Category: Lucius Carhart Civil War Letters

Jan 26, ’63

We have finaly left the Boats and are camped in sight of Vicksburg. my health is not very good but I still keep with the Reg. We have got our tents pitched in the Valey of the Miss. on an old plantation not far from the River, and the probability is that we will be drounded out for the River is rising very fast and it is raining and does not look much like Stopping. our men are now engaged in diging a trench to turn the current of the River. trying the same plan they did last year and if they get it to work as they want it to I suppose they will have no fighting at Vicksburg for my part I am getting discouraged it dont seem that our Generals are trying to bring this awful war to a close. the troops of this fleet are most all the same oppinion. they think our head men do not care whether this war closes or not.. they are faring first rate out of danger and get big wages and they dont care anymore for us than they do for so many hogs.. if a private dies hear he is buried like a hog and his loss is morned by no one but his friends at home. who cares for our sufering here. does our General No. does our Colonel, No. does our Captain, No. there is nobody but the privates in our ranck that cares for a sick one. they simpathise with one another and do what they can but they can do but little for every one has to look out for himself. when I enlisted I expected to fare hard when it was necessary and could not be helped but we fare hard whare it is unnecessary a great deal more than we do when it is necessary.. the men in our Regt are dying of(off) every day one day there was six died. and of them that are now in camp there are nearly about half fit for duty. when we were at Memphis we had 85 men in our company fit for duty and we have only 23 fit for duty now. I could put up with the hardships better–that is I would feel more encouraged–if our Generals would try to close the war. you know nothing of the misery and distruction of war and never will till you are engaged in it. You may think I am homesick but I get along with that a great deal better than I thought I should. if I was where I could good fare I beleave I would be happy, and I am not alone in the thinking as I do the majority think the same thing Your letter that I got last was dated Jan 4 you said Gov (Yad?) had orders to get all of the diserters together and send them to their Reg. without punishment if they are of my opinion they will not come back punishment or no punishment, but I dont see the policy of it, you stated that Louisiana had been loyal to the Government. I think it looks like it. we are now Camped in Louisiana and we can’t find a white man nowhere. They are all _______ _______ and the Southern part is full of Rebels. You said you had sent me some papers. I have got only one paper and that was when I was in Kentucky, and whether the Oficers get them or not is more than I can tell they are so mean you cannot tell what they would do. Lu. Carhart

(Second sheet of paper) I should like to have a paper if it could be sent handly. I should like to get some news from home. we do not get any news only by letters. I should like to know what they say about the war if you can send the Gacette I would like to have it, you spoke of Deb Smith’s coming home and the condition that he was in.. if you had been at the battle of Arkansas Post (some call it fort Hineman) and seen the distruction there the way men were torn to pecies you would have thought Delbert came out (stricken out) done well to come out as he did.. I cannot tell and you cannot know how dreadful it was till you see the horrors of war. it is diferent from what I ever amagined if you would think it safe to send me some money in a letter I should like it very much. There is a chance to buy Bread from the Boats I am sorry that I have to ask for it, for I am so much trouble but I am willing to spend some of my wages for something to eat when I sufer so for it. I am sorry you Sent that Butter by Hover for it cost so to send it and then I did not get it. if you think it safe to send money send a half dollar Bill in a letter a half Dollar will be enough at once and then if it is lost it will not be much that is the way George Sacketts Mother does by him and he gets it, we have not got any pay from the Government since we left Delaware and do not expect any very soon. there are Solders in this fleet that have been in the war commenced and the(y) say that this is the hardest trip they ever took. they say they never saw such hard times before and they are deserting every day they cannot stand the hard fare. I want you to write and let me know what you think of the mater and what the prospect is of this awful war coming to a close, give my best respect to all friends and tell them to write, write soon and often. L. Carhart. (Editor’s note: Battle of Fort Hindman was fought January 11, 1863) ð 7 3 February 22, 1863 On Computer at resource center

(Written in ink)

Dec 16th /62 Friends at home

I received a letter from you this forenoon dated Dec. 5th and as I have a few moments to spare I will improve it by writing. I am still at the same camp that I was when I wrote before. it was thought we would leave to day for Vicksburg but we have not and our teems have gone after ten days rations so the probablility is that we will not go yet for some time. we had a General review yesterday. all the troops in the vicinity of Memphis were out which numbered about 12 Thousand I tell you they made a splended appearance, and the 96th got the praise by the General of being the best Regt. in the hole lot. the men in our Regt are about as good a set of men as you will find. if we only had a good Colonel I beleave we would whip anything of our number but I shall not feel safe to go in to a battle with him he drilled the Regt. yesterday for the first time. and he made the bigest back of any drilling we have had. he knows nothing about drill, the Captains all got together the other day and reported him unfit for his ofice and it made him dreadful mad he put the Capts all under arrest the Lieutenant Colnel and Major are first rate men and they dont either one like the old Colonel. we have a great deal of trouble with him.

(Written in pencil) Dec. 21st we are on the Boat this morning bound for Vicksburg I suppose I have been rather slow about writing my letter I did not have time to finish it the other day. but I thought I would not through it by for paper is not very plenty. I said I thought we would not go yet for some time but it seems that we are about to go we came on to the boat last night about dark and they are fireing up getting ready to start. our Regt is all on one boat and they are rather crowded. there is a long fleet going down, I expect we will have a pretty big time, the General said if we were fired in to going down the river we wold hall up and tare them all up burn all the Towns that fired at us. The boats stoped clost to a Town last night (Dec 22nd) caled Delta the place where they put some union men into Barels and then roled them into the River about 18 months ago and there was a Missouria Regt Swore vengencece on the Town and they got of the Boat and went and burned the Town most all up they went into the stores and took what they wanted then set fire to it and if you remember reading 18 months ago about their hanging some 30 of ours and putting 2 into Barels and putting them in the River one was a Chool teacher this is the Town it goes by two names Delta and Prices Point it is in Miss. the Soldiers are determined to burn all Secesh Towns and the Old General is opposed to it that is Gen. Burbrage and Smith there is 2 Brigades Smith and Burbrage and we are all in Shermans Division. Sherman is with us (that is with the fleet) and I havent heard anything from him. I guess he dont care, nobody but the Kentucky Generals that want to guard Seces property.

;c941223 Postmarked Memphis, Ten, Jan 14, 1863

L C Dec 23

We stopped last night at place called Gastines Landing. it is on an old Secesh plantation. the Boys got of the Boat and went to the house found the man dressed in Soldiers clothes and they serched the house found four guns and two pistols all loaded and them took him Prisoner, he then owned that he was a Secesh Soldier home on a furlough. I went to the house and help hunt for arms and his woman looked so she was searched most to death but seemed to think it all right, there were 3 or 4 other houses the Boys went to and the men run into the woods and some of the Boys set fire to the houses and burned them up. there was a store house close to where we stoped that had about 1000 bushels of corn in it and they took on to Boats what they wanted they then burned the rest. in the morning when the pickets came in they brought in five other men. Dec 26. We are now within about 30 miles of Vicksburg. on the Boat one Brigade started yester and scout in the direction of Vicksburg one Company went with them about 10 miles and then was detailed to come back to the Boat with 10 Rebel Prisoners 196 head of cattle 5 mules 10 horses which our Caveley men captured, it was quite a time for Christmas. Diferent I suppose from the times you had in Berlin. our Brigade has not got back yet and don’t know when they will be back, the Brigade thats landed hear with us are out Scouting most all the time and bring in lots of prisoners and stock, I can not write any more now I have a chance to send a letter now for the first time since I left Memphis and probably will not have another for some time if you do not hear from me you need not feel worried for I am all right. L. C.

(Addressed to Mrs.Roxany Carhart, Tanktown, Delware Co. Ohio. Envelope is imprinted with slogan “THE UNION MUST & SHALL BE PRESERVED.” Soldier and sailor holding pennant. Names of all the states interwoven through floral designs.)

Memphis, Nov 28

I have finely arived at a landing point, after a long ride on the watters, we got in camp yesterday about 5 oclock. we went onto the Boat at Louisville the 20th and landed at Memphis the 27th. we are about half a mile from town in as nice a place as I have seen since I started out in my travels. it is as nice a country as I ever saw if I owned a farm here and the war was over Ohio might go it for all of me, there does not seem to be much excitement down here. there is no rebel army very clost here there is four thousand union troops camped here and forty thousant left here yesterday and day before for Vicksburg. they expect to have a big fiight there and whether we are going there or not I do not know. the wether is very moderate here. and they tell us here that it is about as cold here now as it will be this winter. we had a very nice time coming down the river. we had to take Deck passage but had a chance to go on top of the boat and see all of the things curious, we stoped every night. the watter was so low they were afraid to run nights. we stoped one night on the Illinois shore and had a chance to go on shore and we got some Pecan nuts. there were plenty of them the first I ever saw grwoing. you will see them in the groceries. we stoped one night on island #7 & some is landed No 10. and all the towns and fortifications along the river and all the noted places some of them looked kind a notable I suppose you got the letter I rote just before I left Louisville I rote then I had not got my vest but after I had got my letter sealed I got my vest. So I have my vest and shirts and a letter with my shirts. the first and only one I have got since I left the Hospital and this the sixth I have write. I am well and harty at present, the boys are pretty well, the boys have got back from the Hospital except Lem Roloson and I heard he had gone home but how it is I dont know likely you will hear if he has. write if you get my letter tell me No more Lucius Carhart

Louisville Nov 20th

as I have a few moments to write and send it with Mr. Hover I will tell you what I have to. Mr. Hover brought me two shirts and I found a letter in the pocket. you said you sent me a vest but I haven’t seen it. mabe it will come but I think it doutful if I get it for we are going to make the boat this afternoon for memphis we have got every thing up side down trying to get ready for a start it has rained about two days and just cleared of about the furst we have. you did not say anything about getting my letters I have wrote 4 letters and got one from you with the shirts the only one I have got since I was at the Hospital we had 85 miles March last week from Nicholsville to Louisville now we are going to Memphis so they say but there is no knowing. Mr. Hover came to camp today and is going back to night and the male has gone out for day so this is my only chance they are packing up so I shall have to stop write and direct to Louisville on the march I will write as soon as I land Lu. Carhart

Written in pencil. Drawing of John C. Fremont in upper left top corner.

October 24, 1862 Camp near Paris, Ky.

I left Covington yesterday morning 23rd on the 8 oclock train. I was told that the Regt. was at Synthiana, Ky. and when I got there they told me they left about noon for Paris so I went on and found them there. When I got on the cars in Covington I had not been there long untill Wes Scott came in and he went down most to Falmouth with me where he got of and there I saw Will Mc. They are guarding bridges on the railroad and Wes had some business up to Covington is the way that he happened to be up there. Will and Wes are well Wes looks the best I ever saw him he said he had better helth than he has had before in a great while, I went as far as robertson Station on one train and there was a bridge burned so we had to walk acrost the gulf the water is almost dries up. there was a train on the other side that we go into and went to Paris the bridges have all been burned along the Railroad and have been built all but on and they are to work at that. I got to Paris about 12 oclock at night and slept in the warehouse that night and in the morning I went and found the Regt. It is about one mile from Paris in a maple grove it is the best place we have camped yet. there is 2 or 3 other Regts. in the same camp it is the prettiest place I have seen since I come to Ky. Paris is about 84 miles from Covington in Ky. today is a sort of a cold rainy day. we are all in the tent and the boys are tumbeling round so I have much chance to write. the boys are all here they had quite a march. they carried their napsacks some of the way and when they got tired they would stop in to a house and tell them they must take their team and haul napsacks and if they would refuse they would go and take his team rite along they have got good many horses they took on the way. they come acrost anyone they thought was sesesh they would tell him he must take the oath and if he would not sware they would go out and take his team and if he had any nigers they would take them. every captain has got a niger cook. I feel very well at present and guess I can stand it now. there is some talk of staying here some time but we do not know how long we will stay here. the 121 regt seem to have pretty big times some of the boys cannot hardly beleave it. write how you heard it and all about it. the Boys got that Box when they were at Falmouth. (Upside down at top of page) things were as well off as could be expected. we are eating.

(Following written upside down at the top of the letter.) Direct to Paris, Ky. on the march. I have not heard anymore from Eliot. L. C.

(Colored envelope postmarked Covington,Ky October 16. C Scene of wounded Zouave and girl giving him water) Stationery has view of the Capital at Washington

Covington, Oct 9th (1862) I am now in Covington at the Seminary Hospital. I was taken sick last friday the 3rd. I laid round in the tent till Wednesday and the Doc. came up and said I had the tifored fever and had better go to the hospital. So he sent up the ambelence and I went down to the Regt. hospital. I staid there that night, and in the morning the Regt. had orders to march so they had to move the sick all down to Covington. the Doc here tells me I have not got the Tifored if I have it it is going away. he says it is a sort of billers fever, but I am getting long first rate now. a good bed and beadstead to ly on. not much fever now. Our regt. with good many others have gone down the Lexington pike. it is reported that they are going to Lexington but how it is we cant tell. I have not got any letters from you since George Sackett came. I have wrote two this is the 3rd write soon direct to Seminary Hospital Covington, Ky. goodday. Lu

(Stationery has engraving of Major General Pope in pink in at top left corner.

Covington, Ky Sept 5 (1862)

I am still in Covington and do not know as we will leave very soon we did not leave here as we expected when I wrote before we have very good times now have posession of the city and do about as we please we have our rations cooked by the Ladies of Covington and we occupy several long halls to sleep in and there is a great large house made apurpuse for to eat in the union army has evacuated Lexington and the Rebs are fowling them up & we expect them here every day we went out about 2 miles from town night before last and stood picket gard we went up on a high mountain where we were stationed and we could see Cincinnati Covington and Newport the Ohio river runs west along past Cincinnati and Covington & Newport lie right acrost from Cincinnati and the Licking river seperates Covington & Newport and they both are pretty large cittys Covington has about 15,000 enhabatents and it (was) nice to get up on the mountains and vewe the landscape ore these three Cities lie in a vally and mountains all around them and they have got batteries planted so as to Command every direction that the rebs would be likely to come every man that is able to work eny yeng or old in Cincinnati Covington & Newport are ordered by General Lew Wallace to Suspend all bisness and work on the entrenchments and the recruits are coming in last and thick and fast in Companies and regiments we have gards out about 2 miles all around the City and When we are in the City we do about as we are amind to there is about an acre in the market ground and it is filed up every morning with everything that we want. Aples peaches plumbs pars grapes and every thing else you can think of and the boys buy Some and Draught (draw) Some When they take a notion to buy they buy and to Draught they Draught We have big times Covington is now headquarters and I dont expect we shall leave here very soon I am in a Doctors office writing and his pens and ink ant good and i cant write good Direct to Covington Ky 96 reg O.V.I Company G Cimball, Cap

(written upside down across top of last page) the folks are a sort of irish Dutch I cannot hardly understand what they say and the Country is about half open to the commons and the other half porly fenced. Marching I sweet (sweat) so that I weet (wet) my postage stamps and stuck them together and spoiled them.i