Civil War letters at Middlebury College

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Letter from Orlando L. French to Lydia French

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I said to her that as long as she had drawn Mrs F into this company I would present her in person and as she looked at your portait her first words were- "Why: dont she look like me? I said tht it did very much and that this circumstance had enhanced the pleasure of my visit at which she looked incredulous and said "What? true to your wife while you are down here in ths rebel land among rebel ladies? verily Quarter Master you must be a model husband" I told her that this was the opinion of Mrs French but the happiest seasons must end and after inviting us to their plantation after they had gained this indepevence we bid them adieu and returned to camp but our division had been relieved to back we toddled to our old camp near Murfeesboro well pleased with and feeling much better for our trip But the boys could hardly credit ^our account of the skirmish but on examining our pistols they found five empty barrels in mine - so the matter remained for two days until I read the account of it in the Nashville paper ( a copy of which I send you with this) which said the charge was made by the picket force of the 10th Ohio supported by a detachment of the 75th and routed them killing two we declared the account correct with this exception that the detachment made the ground charge + was supported by the 10th Ohio and we noted the detachment some

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
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Saturday Morning April 11th My little story is but half told but my time had been very much ocupied with other duties so that I could write but little each day and as it has been nearly two week since I mailed a letter to you I will finish this sheet as I have a chance to send it by Capt Giles But of the points of my little story where the Col and the ladies were mentioned are not to be breathed aloud for you will redirect that I was under oath I would copy my little adventure for the folks at home if I had time but as it is I wish you would mail it to them after you have read it I ought to write to them all and will do so soon but we have no clerk now and I have been very busy making up our monthly and quarterly reports Tell Carpenter that he will find Capt Giles one of the wisest men in the world - so far as heard from there is nothing but what he knows and especialy of all little secret matters he has been made a confident of for instance my case he understands to a dot notwithstanding this I consider him (and I am not alone in it) one very large sized ass- but it will no doubt be very interesting to hear his definition of war matters I expect a letter to day from you acknowledging the receipt of the money and if I do I will write a little tomorrow My health was never better in the world than at present - you have never sent me that little picture I asked for all done up in your pretties I dont want a case to it- one other thing I must tell you must not tell to any one except Carpenter and that is that Remington has at last sent on recommendations for a Captains commission and if he gets it why there will be a vacant Q.M. appt in this regiment more on this subject hereafter - While I remain always your devoted Orlando

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
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591 Head Quarters 75h Ills Vol Near Nashville Tenn May 2d 1863 Dearest Lydia I have received your letter of April 24" and I see that the hours and days drag wearily by to you and the only thing that sustains you is the thought that it is only four months more to be sure that is only a little while but we think it will not be that long before we will see home of nothing happens The talk is that the 62 troops are to be mustered thirty days every thing indicates that this will be done there is nothing official on the subject yet but our Division Commander is of the opinion and it is the talk in all military circles - I do not like to raise any false hopes but I am so positive of it that I venture to communicate it to you The paymasters with three millions of money are now in Nashville to pay the 4" corps but we

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
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the report is that they are not going to pay the 62 troops until they are mustered out and if we are to be mustered out in a few weeks I presume this will be the case however we will know in a few days as they begin the payment this week If I knew that in thirty days I should be at home with yu a citizen once more I should be the happiest man in the world Only think of it the war over our last battle is fought our last march is made and we are homeward bound and peace is in the land after three years suffering strife and bloodshed Oh if ever mortals should be thankful it is ourselves who have passed through all this + seen so many fall by our sides while we are saved to return to our loved ones We have a beautiful camp the weather is fine I have enough to do to keep me busy but not too much My health is good + amvery hapy in the prospect of so soon being with my darling wife -this I know cheers you up and although you are annoyed and embarassed in many ways you will meet them bravely hoping that when your good for nothing

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
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husband returns he will be able to make your duties less burdensome and your path more pleasant I have now something over eleven hundred dollars due me and there will probably another month pass before we are mustered out congress has also voted us three months pay proper which would be one hundred and fifty more if we stay until the war is ^over and if we are discharged before our time is out I cannot see how they can construe it to mean anything but that the war is over I am however owing some but will have enough with the prospects I have to feel pretty independent I have waited to finish this and the mail is already to go + I will write again in a day or two Ever your loving Husband O L French Adjutant 73 Ill Vol

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
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336 The road was very dusty + being in the rear of a large wagon train our progress was hindred so that we arrived at our destination (Stevens Gap on the opposite side of the mountain) at midnight or I should say that the Colonel + myself arrived there with perhaps a corporals guard of the Regt the ballance lie along the road for ten miles back- the nght was extreme-ly cold there being a heavy frost that night Our Head quarters wagon was not to be found so that I barely had one blanket but I built a fire wrapped myself up and lie down to rest but not to sleep one side of me was too cold for that - + I passed the night the best I could + breakfasted on hard tack + coffee We soon received orders to place our regt. in company with one other of this Brigade in position to hold this gap with instructions to hold it at all hazzards while the other two went to the foot of the hill some four miles distant After having made a satisfactory disposition

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
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337 of the forces (Col Brunnett being in comannd of the two Regts we fixed up for a comfortable stay as we were told that we would probably ocupy this place ten day A short exploreing tour disclosed the fact that within a mile of camp we could overlook the whole confederacy and I shall ever remember the sight there presented- you will remember that this was Saturday the 19th the day on which the battle began + from the look out the two lines of battle could be discerned although not very distinct as the whole valley was one cloud of smoke + dust The distance was too great to hear musketry but the rear of Artillery was incessant and the clouds of smoke ascending showed us plainly their position: and camp fires of the two armies sparkeled brightly in the night air presenting a beautiful picture but the scene lost much of its beauty when we thought of the suffering wounded soldiers that

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
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338 must lie on the cold ground without the soothing hand of friendship to ease this pain or kindred ear to catch their expireing breath- a sad, sad thing is this war.- At 3 oclock the next morning we were arroused with orders to hasten to the front and at daylight we began our march to the battle ground then twenty miles distant We soon heard the roar of cannon which gradualy drew nearer and we expected in two hours to join the other two Brigades of the division and take our chances with the rest but at 2 oclock we came to the lines of Gen Mitchels cavalry forces who were there protecting the right flank of our army but had been cut off himself and was waiting our arrival and he gave us the gratifying intelligence that we might not hope to reach the Division except by another road + that by Chattanooga

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
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339 Sheet 2 But it became necessary that Col Post (commdg the Brig) should report to Gen Davis + one of the Col's staff - a Capt from our Regt volunteered + got arround the enemy's lines and made known to Gen Davis our condition but before he had returned Col Post + Gen Mitchel had decided to move forward to Chattanooga + at 4 P.M. we started distance yet 20 miles we left this place in company with Gen Mitchel + his cavalry - at this place there were nine hundred of - our wounded who were left behind + the enemies cavalry followed us right up- I rode back along the line of our Regt/ + told the boys the fix we were in that we were cut off + that Rebel cavalry were closely pressing our rear that all who stragled + fell behind would be certain to fall into Rebel hands and that we must make Chattanooga that night and as I told them that now was the time for them to show their manhood + spunk

Last edit over 2 years ago by LibrarianDiva
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340 almost every man was fired with new energy + came promptly up to mark The boys were out of rations + were hungry + tired and fortunately we over-took our Div supply train about 9 oclock + three days rations were issued + we lay at this place until 2 oclock expecting every moment to be ordered forward- The night was very cold + fence rails plenty and the boys did not suffer + Gen Mitchel had the fever along the road + occasionally an old barn or deserted shanty ^ (for two miles) and it looked as though there was an army corps camped in there - Our route lay along the east side of Lookout mountain + between that and another range the valley being not over a half mile in width at any place -We marched 3 miles farther + bivouacked for the remainder of the night- before morning it was excessively cold + I did not attempt a snooze + at day light we were placed in line of battle to the rear across the valley as it was reported that the enemys cavalry were in sight

Last edit 3 months ago by MaryV
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