. Infty.
Gallatin, Tenn., July 11th 1863

My Dear Wife

Another day has passed without any word from you. I leave at 10 o’clock to-night on a scout of 100 cavalry, 200 infantry & 2 pieces of Artillery. Will be absent for two days, ((Private Dunham of Company C wrote his parents on July 12, “I am heare alone [at Gallatin] most of the boys went out last nite on a scout. They took two peces of artilery with them”, Through the South with a Union Soldier, p. 76.)) but as the trains do not run north of Louisville, I can hardly expect to hear for several days. Morgan has possession of the Rail Road from Jeffersonville to Indianapolis. ((Morgan and his raiders on the 10th swept through Salem on the New Albany & Salem Railroad, and on the 11th slashed across the Indianapolis-Jeffersonville Railroad near Vienna and the Madison, Indianapolis & Peru Railroad at Vernon. O. R., Ser. I, Vol. XXIII, pt. I, pp. 719-726.))

We are all well. Capt. Reed, Sergt. Quakenbush, Lacy McFee & Bob McIntyre came near being captured at Spradling’s to-day by some 30 Rebels but succeeded in making their Escape. ((Henry B. Reed, a 30-year-old farmer, was mustered into service on Sept. 8, 1862, as captain of Company G, 129th Illinois. From Feb. 17-April 18, 1864, he was detailed on court martial duty in Nashville. Captain Reed was mustered out on June 8, 1865, at Washington, D.C. George M. Quackenbush, a 27-year-old saddler, was mustered into service on Sept. 8, 1862, as a sergeant in Company D, 129th Illinois, and was appointed regimental quartermaster sergeant two days later. Sergeant Quackenbush was mustered out at Washington, D.C, June 8, 1865. Robert M. McIntyre, a 24-year-old tinsmith, was mustered into service on Sept. 8, 1862, as a private in Company G, 129th Illinois. Private Mclntyre was hospitalized at Gallatin on April 14, 1863, and on his release from the hospital was detailed as provost clerk. On Dec. 7, 1863, he was assigned to duty with the Nashville Quartermaster Depot, and on April 28, 1864, he was ordered to report for naval service at Chattanooga. Henry L. McFee, a 28-year-old farmer, was mustered into Company B, 129th Illinois, as a private on Sept. 8, 1862. He was appointed wagon master on Feb. 4, 1863, and on Dec. 21, 1863, was detailed as a clerk to the Nashville Quartermaster Depot. Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers, NA.))
Continue reading

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