Adkinson Letters

Letters, 1864

The following letters are available at the Duggan Library Archives, Hanover College (Hanover, Ind.).

They were transcribed for the Hanover Historical Texts Project in Fall 2006 by the students of His234 "Studies in American Cultural History: The Middle Class," taught by Sarah McNair Vosmeier.

Adkinson letter, 1863 (introduced and transcribed by Michela Jones, '07).

The Adkinson letters were written by three brothers, Samuel, Irvin, and Joseph during the Civil War. Many of the letters were written by the brothers to their family at home. Joseph was wounded during the war and sent several letters from Hammond Hospital in Maryland. Joseph questions the news that his regimen is receiving about the progress of the military campaign. He not does hold a positive outlook for the war and its progression despite the news that the regimen receives.
Contrary to Joseph Adkinson's beliefs that the war news that he was receiving was false, they appear to be true. In April of 1861, Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina was captured by the Confederates. Richmond was also the site of a battle in May of 1862. The rumor about Pierre Beauregard's disappearance was most likely referring to his retirement due to illness in 1862 and not his fleeing for safety. [Sources: Finding Aid to the Adkinson Family Civil War Letters, 1861-1994 [bulk 1861-1868], 2000 (accessed October 28, 2006); The History Place, 1996 (accessed October 28, 2006); Confederate Leaders. (accessed October 28, 2006).]

Joseph Adkinson, letter to [Home?], 11 April 1863, Adkinson Family Civil War Letters 1861-1994, Agnes Brown Duggan Library, Hanover College (Hanover, Ind.)

Soldiers Rest Washington

April the 11 1863

To all at H

You see I am in the hospital and feel as large as any one that is no better fed than I we have bred [sic] and coffee for breakfast bred and soop [sic] at dinner and bred and spoilt beefe [sic] for supper so you see it is bread all the time and we are all getting fat on it in the [bargain?] was wayed [sic] last night my wait [sic] is one hundred and forty two pounds this is more than I have wayed [sic] for one year so you see souldiering [sic] goes weell [sic] with me and the rest with the exception of of Leevi he seems to be under the wether [sic] though not very seriously I hope the change of grub make one feel alittle [sic] [dong?] until one gets use to it War nuse [sic] are is plenty here now every one thinks the war is all most over me excepted I cant see the end yet wish it was and every things all right sidle up once more the nues [sic] to day is that they have taken Charlestown [sic] which I don't believe and the other day it was that there had bin [sic] mischief in Richmond tho [sic] women having broke into there [sic] stores and helping themselves in general [Nor?] Jefferson Davice [sic] ordered his troops to stop it they refused to have any thing to do with it in any shape and before that the word was that Buragard [sic] had huddle himself up in Mexico fore [sic] safety all untrue I suppose what will come next I do not know shall be prepared We have one of the best Captains in the world never put things only on one when he can helpit [sic] our regiment is in Virginia now but are ordered to Meriland [sic] as ordely [sic] to carry messages as they say the third will go to hell with a message and bring it back and never get it scorched this is [gass?] I supose [sic] but it is certain that they have more than a fair proportion of this kind of duty shal [sic] Minnie a photograph of me since I became a soldier and want you to write often all of you and dont wate [sic] for me to write as I don't have the chance that one has at home here we have all the noys [sic] of camp an in fact not much disposition to write Yours as ever

Jo H Adkinson

Adkinson letter, 1863 (introduced and transcribed by Sara Shake, '07).

The Adkinson Family Civil War Letters are letters from three brothers while they served in the Civil War. Using the information provided in the finding aid, it can be inferred that the "Jr." who wrote this letter was one of the three Adkinson sons: Samuel, Irvin, or Joseph. Since the letter does not contain a clear recipient or sender, it could be sent and received to any combination of these three boys.

One of the Adkinson sons was stationed in Potomac Creek Bridge in Virginia at this time. He spent a great deal of this letter discussing his daily life and his well-being. There have been some disagreements about the effectiveness of soldier's performance. One of these theories argues that having a sense of community motivates soldiers and enables them to suppress their fear and perform well. This can be illustrated in Jr.'s letter by his mentioning of shared responsibilities with his roommate Sam Henry Rogers of taking care of cattle and horses. [Source: Mark A. Weitz, " Drill, Training, and the Combat Performance of the Civil War Soldier: Dispelling the Myth of the Poor Soldier, Great Fighter," Journal of Military History 62, no. 2 (1998): 263-289.]

"Jr.", letter to "Brother", 25 April 1863, Adkinson Family Civil War Letters 1861-1994, 1:12, Duggan Library, Hanover College (Hanover, Indiana).

J. Mr. [Adhe?] Apr 63
Pleasantons headquarters
Potomac Creek Bridge

April 25, 1.63 [sic]

Dear Brother,

I find myself seatted [sic] this pleasant morning to answer your letter which was received in good time it baring [sic] date of the fiftheenth [sic] and came to hand on the 20 and I was one of the happyest [sic] boys in Camp never in my life did I appreciat [sic] what a good thing it is to get a letter before we are now sepperated [sic] Sam Henry Rogers and myself are hear at headquarters in the cattle traid [sic] we have nothing to do but feed 20 cattle and our horses plenty of food all the time for the horses and now and then drive in some more our horses are getting wary how long this will last is very uncertain the souldier [sic] never knows one day what he will be engaged in the next [I rain?] this is the life of the souldier [sic] if it was one thing all the time we would all die with the blew but as it is the time passes very swiftly the boys are all in the very best of spirits think that Richmond will soon be ours and are eager for the fite [sic] the roads are not in very good trim for marching at this time as it has bin [sic] raining for the last [Tovo?] days but this morning it looks like fair wether [sic] for a while every thing is backward in fact this part of Virginia is all most played out if it ever was any accordant [sic] this looks very [Erontful?] ther [sic] is nothing here now but Camps and they are scattered on every hill and in every hollow We are within fifty milds [sic] of Richmond and three of the river which sepperats [sic] the army and feel more secure than if I was fifty milds [sic] farther back for here we are surround on all sides by troops and the very best of troops and in the very best of helth [sic]as for myself I feel just the very best kind fat and contented and my bowels are as [regnal?] as the sun moveing [sic] at sunrise but the horse inent [sic] very fat yet but bids fare to get that way Sam is as harty [sic] as a buck and has one of the best mares in the service so you see we are all rite [sic] would like to meet you at home at vacation were it possible but it riend [sic] am glad that you are going they must be lonesome all of us gone give them all the incouragement [sic] you can write of ten

yours truly,
Jr.