Category: Lucius Carhart Civil War Letters

Camp Price Nov. 8th/62
Dear friends
I have not yet got any letter from you Since I left the 
Hospital. I am still in the same camp that I was when I wrote you
before. I am going to write whether you do or not. there is not much to write but I will think of something. I have not much time to write now for I have got to go out on a General Review. we are under General Rosacrance & he is going to be with us. I shall have to stop for the call is made. Well I have got back it was reported that General rosecrance was going to be out on review but nay time did I see him. they get som of the biggest lies started in camp I ever heard. perhaps you do not hardly understand what is ment by a General review. the hole Batalion is formed in a line of Battle and the General and his Staf run their horses the hole length of the line of Battle first in front and then in the Rear. it is a performence just to see how strate a line they can get us in, and make a little show. 
we are getting along very well at present we are fixing up things about right, we have built a wall of sods about one foot thick & two feet high and staked the tent on top of it and we have built an areh? in the tent and it makes it as warm as you please. it seems the most lik home of any place I have been yet if you have any notion of enlisting or want to see how Soldiers live just call over. I am trying to write by candle light and all of the Boys are trying to get round the candle so I guess I will stop for to night.

Sunday Nov 9th Just 3 months ago to Day that I enlisted. it does not seem very long. it is a very fine day rather cold we have had fine weather all the faul so far it rained a little the other night and tried to snow some the other day but did not make out much. I am on guarde to day. they let us go to our quarters and stay till within ten minutes of time to go on guarde which makes it very nice. before untill with a couple of days they made them stay at No. one all the time. there is not as much prospect of a fight now as there was when we were at camp Bates we stand picket and Regimental guard with out our Guns loaded I have not had my gun loaded since I have been here in camp and there at camp Bates we kept them loaded most all the time. they seem to think round here that the War is not going to 
last much longer. I saw an old man that lives here in Town when I was out on picket the other Day he said he thought the Rebels could not fight much longer for he said he new by true reports that they were in a starving condition he said he saw Morgans army when they went through town and counted six without hats or shoes and the most of them were nearly necked for clothing. that was about three weeks ago. and they have gone clear of out of the state now. there is a chance now to go into the regular Army they give a chance for ten to go from each company I think they give a good chance they give the hundred Dollars bounty the same as if you had not enlisted and 40 Days furlough rite after you enlist. I want to know what you think about it. if you have not got a chance to send them shirts yet mabe you can send with Gary Doc has sent for a Batt?. So has G. Sacket I would like that gray woolen vest of mine. I am well. Lem Roloson Will Flagg John Rader are in the Hospital. the rest are well except bad colds.
(At top of first page)
write and let me know about things. Lucius Carhart

Alexandria, La May 1, 1864

Dear Friends:

Today we are camped at Alexandria and tis somewhat quiet to what it has been for Several days past we left Grand Ecore on the 22nd of Apr at 3 oclock in the morning. marched untill 2 oclock the next morning before we stoped. we were then within 3 miles of where we crossed Cane River the first time going out. about 5 thousand Rebs had got in a head of us and got a position on the opposite Side of the River from us and was not going to let us cross.. we found how they were fixed, and saw we could not cross very well where we crossed before so we marched about two miles above them and waded the River and came up in the rear of them. you better beleave they got out in a hurry.. a part of the 19th Corps were in advance of us so we did not get a crack at them. at the same time the Rebs atacted A. J. Smith who was in the rear of our train with his force and a part of the 19th Corps.. the Rebs thought they could give us the old Harry by getting ahead of us and then atact us in the rear but Gen A.J. was most to many for them.. he set a trap for them. he masked his artilery on each side of the road then pretended to have some wagons stuck in the mud and tore around like hen with her head cut off. and the Rebs made charge for the wagons. he let them get most up to the wagons clost to where he had his artilery planted then he opened on them and just cut them all to pecies.. they did not Charge on any more wagons after that.. We took a few Prisoners there but the most of them that we did not kill got away. we put down our pontoon bridge got our train acrossed and marched on. on the 25th the 13th Corps Camped 4 miles from Alexandria the 19 Corps & A. J. Smiths force Camped clost to town.. on the 26th Gen John A. McClemand (our Corps Commander) with the 1st Division of our Corps arrived from Texas and went into camp clost to us. on the 28th the Rebs atacted our Cavelry that were in Camp in advance of us we were called in to line and expected to have to fight them but they skirmished some with the Cavelry and halled off.. long towards night we moved our camp down close to town where our other force were in camp and went to fortifying and we now have pretty good Breastworkes in front of us. with the force we have if well managed we can whip anything they can bring against us. just above Alexandria there are Falls in the River and unless the watter is pretty high the Boats cannot get over them. there are a number of Boats above the falls now that cannot get down. we are Damming the River below the falls in order to raise the watter so to get the Boats down. as soon as we get things fixed sound I think we will go Back on to the Mississippi as Red River is very low and still falling and soon it will be so that the Boats cannot get up to Alexandria.. Doubtless you have read all about our expedition and know more about it than I can tell you.. still I suppose the papers will make it appear in a different light from what it is. I can not speak of it without speaking harshly of the way it was Commanded therefore I will not say much about it. there is one thing very certain that unless we get true loyal men at the head of our affairs we will never accomplish what so many have died for and others laboring to accomplish.. I am sorry that this expedition has turned out so poorly and hope that hereafter things will be done up in a little diferent style.

ð 7 3

(Soldier’s Pass)

Camp 16th Ohio Vols Three Mile Creek Ala July 2d 65

Genards? & Patrolls

Pass Corpl Carhart & Private Kelsey Co. D. 96 Ohio Vols to the city and return at 4 o’clock P.M E S Baird Capt Comdy Company

(Countersigned across left end) Approved A H Brown Dt? Col Corndy?

Postmarked Mobile, Ala, June 23. To Mr. Isaac Carhart, Tanktown PO, Delaware Co., Ohio

Mobile, Ala. June 22nd

Dear Friends: I have delayed writing for some time, thinking to get a letter from you but I have been entirely disapointed. I have not heard from you since I received your letter dated the 15th of May. it appears to be about the same with most of the Co. that it is with me. I understand the cause of our not getting any mail is because they dont write to us. they think the 96th are on their way home.. they have had us at Camp Chase three or four times and had us mustered out about a dozen times.. if you quit writing now and comence to look for us home I am afraid you will get tired of looking for I am pretty sure we will not get home untill our time expires and by that time we may be in Mexico and it will then take us untill the middle of September to get home. Times here are about the same they were when I last wrote. the weather is very warm, but we have had some very refreshing showers in the past week. which makes the face of nature look very beautiful. gardens begin to look very nice to what they did when it was so dry. although (e)very thing in the vegitable line is very high. new potatoes sell for 10 cents a quart. cucumbers, two for 25 cents. Onions.. 5 or 6 in a bunch for 25 cents and other trash about the same. sweet milk, 25 cents a quart. butter milk 15 cents a quart, butter, 50 cents a pound. eggs, 50 cents a dozen. the little Girls bring in pies to sell baked on a common tin plate for 25 cents a piece. So you see if a person lives on any this except Tack & Coffee. he has to have a good deal of money to buy with and then get but a little. I buy a little milk or a few potatoes some times just so that I make a live of it and that is all I care for. After a few months I will go north and I can work for enough to get what I want to eat. I would like to have you write and let me know how you are. I feel somewhat anxious to hear also to hear what you are going to do the 4th of July. I have not yet heard of what they are going to do in Mobile. I suppose there will be some kind of excitement. they are having big times in the City most all the time. there is Theatre, Circus & Minstrel Performence every night. I beleave I have not told you of the (what is called) Grand Review on the 3rd of June. (I called it a grand Bore) it was one of hottest days we have had since we have been here & the dust was about 3 inches deep. we left camp about 7 o’clock in the morning & marched down through the city about four miles & then all over the City & then back to camp. we stoped only about five minutes in the city. it was the hardest marching I have done since I left Fort Morgan. The Review was ordered on account of Solomon P. Chase, Chief Justice U.S.A being in the city. Justice Chase & Generals Canby & Granger were setting on a Balcony to one of the Publick buildings in the city where we passed enjoying themselves very nicely.. while the troops were almost suffocated with the heat & dust.. this way of doing business is going to play out in two or three months. The boys are well as usual.. My health is good. i will conclude for the present. Lu Carhart.

(Continued across top of first page)

PS While writing I hapened to think about you speeking in one of your letters about sending me some socks. You need not send them. my socks are good yet & will last me as long as I stay in the Service. You need not try to send me anything for it takes to long for it to come. my best respects to all. write soon & Oblige. Lu Carhart

This was the last letter from Lucius Carhart before he was discharged and returned home. Also amony these letters was the “Soldier’s pass”

Mobile, Ala, May 20th /65

Dear Sister:

It has been some time since I heard from you. I have been anxiously looking for a letter but it appears they do not attend to the mail affairs as they should do. I suppose it is accaisioned by there being so much other business in regard to national affairs on hand that they cannot well attend to it. Some are so much excited they hardly Know what they are about.. but the majority of affairs seeme to be working about right. the war is about wound up and everything seems to work in our favor.. the capture of old Jeff is a pretty nice affair. rather more than I expected. I thought the old fellow would manage to get into Texas, but it appears he could not. I beleave it was ordained by a being superior to man that he should not escape after being the cause of so much blood shed and suffering in the land. I beleave if he was in the hands of those that were a short time ago his supporters they would deal more severe with him than what our authorities will probably do. the major part of the Rebels are beginning to see how they have been misled.. I like very well the way President Johnson talks of the Rebel leaders. he contends that the instituters of this Rebelion should be punished for high Treason. I think that they should be. it is supprising to see how Ignorant the majorety of the (as they have called them selves) Southern Shivalry are. many of them cannot read nor write. and know nothing of what is going on only what they see. they know nothing of affairs by what they have been told. it is astonishing to find how they have been lied to by the prominant Rebels.. when the 3rd Div was at McIntaches Bluff our Brig went out on a two days Scout. we went out about 15 miles from the Bluffs and the ciizens along where we passed did not yet know that we had taken Fort Morgan. thus it is with many of them. they have been made to beleave they were fighting for their homes and firesides, their liberty.. but where are they now. many that were wealthy before the war now are compeled to draw rations from the U.S. comissary.. what hard money there was in the south is now in the hands of those that got up the Rebelion.. and the Confederate Scrip being worthless. the majorety of the south are dependant upon the mercy of the Federal Government. Many of the Paroled men now in Mobile have not got a change of clothes are obliged to wear their Rebel uniform which if they complied with the order would have to despence with. There is not as much prospect of our going to Texas now as there was a few days ago. its reported that Kirby Smith has been assainated, but no thing official. we are still in camp near Mobile. the weather is very warm but our duty is light. I was in the City at the Baptist Church last Sunday. there was a good sised congregation composed of Citizens & Federal Soldiers. very few Rebel soldiers.. we were addressed by the Paster of the church. he said but little of national affairs. I have written over the sheet and will have to conclude. write soon and oblige. Lucius Carhart.

(Continued across top of first page above heading.)

P.S. I would not be supprised if we would get home before our time expires but we cannot tell how it will work. I hope we may. if old Kirby is dead & his army surrenders I think we will go home and fast as we can get transportation. my respects to all tell Orve to be a good boy and mind his Poppy. Almeda mind the advise of Mother as you grow in society. from your Brother and one who wishes you to do well. L.C.

1st Brig 3rd Div 13th AC

Mobile=Ala= May 13 ’65

Miss Almeda Carhart:

Dear Sister

I have received three letters from you since I have written and I think it now about time to answer some of them.. one I received yesterday and two the day before.. you spoke of not hearing from me very often. I will acknowledge that I have not written as often as I should have done.. but if you could know just how I have been situated since I came to the Regt last you could not blame me much for not writing oftener. I beleave I was at McIntoches Bluff when I last wrote on the 6th of this month we were there working on the Fort that our Div had been sent there to build.. and about 10 o’clock Ten Benton came round and told us that he had an official report that Gen Dick Taylor had surrendered his command to Gen Canby.. he said he would like to make us a speech but his feelings would not permit of it.. he said the Rebel fleet was at Demopoliz and would be down in a few days and we would then go to Mobile. he told the detail that were at work on the Fort to take their spades and picks up to his Hdqrs and pile them up and go to choo-ping wood for the Rebel fleet to run to Mobile and to let the fort go th H..l. On the 2nd part of the fleet came down and on the 9th the rest of it came and we got on board and came down and went in to camp two miles from the City of Mobile and we are now fixing up for an expedition suppose for Texas.. Old Kirby Smith thinks he is not whiped yet but I guess he will think somewhat diferent when we get after him.. if we have to fight him we will not show him much mercy.. I think by the time my term of service expires the fighting of the rebelion will be over.. all east of the Miss River have surrendered & it will not take us long to make the other side come to line. My health continues to be good the boys from Berlin are well. Melve received very sad news.. the death of his Mother.. I have no news to write.. you know more about affairs that I do.. All good news.. we are going to be inspected tomorrow by Col Brown and got to come out in grand style so I will have to stop and go to fixing up for it. clean my Gun and acoutrements, scower Boots Black my shoes Wash my fase.. and wipe my nose & put on more style than a Tirky Gobler.. If I live and dont die and have no bad luck I will be home after about 3 months.. then I can tell you more in an hour than I can write in three weeks.. I cant write half as good as I could two years ago.. I rather do anything else than to write letters and there is no one that likes to get them better than I… I will stop for this time. write soon and oblige your Brother

Lucius Carhart.. Co D. 96 Batl OVI

Machentockes Bluff’s Ala. April 28, 1865

Dear Friends: I have not heard from you since I left Whistler Ala. & I left there the 19th of April. Marched acrost to the Tombigba River distance of 36 miles.. 50 miles above Mobile by the River on the 26th of April got on board Transports went up to Macentoches Bluff distance of 10 miles. today we are in camp about one mile & a half from the River in the Pine Woods.. We have met with no Rebs in arms since we left Whistler. but find a good many by the way who clame to be loyal.. the most of them think the Confederacy about played out.. we have the cheering News of Lee & Johnson’s surrendering their armies.. also the doleful inteligence of the assasination of the President. as we are traveling we find some women that rejoice in the death of Lincoln & to such there is but little mercy shown.. Some are inclined to believe that the Rebs will be encouraged by this feindish deed but I think it is a bad thing for the Rebs unless they stop fighting amediately. I beleave if this army should come in contact with the Rebs there would be no prisoners taken. the Soldiers feel sorrowful yet enraged.. it would not do for a man now to talk as some did last fall about Lincoln.. I am afraid if the Rebs do not cease to make any more resistance it will be made a war of extermination. the army of this department is somewhat split up.. one Division of the 13th Corps at Mobile.. one gone up the Alabama River with Gen Steel.. the other is here at the poin. (the 3rd Div. Comd by Brig Gen Benton. Gen A. J. Smith with his Army is somewhere in Alabama I guess.. we can not keep much track of him but I bet he will take care of himself wherever he is. My health continues good.. Mell & Will Flagg, John Rader, Ell Finley & Will Smith are with the Co &^ well. Bill came to the Co before we left Fort Morgan.. Almeda spoke in one of her letters about sending me her Photograph I would like very mcush to have it.. send it anytime it will come all right I guess.. if I had the means & was where I could & thought you would know me I would get mine taken & send to you but that is the joke of it.. I hardly think you would know me if I should be so luckey as to get home after while.. I am pretty badly pitted up.. but it is something I could not help so I am not going to feel bad over it. I think I was very luckey to get off as well as I did. I have not yet received the letter you sent to me at White River containing the one Dollar Bill & Postage stamps.. I have got one Paper sent there.. I beleave I have written all that is nessesary for this time.. You know more about the national affairs than I do.. for it takes about a week for the news to reach us from the eastern Armies.. it is time we got another mail.. I expect there will be a boat up today.. but I will send this out this forenoon as there is a channce & may not be another for several days..

Write soon & often. Respectfully yours, Lu Carhart

* 3

Whistler Station, Alabama April 16th 1865

Dear Friends-

To day the 96 are in camp near a little Town by the name of Whistler five miles from Mobile Alabama.. I beleave we were near Blakely 9 miles from Fort Spanish when I last wrote. Since that time there has been quite a change in afars about Mobile.. on the 11th two Divisions of the 13th Corps marched from Blakely to the Landing near Fort Spanish and about midnight got aboard Transports to cross the Bay and with the expectation of having some big fighting to do.. about day brake we run acrost and landed within eight miles of the city and met with no opposition in landing we then started towards mobile and about 12 oclock marched in to the City. the rear guard of the enemy leaving just as we came in the principal part of the Rebs having left the night before.. we went in to camp near the city and remained untill the 13th about noon when our Division went out to Whistler five miles from Mobile a very important station on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. here we found a Squad of Rebel cavelry trying to destroy the Foundry & Machine Shops which were carried on to a considerable extent before the evacuation of Mobile.. they broke up the Machenery considerabley but we cam in to soon for them so they could not entirely destroy it Mobile is quite a large city but it looks very rough & dirty.. there are a good many who formerly have been in the Rebel army left in Mobile and they declare they are tired of war and willing to submit to the union. they thing the confederacy plade out.. the little town (Whistler) where we are now camped is a very nice little place. most all of the hands that worked in the foundry and quite a number of those employed on the Rail Road are left here.. the Rebs tryed to make them go of with them but they run into the swamps and hid untill we cam in here then they came out.. they all clame to be loyal to the government and appear to be sincere this forenoon the Soldiers & Cittizens met in one of the churches in Town and held a Prair & speeking meeting one old lady said she had been praying for us to come & the downfall of the confederacy for a long time and now she beleaved her prairs had been answered the evacuation of Richmond is confirmed.. and it is rumored that Jeb Davis has issued a proclemation that all confederate soldiers shall lay down their arms. but how this is I dont know it only a rumor. but I thinks the end is not far distant.. the boys from Berlin are well & in good spirits.. we have had the best of luck on this expedition.. there has not been a man killed from the 96th Batl & only four slightly wounded I can’t write worth a snap today there is too much good news for me to write. I have not received a letter from you since I left Blakely. I will close for this time.. write soon from

Lu Carhart

(written in very dim pencil)

Camped near Blakely, Ala April 10th 1865

Dear Sister: I received a letter from you last night dated March 28th with a fifty cent shinplaster inclosed. I was much pleased to hear from you. and very much obliged for the money untill you are better paid.. I beleave I was near Spanish fort when I last wrote you. we remained there fortifying and planting our siege guns and morters untill the 8th when the Rebs undertook to evacuate the Fort. our generals found what they were trying to do and chased them & took five hundred of them before they got away. there were quite a number of large Guns left in the fort most of which were disabled or spiked.. on the afternoon of the 9th we were ordered to march to Blakely 7 miles distant where gen Steel with a force of about 10 thousand negros and part of two divisions of our Corps were contending with several Rebel Forts.. when we got up to within about 1 1/2 miles of where Steels force were they made a charge which lasted about half an hour which resulted in the capture of all their works, and about four thousand prisoners.. I do not yet know our loss in the charge but there was quite a number killed with Torpedoes which the Rebs had fixed in the ground around the Forts after our troops got posesion of the forts they turned some of the guns of the fort on the Rebel Gunboats and fired a few shots and their Gun boats and two transports surrendered. the rebs say that what few Rebs there are at Mobile will be apt to skedadle for we have taken their Gunboats and their strongest works to defend Mobile.. we are ordered to be ready to move at any time which way we will go I cannot tell. this morning I tried to get some Ink to write with but I could not find any so I had to scribble with a pencil. there are no suttlers alowed within this expedition. tis reported that Richmond is evacuated but how it is we dont know. tis only a rumor.. the Boys are in good spirits. the Boys from Berlin send their respects. John Rader Melve Flagg, Will Flagg, Ell Finley and Philander Kelsey are with us and all well. I will stop for this time and maby the next time I write I will have some Ink. Write soon, from

Lu Carhart

cont.)

and about the pretty Girls all being gone except Libbis Merrihue.. ” I should like to know where you keep your homely girls” I will explain to you the cause of her not getting my address and how the letter came to be sent at a proper time.. A that time I wrote to no less than fifteen. now I write to no more than my own folkes at home.. I will have to conclude the male goes out at 12 oclock & it is nearly that time now. my health is good I stand it better than I thought I should.. the boys from Berlin are well as usual. they send their best regards.. I am obliged to Anny McWilliams for her best wishes (that she has to spare) give her my respects & all the other nice girls. Direct to Co. D 96th Batl 1st Brig 3rd Div 13 A.C.via N. Orleans. write soon from Lucius Carhart

(Upside down across top of first page) I recieved a letter from Georges Folkes the 16th of March. they were well then. L.C.

(On a separate piece of paper) In the former part of my letter I spoke of one our Monitors being disabled. I now learn it was false report. Mobile Bay has a great many Torpedoes fixed in it & certain channels to run boats in which the rebels only are acquainted with.. our navy wishing to learn where the channel was studied up a little Yanky trick. one night they loaded one of the monitors with sand bags untill her deck was partly under water in the morning she appeared to have ran onto a torpedo which diabled her and was laying on a sand bar half sunk. the Rebs supposing this to be a fact ran out with one of their rams with the intention of bunting her to pieces.. when the ram got up pretty close they throwed of the sand bags and took after Mr. ram & run her back & in so doing found the channel where they had no torpedoes.. this was just a little Yanky trick.