Author: Lucius Carhart

(Stationery embossed with a fort in upper left corner)

Pine Woods, Alabama March 29th 1865 Dear Friends When I last wrote you I was in N. Orleans I am now in sight of Mobile. but cant quite get there.. I left N. Orleans the 13th of March and got to the Battalion that was camped on Mobile Point half a mile from Fort Morgan on the 15th of March (my birthday) on the 17th the expedition started from Mobile Point & Dauphine Island consisting of the 13th A.C. commanded by Maj Gen Granger & the 16th A.C. com’d by Maj Gen A. J. Smith.. the hole expedition com’d by Maj Gen Camby.. we met with but little opposition untill we came near to Spanish Fort 12 miles from Mobile. when about two miles from the Fort we came up to the Rebel Pickets. our Brigade (the 1st Brig. 3rd Div 13 A.C) were in advance & our Battalion was sent ahead as skirmishers. we drove the Rebel skirmishers into their works and advanced to within about half a mile of the Fort admist the fire of Rebel musketry and Artilery. the ground we advanced over was covered with pine stumps and logs so we had a chaunce to Sheild ourself considerable from Rebel fire.. the most of the Rebel missels of death flew over us and injured those in the rear more than it did those of our Battalion.. of our Battalion there were but four wounded & two of them were from our Co (Co D) they were Wm W. Townley & Wm McClure.. there was a shell that struck a stump that John Rader we laying behind & tore the stump all to pieces & like to covered him up with dirt & pieces of the stump but did not injure him any. it was on the 27th in the forenoon that we advanced on the Fort & we skirmished with them untill night when we throwed up brestworks & got our artilery in position. to day we are lying behind our brestworks. there is considerable firing by our Batteries & skirmishes.. but not so much by the Rebels.. the works we are contending with are near the extremity of Mobile Bay & are the outer defences of Mobile. our fleet is moving up the Bay as fast as they can remove the obstructions.. last evening one of our moniters got close enought to shell the fort. & last night while moving round she struck a torpedo which exploded and disabled her.

March 30th

Today the weather is very pleasent but there is considerable firing round the lines. there seems to be but very little of this country cleared most all Pine Woods. we have marched through Pine woods most of the time since we left Fort Morgan. for about half a mile round the Fort (that we are now contending with) the woods have been cut down and our breastworks are at the standing timber.. everything seems to be working in our favor we expect some land morters here in a few days from Fort Morgan.. then we will show Mr. Rebinel how Fort Morgan was taken.. tis reported that Gen Thomas has taken Selma.. if so I think the Rebels in this part of the wourld will be drove into Mobile & then we will Siege them or shell them out with morters.. the same as at Fort Morgan.. it may take sometime to do it but the boys are in good spirits and confident of sucess.

April 1 this letter has a number of dates atached to it. but I think I will get it started for Ohio today. things here are in about the same condition they were several days ago. We are geting our Siege Guns & morters planted and will be ready to open on the Rebbies in a short time.. I received a letter from Almeda yesterday maled Feb. 21st the first I have received since the Battalion left White River. I was very gald to hear you were still well. your letter went to White River and was remaled & it was a long time on the road.. if I had a good pen, good ink & was situated so I could & had time to write I would like to answer Almdies letter for I think she is coming down on me in regard to some small matters. but I guess I will have to let it go untill I have a good opportunity & I will explain to you the cause of all these misterious things.. you spoke of having sleigh rides, parties & oyster suppers etc which are very nice if they are caried on in the propper way which I hope and trust they are.. there must be a mistake in regard to my making rings in the Hospital. all the rings I had were the rings of scabs I took off my fingers & toes & I guess the secesh girls would not like more than half a dozen of them.. ð 7 3 (

From Almeda and Roxanne Carhart There are only a few letter “from home” that were preserved along with Lu Carhart’s letters. This one gives a good picture of life in Central Ohio in the winter in 1865. Both Lu’s sister Almeda, and his mother Roxanne wrote giving news from home that meant so much to Lu.

Berlin, O March 5, 65

Dear Brother I now sit down too answer your most welcome missive that we received last night. we are all well at present and hope these few lines will find you the same. It is Sunday and Father & Mother have gone to Cheshire to the funeral of Mrs. Croline Janes. she died yesterday of Consumption she has not been sick very long. all the people about here are well for all I know. Our school was out yesterday it was let out because it was so mudy the Scholars could not get there very mudy here this Spring. So the roads are scarcely traveled at all It was froze up this morning so pa & ma went over there to funeral this morning on foot.

Wednesday Morning Mar8th

Luw it is very plesant this morning. the birds are singing very pretty and every thing looks lovely. the mud dried up so our school commenced again Monday.. Pa has opened the sugar Bush, and we have made considerable sugar. Pa hates to tramp trhough the mud, but he wants the Sugar.. Luw it is almost School time and I will have to quit writing and fix to go. I am glad to know you can stay at the Hospital if you like to stay there. Orve wants to know what color your horses are that you drive.

On the other side of Almeda’s letter, from Roxanne Carhart

it is Sunday evening March 5 and I sit Down to drop a line (to) my absent son far far way in the south you never seemed more near to me than you do this evening I never saw a Congregation so deeply affected as they were today by remarks that Charles Caral Janes made today when he was taking leave of his Mother he says oh Mother must you be buried and I never speak to you again and it seemed it would break his heart and thought how many brave boys has taken leave of their Mothers never to speak to them again but I hopw it will not be your lot, you have been spared thus far and I pray God to spare you that you may come home again try and take the best care of yourself and stay where you are if you can and not be taken by the gariles they are verry hard on our boys they shot a gang of thirty a few days ago they took 7 out of a southern jail and shot them and throwed the bodies into the river I belive satern is let loose among the Rebs to do his will the prisen whare Will Mc was (Danville) is burnt to the ground Columbia is burnt Sherman left a guard and told them if the citizens fired on them to burn the place and leave. like good boys obayed orders that the way to fetch them under Sherman sweeps every thing before him toward Willmington Charleston Braceville and a great many more places has gone up to numerous to mention Richmon will soon fall oh what a fall to the Rebs they say old jeff is blind in one eyes and cant see but little with the other I think the whole south is blind and all will fall into the ditch togather You say you have a good bed I would like to know what a good bed is please inform me I would like to hear how many Papers have you received since you have been their. we have sent six after this I shall write on the paper so if the wrapper gets off it will go I shall call you a pretty good scholer if you read all of my letters tell Will Flagg that his Grandmother is to Boevns (?) she had a letter from Wated (?) last week his folks is well from Mother goodby

Test Hospital Feb 22 (1865) White River Landing, Arkansas Dear Friends:

I seat myself this afternoon to pen a few lines to let you know I am still alive & well.. tis the first chance I have had for some time. I have been very busy the past week. I am now driving Ambulance for the Hospital & it keeps me busy most of the time. today it is raining consequently I have not so much to do. I have to drive down to HeadQuarters twice a day about 3/5 of a mile from the Hospital. & also haul rations for the Hospital & my horses & haul those that are sick to the Hospital & those that are dead to the graveyard. HeHe. We have but four white Patients at our Hospital now, but about two hundred yards from us is a shanty with eighteen niggers in it with the small pox. there are a hole lot of nigger families on the Island & the small pox has got among them & they cannot get it abated.. there is one that brakes out with it about every other day & one that goes to the grave yard about as often.. I have not heard direct from the Battalion since they left but I understand they are in Florida some place. I suppose I had aught to be with them but I am not as stout & cannot stand and as much hard fare as I could before I was sick. I have a good place to stay here. A good tent to stay in, a good bed to sleep in, & plenty to eat.. there has to be someone fill the place I am filling & I dont know but it might as well be me as anyone.. I have been detailed by the Surgeon so I expect I will have to stay untill he sees fit to let me go.. times are very dull.. no news.. but I expect there will be some stirring sort of time in Dixie afterwhile. I beleave our army is getting about the right shape to wind this war up this summer. however time will tell. I have not received a letter from you since the 2nd of this month.. On the 7th I wrote a few lines to you and told you to direct your letters to the Hospital which I suppose you have got by this time. when you write again please send me a few Postage stamps. I am out of money & they cannot be got without money. We have not been paid since we were at Baton Rouge no more at present write often.

Your Lucius Carhart

direct to Test Hospital White River Landing Arkansas

Mouth of White River, Arkansas Dec 13th 1864

Dear Friends.

Two weeks ago last Saturday since I received a letter from you & now it is Tuesday in the afternoon.. I then rec’d letter from Almeda and answered it the Sunday following.. Since then I have delayed writing untill now and all the while have been anxiously waiting & looking for a letter from you & have finely given up all hopes of getting a letter & thought I would write one. I dont know as I can complain of your not writing oftener for I sometimes neglect to write as often as I should.. Still I would like to hear from you oftener.. your letters ought to come through in five days now & if they are not miscarried they will. Some of they boys recd letters that were only four days on the way.. we are now having pretty cold weather. keeps us busy most of the time in getting wood to keep us warm. but we are very well fixed for cold weather. our room is as comfortable as most any log cabbin. for the past week it has been very cold. some days cold enough to freeze in the middle of the day. there came up a rain storm turned cold Snowed about one inch & froze everything up as sollid as a brick.. I expect about next week it will be warm & pleasent. the weather here is to much like it is in Ohio changeable.. the 96th Battalion & our Regiment of Mounted Infantry and one Battery are all that are at the Post at present. our Brigade were ordered back to Morganzia they left (all but our Battalion) last week. I beleave I told you about our Regiment being smashed up.. of the 10 Companies that were in the Regt they have made into a Battalion of five Co. called the 90th Battalion. lettered. A. B. C. D. E. the letter of Co now is D. Commanded by Capt Beard formily Lieut of Co H. Co A. are acting Provost guards Capt Eastman Provost Marshall.. a detachment of the Battalion have gone to guard some prisoners down to N. Orleans & a squad gone up to Island “No” CC to guard some wood chopers. so you see the Bat are getting pretty scattered.. the Boys from our part of the country are well as usual there are a number of the “Bat that have sore eyes.. my eyes have been pretty sore but are some better.. other ways I am well as usual.. you will perceive by my writing that there is something ales me. My eyes are weak. & it is somewhat dark in our cabbin so you see I make awful work writing.. I will not write much this time. when I get a letter I will write more. Yours with respect Lu. Carhart..

Mouth of White River Nov 27th/64 Dear Sister

I received=last evening while on Picket=your letter of Nov 14th I was much pleased to hear from you once again. I do not feel very bright this morning. I was up most all night on Picket so you need not expect much of a letter from me this time. I feel something as I used to while at home after being out late Saterday night. only good deal more so.. instead of setting up (five words crossed out) a few brands of fire by the side of an old dry tree in the wilderness of Arkansas where Deer. Wolf. Bear & Rattlesnakes abound in great abundence. You spoke of my being so down on the copperheads. Well I am rather down on them but I refrain from talking about them lately for they have about plade out. Since I last wrote to you I have received three papers. Tribune and two Gazetts.. John Rader got to the Regt on the 18th all safe and sound. he brought me two pr socks and a Cap.. please let me know how much the Cap cost.. John. Melve. Will and Ellick Finley are all well. we are still liveing in our log shanties. we have no Drilling to do but we are on Picket pretty often.. today it is quite warm and pleasent but has the appearance of a storm. we have had some pretty cold days since I last wrote. it froze a bridge over the mud sollid enough to hold up a horse. cold enough to freeze water at noon.. if we had not our log huts with a good fire it would have made us dance round pretty lively to Keep our right understanding. but how long we will be permitted to enjoy this nice fare is yet for us to learn. tis rumered about that we are going to the Army of the Shenandoah Valley.. it may not be so if it is I suppose you have heard of it. for you generaly hear where we are going before I do. there is but little news of late we do not hear much from the Armies anywhere. Sherman is making a big brake for some where but we cant learn where it is.. I expect we will hear from him after while if he dont get lost.. tell Orve he must look out how he runs off to Canida to get rid of the draft. for the British Government does not harber American Soldiers or Citizens any more if he goes there he will be enrolled in the Queens service. the steamer Mollie Able came down from up country this afternoon. but she had no mail for us. I expect a Steamboat would be quite an object for you to see. I would like to have you take a ride on one like they have on the Miss down here. I would not like to have you take deck passage “though” as I have to when I ride on them.. I guess I have wrote about enough for once. give my best spectaters to all peoples. (six words crossed out) Write and let me know how the yong & rising generation and folkes in general are getting along no more at present from your humble sarvant Lu. Carhart..

Morning 16th 1864

Dear Sister Almeda

This morning I recd a letter from you dated at the commencement Oct 29 & finished up on the 5th of Nov. I was much pleased to hear from you as I have a letter written for & ready to start to Mother I will write a few lines to you & send with it.. & after a while will write again.. I am glad to hear you are still keeping up your aid Societies. I should like very much to be with you. also would like to attend some of your apple cuts.. While I am writing I hear the music of a Calliope on a Boat that is just landing which sounds very nice. they are a piece of music that goes by steem. sound something like a hand Organ only good deal louder. we are camped about 60 rods from the river. just the right distance to make it sound nice. I have told you in Mother’s letter about where we are.. how we are situated & &. I will just say we have a very nice cabbin.. a good fire place which makes it nice & comfortable.. I am much pleased to get a few lines from Orve & hear how he is getting along with his Dog Frank & Pigs–Horses–Cattle &.. & glad that his foot has got well. Orve you must be a good Boy.. which I know you are.. you must take good care of the things especialy Frank.. Our election for President in the Regt went 243 for Lincoln and 20 for McClellan. John Rader has not yet got to the Regt but I understand he is on his way. My address is about the same as here to fore. write soon. from Lu Carhart.

(upside down at top of last page) My best regards to the yong folkes. let me know what kind of a girl that Ellie Plotner is you speak of.

(Across top of first page) Direct to Co G. 96th Regt Via Memphis Let me know if you have to pay more than three cents to get my letters. some say they have to pay six cents when the letters are Franked if so I will put stamps on my letters..

Nov 15th 1864 Dear Friends: I received a letter from you this afternoon baring the date of Oct. 28th which I was very glad to receive for it has been some time since I have heard from you.. the last letter I recd before the one I recd today was while I at the Achafalago River in Louisiana & I have written twice since then. you said in your letter that I recd today that Hattie Dewey informed you I was in the Hospital.. I cannot imagine how she should know anything about me, for I have not written to anyone in that part of the country nor has anyone else in our Regt that I know of. I dont see why you should beleave any such report for in every letter that I have written I have told you that I was well & with the Co.. when I was in Alabama I told you that I had the chills and was left in the Hospital Tent while the Regt were opperating against Fort Gains & when they went acrost to Fort Mogan I joined the Co & have been with them ever since & have not been sick. I am now with the Co & am well as usual. on the 1st of Nov our Brig left Morganza an steamboats Illinois & N. W. Thomas for up the River.. on the 8th we disembarked at or near the Mouth of White River where we still remane. our Regt are pretty well fixed up all the boys have log houses most of them built before we came here.. five of the boys besides myself did not fancy the huts we were to occupy & we concluded to build one to suit us & so we have built a cabbin 8 x 16 & got it fixed up pretty good.. there was a detail from the Co that went to Nepolean a little Town 12 miles below on the River after Boards to fix up our shanties & Melve Flagg went along & got some nice boards & a Window & a patent lock for the dore (got them from a house they tore down we have got them fixed in nice & have a nice fine place.. now if they will just let us stay here this winter is all I ask.. we have had some pretty cool weather but no snow yet but some cold rain storms.. you spoke of John Rader trying to get his furlough renewed. I understand by one of the Boys of Co F that came to the Regt this morning who has been home that John is on his way to the Regt.. You spoke of there being some difrently about those shell I sent by McFarland.. all the shell I sent were in the little Tin Box.. there was a paper raped around the Box marked Isacc Carhart.. the only thing besides the Tine Box was a piece of Coral half as big as your fist raped in the same paper.. the paper had been sealed and torn open before it started.. but there was no Cigar Box. nothing but the Tin Box & piece of Coral. I received a coppy of the Telescope the 12th you sent me.. They have been playing smash with our Regt since we came here.. they have consolidated the Companies made 4 Companies out of 10. the letter of our Co will be changed but I dont know what it will be.. they have not got it all fixed yet. I beleave our Co & Co H are going together & be commanded by Lieut Beard of Co H.. there will be a number of Officers mustered out. it will not take so many when the Co are put togeather. I will have to stop.. the Boys are well that are will (in?) the Co from our part of the Country.

Lucius Carhart..

(Across top of first page)

Please tell me if you receive my letters as a general thing Write once every week.. it has been some time since I have wrote this time, but not so very often..

(Across bottom of page 2 and 3)

Direct to Co G 96th Regt OVI via Memphis. Tell Oscar that 11.00 Dollars is pretty high for a substitute

Morganzia La Oct 30th 1864 Dear Friends.

Today finds the 96th again in their old camp at Morganzia. as well as usual & everything quiet.. I wrote you a few lines while in the woods out near the Archafayla River & told you we expected soon to come into camp. & so we did. we were relieved by the 2nd Brigd which came out night before last & took our position & yesterday we marched into camp.. when we were ordered out on the 18th we took nothing but our Blankets and were ordered to stay five days when the five days were up we were ordered to stay five days more & when they were up we were releaved & you may bet we were glad to get back to camp where we could get a change of clothes & clean up.. it seemed almost like getting home for we have things fixed up pretty comfortable here now. and while we were gone we had to lay out in the rain we have a little rain about every other day. but have not had enough to make it very muddy yet.. I beleave I told you something about our having a talk with the Johny Rebs while out to the Archafayla River. Co G was on Picket the morning we had a talk with them.. about 9 o’clock in the morning one of the Rebs opposite the post where I was standing hallows out “hallo Yanks” I asked him what he wanted.. he wanted to know how we were getting along over there.. I told him we were all right. Said he what Regt do you belong to.. I told him the 96th Ohio.. said he “bully for the 96th Ohio.. I asked him where he belonged. he said the 2nd Louisiana.. after talking a while I asked him if he had heard from Richmond lately.. he said he had not.. then asked me if I had.. I told him I had & that it was about to fall that our army was within 1 1/2 miles of the City.. he thought that was getting pretty close but thought we could not take it. I then asked what he thought of Gen Grant.. he said he was the best Gen we had and if they could of had him they would whiped us long ago. I asked him if he did not call Gen Lee a good Gen.. he said so so. After while I asked him who he was going to vote for.. said he Abe Lincoln.. I then asked him what he thought of McClellan.. Said he did not like him for if he got in power he would put Banks out of Office & they would get no more Commissaries.. Said I what do you thing of Gen Banks.. said he “bully” bully” then said I what do you thing of Gen Grangers expedition in Alabama with the capture of Fort Ganes & Morganiza he said he knew nothing about it & wanted to know when it hapened.. I told him when & how it hapened and he seemed to know nothing about it.. I asked him if he had any late papers.. he said he had not.. I told him I had a Cincinnati Commercial & in it was Gen. Logans speech which I would like to have him read and if he would come acrost he might have it. he said he had no way to come if he had he would.. In the former part of our conversation I told him we had orders to not shoot & he need not be afraid to show himself presently he told me he had the same orders & then both parties advanced out clost to the Bank of the River so we could see each other.. they were very well dressed some of them with our uniforms on which they said they got from Qtr Master Banks.. we could not find out much how they felt in regard to the war only they said they were determined to try to gain their Independance..after we had talked about 2 hours we were ordered to move & we bade the Johnies Goodmorning.

(On another sheet) I have told you all that is necessary heretofore about sending those things by John Rader.. you spoke of having Cider and making apple butter & Sugar & I would like to beat home to partake of some of those ere things for we are drawing rather slim rations now adays.. they have been cutting us down we do not draw as much as used to & what we do draw if pretty poor. I have to by considerable from the suttlers to get along Kinder halfway.. Hard tack & Sowbelly are the p[principal articles we draw & they are very poor.. the tack are full of worms & bugs.. those at home that have plenty know but little how we get along away down here. our suttler has on hand a pretty good stock but every thing high.. Lucius Carhart

(On reverse of paper) Potatoes 10 cents per lbs. Onions 15 center per lobs. Soda Crackers25 cents per lbs.. sweet crackers 6-0 center pr lbs butter 75 cents per lbs Cheese 50 cents pr lbs & all other things according.

Direct your letter in this way. Lucius Carhart Co “G” 96th Regt OVI Morganzia La ð 7 3 P.S. We are now in the 19th Corps there is no more 13th Corps Lu Carhart..

Morganza, La Oct 10th /64

This evening I attempt to write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along.. I have not received any letter from you since I last wrote.. the last I recd was the 30th of Sept.. thinking perhaps your letters have been delayed or miscarried I will write again.. tonight the boys are feeling pretty gay over the Draft in Berlin. Ell Finley got a Gazett today that has a list of those Drafted in Berlin.. Orange. Liberty & Troy Townships.. there are quite a number with whome I am acquainted.. Some of them I would like to have seene drafted long ago but they will come in good play now.. now is the time we want them we want to strike while the iron is hot. and I think one or two more Strokes like Gen Sheridan gave them lately will strike them asunder.. I cant see why some of them rank copperhead McClellan, Vallandigham..Peacefool compremises are so lucky as to escape the draft.. I would like to have them put in front in the Rebel Army where I could get a crack at them.. I do not argue politics much for I know I would get mad.. We have two or three in our Co that are just about as mean as some of them traitor fools in Delaware Co.. we have an Arnold in our Co that shows himself the most of any of them he is a son of that Old traitor Vic Arnold of Galena and he carries out his principals as far as he dare.. he goes on the Peace platform got up by the Chicago Convention and that is an imposition on the comunity. the Army and the Cause for which we are fighting.. Newkirk of our Co went home on a Sick furlough from Baton Rouge. returned to the Co on the night of the 6th he give us some pretty interesting detales of how the Copperheads cary on in Delaware Co.. tis farly proven that they are a pack of lowlive traitor Cowards.. their will is good enough to fight but they are cowaradly.. they oppose the Adminestration and every masure that is taken to supply the rebelion Still they stile themselves union men.. they are actuly not fit to live in a free country.. but I will say no more about them for they are not worth the time spent talking about them.. I think they will come out about as well in the coming election as they have heretofore.. they are like a pigs tale always behind.. I think Lincoln will get a big majority in the Army.. The 96th are still at Morganza Bend things are pretty quiet along the River at present I was on Picket yesterday & last night & there was some mismanagment about bringing around the releif this morning and I did not get relaved untill late in the day.. but I am now in Camp in my little Sheban (as the boys call them) and it is pretty cool.. the nights have been very cool for more than a week & some pretty cool days but we have had no frost yet which I suppose you have had in Ohio.. I would like to have you see my little Sgebang I spoke of.. there are four of us together we got a few boards or rather clabboards.. and made a sort of chicking coop and covered it with our shelter tents.. leaving a hole to croll in at and after we get in we can set up straight.. we have some bunks made to sleep on which is the principal object for I find that it is best for the health to keep of the ground as much as possible.. we are fixed up in a gay kind of a style & we have some pretty rought times when it raines. but we feel tis only for our Friends and homes such hardships we’d endure.. the 96th have been favored since we have been here several times there have troops gone out from here on an expedition and the 96th had not been called on.. some thing that has not been done before since we have been in the service.. the 96th have always took the blunt of the work untill now.. we have had little to do since we have been here.. we have Co drill at 8 o’clock A.M. Battalion drill at 4 P.M. Dresperade at 5 1/2 P. M. Inspection every sunday morning and I come on Guard about twice a week.. there is talk of our going to Baton Roge again but tis only a camp rumor.. the Regt in general has pretty good health.. the Flagg boys with others of our part of the country are well as usual.. I spoke to you in my last letter about sending those things by John Rader. if he intends to come right through to the Regt when he starts.. please send them tell John I am all right yet & give him my best respects.. please send me a Gazett once in a while for I think more of that than enything we get with the exceptions of letters.. my fingers are so cold I can hardly make a mark & will have to stop.. write soon. Respectavly yours. Lu. Carhart

(written upside town at the top of first page) tell George to write. I wrote and have recd no answer. my best regards to all the nice yong folkes LC ð 7 3

Morganza. La. Sept 30th (1864) Dear Sister:

Your kind letter of Sept 16th came to hand this morning. I was glad to hear from you once more.

it appears you have been misinformed in regard to the taking of Mobile. I guess the City is not taken yet. the 96th were about as close to Mobile as any Yankey have been lately & we were only within 30 miles of there. the taking of Atlanta & the Killing of John Moragn I suppose is correct. also the Colonel has received official account of Gen Sheridan having a fight with Reb Gen Early & whipping him pretty bad, taking 25 hundred prisoners 9 stands of colors, 5 pieces of Artilery.. But the great excitement that now exists in the Army is about Old Mc & Abe (Hurrah for Abe) Lincoln is safe if the Soldiers vote. Our Co have more Mc men than any other Co in the Regt we held a sham election the other day there were 16 for Mc & 22 from Abe. other Co.s were for Abe except 2 or 3 in a Co.. You spoke of Elias Scott getting home “bully for him” give him my best regards.. I think we will all beat home pretty soon if the Elections goes right.. I suppose you have seen John Rader by this time.. if he intends to come right through to the Regt I would like to have you send those things by him that you started by Kelsey.. let me know how Kelsey came to play out & where he has gone.. I forgot to tell you untill now how I wanted my shirts.. I want them without collars just a narrow binding around the neck. also a narrow binding round the wrist. if you cannot send all of the things send the shirts in preference to the other.. I would like to be at home & save you the trouble of sending me anything.. but such are the fortunes of war & we must expect to have some troubles & trials.. but the people of the North know nothing of war to what the people of the south do.. I would like to be with you to help make sugar for I dont expect we will make much down here this fall. the expedition that went from here out to the Achafalya river (that I spoke of in my last letter) have returned they did not have any fight.. the Rebs found out our Boys were coming & they skedadled.. the Boys with the Co from Berlin are well as usual.. you spoke about those pictures in my trunk & wanted to know the names of them.. the name of the one you thought so beautiful is worse than the picture her name is Phelps the name of the other I have forgot. I got them while at Cardington two years ago last spring.. I beleave I have no more to write at present. there is no news of importance in this quarter. please write soon. remember me to all the friends.. yours truly Lucius Carhart..