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The Civil War Letters of William J. Srofe April - July 1862 Corinth & Moscow |
Following the battle of Shiloh, Gen. Henry Halleck moved the Federal army with excruciating slowness toward Corinth, although Srofe appears to have a much higher opinion of him at the time than modern day historians do. By the time the regiment arrived at Corinth the Confederates had all but abandoned the place. The 48th was then moved north into Tennessee and along the railroad toward Memphis, spending several days repairing a railroad bridge at Moscow, Tennessee.
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Read more about the events mentioned in this section's letters in the Regimental History |
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May 7th 1862 Dear Mother We have just camped here. It appears that we only stay in one place long enough to clear it up & get nicely situated until we rec. orders to march. In fact we have become pioneers & are chiefly[?] employed in clearing up the rebel forests. I have not been well for sometime but I am always ready for duty. I am very anxious to hear from home. The I[?] got from you was dated the 11 of last month. I be glad to hear how the old man is getting (if living). I would be glad to be at home but that is impossible. If Mr. Myers is dead I hope you will content yourself in your lonely home as well as possible. I also hope & pray that the war will terminate as soon as possible so that I can return to your care & comfort. Jno. Srofe is here. I saw him a fiew days ago. I stayed all night with him. He is in good spirits and well. We got payed off a fiew days ago. We did not get the two last months pay. I drew fifty five dollars ($55.00). I shall send forty dollaers home ($40.00). As the Sutler[?] of the 70th Reg. O.V.I. Ellison[?] (of West Union Adams Co. Ohio) is going home he will carry it to Ripley, O & from there he will send it by mail to New Hope. You can put it in some good persons hands and have a note drawn up in your name & should I ever return it will be for me & if not you can put it to your own use. (The money will come in a registered letter). Comm.[?] Binga[??] is not well. He ahs something like the ague[?]. All the rest of the New Hope boys are well. We are in 8 miles of Corinth (our forces moving upon it slowly & surely.) Corinth must fall. Our forces must be victorious. It is true I may [?]ruit[?]. I may not live to benefit personally by its fall but the name of having fallen in such a cause which will be handed down from one generation to anoth. will be sufficient reward. I have nothing more particular but will the next time. So I will close by hoping that God bless you & remain your affectionate son. W.J. Srofe |
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Camp near Corinth Miss Dear Mother It is Sunday evening, this eve[?]. Six weeks ago at this time of writing, the destiny of this our beloved country perhaps hung upon the issues of the morrow. That we ever whipped at every point of attack it is useless[?] to attempt to conceal. My heart sickens as my mind reverts to the tragical scenes of that field. That an other battle far exceeding this in all its horrors is emminent I have no doubt. The enemy have been availing no doubt himself of the late opertunities to entrench himself. But let him entrench himself. Let him fortify. With the brave and enduring men that will be hurled against him, there is no doubt in my mind of the result -- their total defeat. All ready can I note the great change in the disipline & effectivenes of our army since the arrival of Gen. Halleck. His indeed is a mastermind and I feel a returning confidence since his appearance among us. I shall look forward from this to a speedy reunion of dear friends & relatives alas too many separated forever. This is indeed a sad thought but let us hope we may be permitted by the goodness of God to meet soon and under circumstances far brighter[?] than the present. I am indeed in much better spirits than usual. Paper after paper is filled with victories of our armies and the defeat of the traitors who would have ruined the best government the sun ever shown[?] upon. I am well, for the present. Farewell, your son W.J. Srofe Monday morning May 19th 1862 Just as I was folding my letter yesterday the cry of letters was heard. I being fortunate enough to rec. 3[?]. Your letter contained the sad news of the death of Mr. Myers. I am sorry[?] that I cannot be at home, but I cannot nor do I expect to be at home until this war ends. I sent home $40.00 by Mr. Ellison of Adams Co. Ohio, [to] be carried by hand to ripley & from there will go by mail. You must let me know immediatly if you recieve it. I must now close my short letter by ever remaining you dutifull[?] Son W.J.Srofe P.S. Mr. Scott arrived here day before yesterday. By mine[?] I will send [?] Cheat Uncle Sam out 3 cents. I would if you would send me some stamps. W.J. Srofe. |
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Camp Moscow Tennesse Dear Mother Having a chance to send you a fiew lines by hand to Cincinnati & there have it mailed to New Hope. I am still in good health & hope when you rec. this that it may find you enjoying the same. We have had a hard time since we have been on this march but it has been made so that we have had good rests. We have had to sleep out nearly every night. Last night we had a very heavy storm. We had only one tent up which was occupied by seven of us. It was blown down on us & we were completely drenched but I guess it will not hurt any of us. I heard from John Srofe a few days, he was then well. [??] Mckinzie is dead. What was his disease or when he died I am unable to say but I think his complaint was the spasms[?]. We were paid off a few days ago. I sent twenty five dollars by the pay master to be drawn at the county treasure. I will send you the receipt which you can get some one to carry to the county treasurer. You will have this attended to immediately. You can use the money as you think best, but if you loan it have good security. I sent forty dollars about two months ago. I have not heard where you got it or not. I would like for you to let me know. I would also like for you to inform me how you have things fixed & where the administer[?] it was [?] have done right by you or not. Having heard that that damed[?] old liar[? ?] Young [?] one of them I want you to be certain to write and tell me all about it. I have not got a letter from home since I left Shilo[?]. What is the reason I do not know. I forgot to tell you that if this receipt is lost you can prove that you are the person or the one that I direct to receive the money. We will be retained here 3 or 4 days for the purpose of building a railroad bridge. When finished we will march on to Memphis. I am writing by the root of a tree using my bayonet for a candle stick. And it is geling[?]. So I must close. Ever remaining your affectionate son W.J. Srofe. Direct to me at Cairo Illinois to be forwarded to Co. K. 48th Regt Ohio Infantry. |
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Encamped near Moscow, Tenn. Dear Mother As I have an opportunity of sending you a few lines by Captain Peterson I improve it. I am well and sincerly hope this will find you enjoying the same. We are under marching orders to either move tomorrow or [the] next day. We will move towards Memphis but I am not positive where our destination will be but I believe it will be Memphis & probably Richmond, Virginia. Others say White River Arkansas. Forin intervention is talked of among our troops. If England desires a hand in the mess[?] let her come. We can fight them with as good a [?] as the secesh[?]. We care little for it. We are becoming used to war and ever day we are more reckless & daring and consider life but worthless unless we have a country. I do not wish to discourage you about my coming home but I will at once give you my opinion. If the war ends before my three years [?] you may then look for me but my honest opinion is that I will not see home for three years then I will be there if some [?] does not cause me to bite the dust. I want you to live as independent [as] possible. Do not suffer yourself to be imposed on by any one. I have not heard from John Srofe for some time. A long time I mean. I cannot get no letters from him, nor to him. I guess why I do not know. I have written but that was proven useless. I only know where he is. An other thing -- why do I not get any more letters from you. Do I get all you write, or they get miscarried. I have not gotten a letter from you for a two or three weeks. Capt. Peterson leaves tomorrow for home. He [is] going home on a sick furlough. He will probably come and see you. He has been sick for a long time and I do not believe that his health will ever be sufficient for him to take command of his company any length of time. I must close as I am writing on my knee & have two more letters to write yet tonight. Give my respects to all my inquiring friends. Tell Molly how I am. Tell her I have learned to soldier as well as to love. Write soon. Direct to Memphis Tenn to be forwarded to Company K, 48th Regt Ohio Infantry. So no more but ever remaining your affectionate son W.J. Srofe P.S. Tell A.K. Gibson to write to me. Let me if [?] Anderson gets home and if you get my money. W.J.S. |
the generous permission of Carolyn Srofe and Dan (EBAY ID CD112.4). They may not be reproduced
in any form without their explicit permission.
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