Adkinson Letters

Letters, 1862-1864

Excerpts for Discussion Dec. 2, 2009

The following letters are available at the Duggan Library Archives, Hanover College (Hanover, Ind.). Hanover students from the following classes transcribed the letters: His234 "Studies in American Cultural History: The Middle Class" (Fall 2006) and GW143 "Autobiography: History" (Fall 2009), both taught by Sarah McNair Vosmeier.

Thanks to Patricia Schuring and to Ruth Adkinson, Adkinson family genealogist, for transcription assistance.

Joseph Adkinson, letter to Mary Adkinson, 22 October 1862, Adkinson Family Civil War Letters, 1:12:14, Duggan Library, Hanover College (Hanover, Ind.).
Transcription and notes by Brandon Doub, HC 2013

Douglas Hospital Washington DC
October 22nd, '62

Dear Sister Mary,

I seat myself to write you a short letter[. ] I am still here all though almost as well as ever[.] I am detailed here as nurse. You may think it strange that I would undertake such a task[.] My reasons were that by doing so I would be out of the rain and not have to sleep on the damp ground nor be exposed to all kinds of wether gerneraly[.] Here I have my bed and groob regular with exercise enough to make me enjoy it and that Hugely to I tell you I haven't yet bin out in town[.] Want to go out next Sunday to Catholic church have some curiosity to see and hear them once at least[.] The sisters that nurse are all Catholicks[.] All ware the black vail[,] are very strict[,] insist on my going to mass which is held at six on the morning[.] Haven't bin yet perhaps shall soon[,] don't know[.] Have bin to meeting 2 since I came here herd 2 good sermons the first since I left home[.] Now some things over six month that seems to me like a long time to be from home but I must stay 9 more before I can come back to enjoy the blessings of a quiet and happy home[,] one of the best things that man was ever blessed with[.] One dosent know the blessing of home until he has bin deprived of them for in time[.] Then they begin to show in their proper light there is nothing so good as a home blessed with a Father & Mother and sisters who all lived in peas & love together[.] My though of home are my hapiest hope that at some time I shall again be a member of such a home is my most cherished hope[.] Evry other fades into oblivion at the approach of this[.] I then to once more used those old places where I have to church so often gone and mingle once more among those that I useto[.] All this is in the futur and then you will be allmost grown to a woman while the rest will be married and out of the way[.] How we will saddle up the horses and take pleasure rides where we wish to go, so don't get married and spoil all my fun[.] Now Mary I want you to write and tell me all the girls secrets[,] who is going with who and if they are getting to thick to stir with a stick[.] Now you [under stang] I want to know all about Home & how much Father & Mother stand the times [&] what Father thinks of the war.

Your brother

Mc to Molly

P.S. Direct your letters to Douglas Hospital Washington D.C., Ward 8[.] Write all of you[,] I have plenty of time to read them, Mc

Camp near Brooks Station
Wednesday April 3rd / 1863

To all at home

I find myself to write home once more[.] we are all right sid up and enjoying ourselves hugely[.] we are now with the company and I like it much better than I thought I should here[.] there is always something to keep one from thinking of one thing long at a time[.] we came to the company last Monday was payed of yester day[.] I received sixty eight dollars and thirty cents which is one month and twenty two days[,] and twenty five dollars bounty[.] sent sixty dollars home[.] Fogleman and I sent ours together one hundred and thirty dollars in all it is expressed to Pleasant in Veavy and I will send you another in this[.] Foge says for you to pay John Crandle twenty dollars and use the rest as you think best[.] now as to mine take it and make the best use of it you can, and if you don't need it let the boys have it to keep them at school but if you need it be sure to use it and let the younger hands be a little discommoded now[.] what I mean for you to use it to help you for I feer you in trying to help us will put to much on yourselves and if Leigh Manford hasent paid his yet[,] I wish you to give him a punch under the short ribs and keep at him until he does pay and use it as you think best and when you write next from home tell me how Hugh is getting along for I haven't herd but once since I left home[.] have written to him twice but receive no answers[.] now I have sayed all I have to say on thiss subject with the exception that I have money enough coming to me to keep me aflote untill next payday[.] have fifteen dollars[.]

N.B. Sam wants you to draw his for Rinda[.] shall send the [marked out?] order in this

We were out on a grand inspection today and I tell you it is intolerable to nice show to a hole brigad of calvalry all well dressed with Boots blacked so nice but isent very pleasent to us set primp up on a horse for three or four hours in the sun and this evening I went out and picked as many bueries as I want to eat[.] here they grow in abundance but are not very large[.] now I am thrue for this time But remain yours as ever[.]

Jo Mc Adkinson

The Old Battle Field of Antatom
July 12, '63

Dear Brother,

After so long I find myself seated to penn you fiew lines and but fiew for we expect every moment an engagement. Allready this morning we have saddle twice [.] We expect a hard fight here soon[.] The troops are eager for it, they seem very sertain of what the issue will be[.] I have no time to write, haven't had for the last two weeks as we have marched every day[.] I first herd that you ws at aunt Nancies and a good time you must have[.] Would like to be there to but cant be there and here to[.] Want you to write[.]

Afectiontly,
Jo Mc Adkinson

P.S. the boys are all right and in good spirits considering the hard duty. Jo

Camp Near Burlin
Saturday July 18th , '63

Dear Sister

Yours bareing date of the first came to hand last night[.] I felt very old before receiving it but after reading it I felt much better[.] We have marched continually for the last six weeks not stoping to rest more than one day in any one place and not often that long[.] We came here yesterday at noon[.] Hope we will stay a day or two at least that the horses may rest alittle which they need very much as they have had but very little to eat and the roads are muddy as it has rained all most evry night for the last week[.] Now Effie it would do you good to see how we live here it is so grand to live after our stile we have alittle tent some four feet square that is two pieces of this side drawn over a pole in the center and peged down at the corners to the ground[.] Some times we have some straw but more frequen two rails to lay on this two or three skins tumble and sleep ever so sweetly until morning then arise and shake themselves as a horse would do after taking anap on his bed of hay, then breakfast is to get[.] This is composed of salt pork rosted on a stick (which isent very bad after all) some hard tack and coffee and sugar[.] The coffee I don't use but suply its place with water sweetened and on this we live very well. It is very helthy die[.] Our horses have oats and corne and hay and grass some times and at others nothing at all and but very little of that[.] My rideing fat horses is played out for the present[.] Hope If I get home once more to be able to ride one once more[.] You and Nan musent let Father sell the little Black but coax Mother to let you ride her very often[.] Don't let her do any thing faster than in pace as that is the gate I wish her travel[.] Don't care how fast she does that and tell Oliver I want him to have her pace just as fast as he can and do it right for this is to be one sorce of happiness to me should I be so fortunate as to get home[.] I would like to be with you, you don't know how well to well to tell but as a year is soon gone I shall soon be there[.] But one year here is as long as two or three at home where one has evry thing that is necessary for his comfort and happiness[.] Dont think me sick of my contract for I feel that I did but my duty in comeing here and then there is the conscripsion. It makes one more content[.] Oh it would do me so much good to hear that six or a half dozen moore field rats had drawn the lucky ticket there[.] Oliver Smith first[,] Squire Hulley next[,] Fletcher Bellamy next and so on[.] It would be more than huge and I feel that I could indure every thing and fatten on it too[.] I can imagine I see them now the first with a sigar with his head swelled to an immoderate size and his fiddle in his arms propped back in his chair with his Mother boxing at his ears[.] Every thing plain before me and I feel as though the next word would be come to dinner[.] Oh I long to hear that word spoken by agood cook once more and that at home to joke you all and see you and Minnie and Nancy laugh first becose you could then[.] I have such a rich joke on Oliver and Will to see Will limping round with soar toes[.] Ann tramped his toes so that he could limp easy and by the means escape the draft[.] How I should like to have seen him grin and make long faces and herd her tell him it hurts but you must stand it or the draft which is worse[.] So Willy bare it patiently for my sake which he did no dout and then Rinda think it is so ridiculous that that Hillsdale rat should bring the contemped of the whole crowd upon her by sitting with her in church[.] As a just punishment she had forced him against his will to walk some four mildes and not on a pavement[.] She thinks she has lernt him a lesson which he never will forget though, he should live till he dies[.] You may think it strange how I become sourse to our happiness Rinda and useto keep up a correspondence of all importance[.] I must close yours as I want to write to Mary and Father and Mother[.]

Your Bro

Jo

Tomorrow it will be one week since I wrote last I am still well have bin grunting for the last week have had the head ache but to day I feel allright Sam is a little under the wether tired I think is the matter Foge is better than he was when I last wrote the rest are all well that is the boys that you know we are stational at Chester Gap to watch the rebbs we had a little scratch day before yesterday in which we done some of the cleanest gitting out of the way the has bin done for some time they brought in strong force of Infantry we had but afiew Cavalry but it did good running when ordered to evry man save him selfe we lost two wounded, one killed one or two taken the killed was Peet Bright of Craig Township this is all at this time your Son and Brother

Jos, M. Adkinson

3rd Ind Camp VW
August 18, 1863

Dear Brother Irvin,

Yours of the 13 inst came to hand yesterday was glad to hear from you once more[.] It had bin so long since you wrote that I had concluded you had quit altogether & I dident know where to write that you would get my letter[.] Well Irvin I find myself well this morning but my strength is limited yet that is gaining fast[.] I am the litest I have bin for some time[.] My weight is 125 lbs but I can soon make that up[.] I have bin weighing 145 since I came out this little turn of fever is all the bad helth I have had since lieveing home[.] As to coldes I haven't bin bothered at all with them[.] Don't know how it will be this winter[,] feer it a little but I shall take just as good care of myself as posable and trust to Providence for the result[.] Now I hardly know what to write unless I tell you something of the other boys[.] Sam is well and fat and saucy[.] Fogleman is cloce to my side writing[.] Hes the cook for the Choronel[,] has the best kind of a place here, he gets plenty of nice things to eat, he seems very well satisfied[.] Levi is with the company[.] He isent very well to day, he had a turn of the collie yesterday which worked its self off with the dierrea[.] The doctor told him he had eaten to much corn[.] This is some thing we get plenty of here without price or money but take it for the carrying[.] We take sheep to when we are so lucky as to find one so you see we live tolerable well in some places[.] Old VA has almost played entirely out[,] it look like a God forsaken country and I realy believe that God has given it up entirely to its sins[.] I have heard that man could sin until he would cease to strive with his spiret[.] That is exactly the case with the country now[.] I have written about all for this time[.] Remember to write often for that is my greatest pleasure to read letters from my Bro & Sisters[.] My chance to answer is bad but I will send you some things[.]

Youre Brother
Jo Adkinson

Jo M Adk - Oct. 63

Douglas Hospital Washington
October 28th / 63

Brother Irvin,

Your letter baring date of the 10 inst is now before me[.] I was very glad to get it[.] it had bin so long since I had received one from you and not knowing where to write to[.] was glad you had found something to do in this time of trouble[.] every one should be doing something of profit[.] hope you will find your school a pleasant one & have good times every way[.] I want you to tell me in your next how far you are from W.G.M Stones and how he prospers for I suppose you have bin there[.] you see from the commensment of this that I am at the seat of Government and in a hospital but I am not sick at least not dangerously so[.] was when I came here[.] had the inter myten Fever[.] was tolerable sick ten days[.] am hear now nursing those that are sick[.] Levi is here he has had the Tyfoid Fever[.] was very sick so sick that he talked every thing but good sense[.] he isent ration al all times yet but is much better[.] he can sit up some is out of danger unless he gets it back set[.] he is almost deaf. I missed all the last fitings[.] the Caverly has had some very hard times in the last 3 weeks[.] They started on a move the day I left[.] I received a letter from Sam yester day[.] he was so unlucky as to get his horse so badly wounded as to have to shoot him[.] this is all the casulties he spoke of[.] his letter was very short[.] my horse is well a gain[.] suppose Sam will ride him until he gets one of his own[.] expect to go to the regiment in a few days as Levi is out of danger now if he takes good care of him self[.] he is one of the queer kind of sick men just like uncle Nick always in trouble himself and making trouble for the others[.] I received a letter from [Jared] yester day he is in Arcansas, now and well[.] now I will close by asking you to write often[.]

Your Brother,

Jo

Douglas Hospital Washg DC
Fryday Morning November 6 [illeg.]

Dear Sister

Your most wellcom & interesting letter came to hand yester evining I was glad to hear such good news and so much of it there was the most news in it of any I have received in any place for some time it give me some light as to what was going on at home but enough of this I am still here [and?] well and fat as ever[.] in tend to get my picture taken and send it to Jane sometime if ever[.] I am very glad Mother has at last som picture[.] now she ought to Orinda's and have them in the same case[.] Rinda ought to be taken standing two[.] Oliver was very clever to send you his photograph[.] think he mite have rememberd his Brother Jo yet such things are trouble some out here[.] Tell Effie I would like to know whether she has [any Lady?] that I sent home cased up or not as I feel some lively interest in her well fair as our acquaintance was rather romantic and she may be a sister of yours yet[.] Levi & the rest of the boys are all getting almost well[.] Levi is well but he is such an old grany he dont know it[.] he lays on his back and calls for the pot night and in day light he is up all day running evry place[.] he sickens me[.] Well Mary I hope to be talking face to face with you in 9 months[.] now that time will soon pass away[.] I close by asking you to give my best respects to Grandpap Hart and Long Hall with pinkeyed Baby[.] write often[.]

your [Brother?]

Mc

Point Lookout, MD
June 3, 1864

Mr. Francis Adkinson

Dear Sir,

I wrote a letter a few days ago for your son, Joseph, who is in the hospital at this place. And at his request, I write you again in answer to a letter which he received this morning from his sister. It is the first he has had from home since he has been here.

I am sorry to say that he is not getting along as well as we hoped he would when I wrote for him a few days since.

On yesterday morning the wound commenced bleeding and the nature of the wound was such that the doctors on consultation decided that it was necessary to amputate the leg, which was done yesterday about 12 o'clock. He was placed under the influence of chloroform. I saw him a few moments after the operation. He was cheerful and not as much prostrated as I expected. I saw him twice during the afternoon and evening and he appeared to be doing well. I saw him again this morning at 8 o'clock and he appears to be comfortable. He told me he had received a letter from home and wished me to answer it.

I know it will be sad news, and yet it is best you should know it at once.

What will be the result in his case, of course we cannot tell. God only knows. It is but right however, that I should say that the doctors think the probabilities are that he will not recover.

While there is life there is hope. He is in the hands of the infinitely wise God who does all things right.

I have been trying to direct his mind to the Savior, the great physician of both soul and body, and my prayer is that the Lord will prepare him for life or for death.

I will write to you again if any material change takes place.

May the Lord bless and sanctify to you this and all his dispensations is my wish and prayer.

Yours truly,

D. D. McKee
Chaplain

Point Lookout, MD
June 5, 1864

Friend Adkinson,

I wrote you on yesterday rather discouragingly about the case of your son. The case is still a very critical one but I am happy to say that the indications this morning are more favorable than they were yesterday and more so than we hoped they would be.

I will keep you informed every day or two of his case. I do so because I know the anxiety of friends.

Yours truly,

D. D. McKee
Chaplain

Point Lookout, MD
June 6, 1864

Mr. Irvin Adkinson,

Your brother Joseph Adkinson is in the hospital here. He handed me your letter to answer.

He was wounded in both thighs. The right leg was amputated on Friday last. The wound in the other thigh was slight and is nearly healed. His case is a very critical one. The doctor told me he had but little hope of his recovery. I thought yesterday he was better, but he is not so well today.

Yours truly,

D. D. McKee

Point Lookout, MD
June 7, 1864

Mr. Francis Adkinson

Dear Sir:

I suppose you will be expecting to hear from me as I promised to write every day or two in reference to your son.

I did not give you much encouragement in my last and I am sorry to say that my worst fears have been realized. Joseph died today at 3 o'clock.

Day before yesterday he seemed to rally, but during the night he had a chill and yesterday morning as soon as I saw him, I felt that there was no hope. Last night he had another chill and this morning when I called he was scarcely able to speak and he continued gradually to sink. He did not appear to be in much pain but appeared exhausted.

I had spoken to him several times on the subject of religion. He admitted its importance and on yesterday I earnestly pressed upon him the necessity of an immediate attention to the matter. He said he would think about it and asked me to talk with him again. But this morning he was so feeble that I could not learn distinctly which were his feelings or prospects. I called to see him about half an hour before he died. He recognized me and spoke to me. I spoke to him the promises and invitations of the Savior and told him in the dying pain he might seek and find the Savior. He whispered "this is my dying [hand]." I stood by him until he expired and held his hand in mine.

He has passed away and is in the hands of that God who does all things well.

To the compassionate Savior I would direct the deeply afflicted family. And may the Lord bless and sustain you and sanctify to you all this severe affliction, is my prayer.

Be assured of my sympathy with you all in your Savior.

Your friend
D. D. McKee
Chaplain

P. S. I cut a lock of hair and send it. His property and money is in the hands of Dr. Miller, one of the surgeons and will be forwarded by express if you so order it.
D. D. M.

Point Lookout, MD
June 14, 1864

Mr. Irvin Adkinson

Dear Sir:

As you requested, I have drawn up a very brief memoir of your brother which I herewith send you.

Died on Tuesday, June 7, 1864, in the Hammond General Hospital, Point Lookout, Maryland, from wounds received in battle on the 12th of May, Joseph Adkinson of Mooresfield, Switzerland Co., Ind.

He entered the service in the summer of 1861. The regiment was immediately ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, where it has remained ever since. He, with his regiment, shared in all the previsions and dangers of the campaigns of '62, '63, and '64 and having helped to earn, he shared in the honor that belongs to the 3rd Indiana Cavalry.

His regiment formed a part of the cavalry force led by Sheridan in his raid around Richmond and it was in one of the battles fought in that raid in the Chickasome swamp that he was wounded.

He was brought to the hospital at Point Lookout on the 16th of May and for a time his wound appeared to be doing well and he was anticipating a speedy recovery.

But secondary hemorrhaging occurred to a point which amputation of the leg became necessary. But this proved [ ].

Although for a day or two he and his friends entertained hopes of his recovery, yet the shock was more than his system could bear. He was seized with a chill and in a few hours the scene cleared.

He said but little as to his hopes and prospects for the future, yet we have some ground to hope that his thoughts were turned in his last hours to the Savior of sinners. Thus he died another victim to this cruel and wicked rebellion.

D. D. McKee
Chaplain

Point Lookout
June 24, 1864

Mr. Francis Adkinson

Dear Sir:

Your letter of the 17th was received this morning. You will probably have heard before this reaches you that your son from New York, whom I had written before Joseph's death telling him of his condition, got here a few days after his death. He received, from Dr. Miller, Joseph's money and property.

And at his request I wrote a brief obituary of your son and sent it to him a few days after he left.

I did not hear from your son the particulars or the circumstances of his wounding, whether on horseback or not. I am under the impression it was received on foot as both thighs were hit by the same ball. The wound on the left leg was slight - - - it was the right leg that was amputated. He was willing for it to be done. In fact they do not compel any to submit to operations. They state the case to them and let them decide. He was very cheerful and hopeful. I thought he was going to recover and I never had any other thought until the bleeding commenced anew after the amputation. The next day he said to me he felt that he had a better chance now than before. And I felt very hopeful until the second night after the amputation he had a chill. The next morning I saw a marked change for the worse and the night following another chill and in a few hours he died.

He spoke to me of the family at home and appeared to feel much interest in home matters. His grave is marked with his name and regiment on a board at his head. There is an order prohibiting the removal of bodies before the 1st of October.

I desire no other compensation for which I am able to do for the gratification of the friends of the deceased soldiers than to feel that I have contributed something to alleviate the grief and to be permitted to mingle my sorrows with theirs.

May the Lord bless you and every member of the bereaved family and sanctify to you all this bereavement.

Yours truly,

D. D. McKee
Chaplain