Jason Prindle (b. 1843) and Legore Prindle (b. 1846) served in Captain Don Carlos Newton’s Company D, 52nd Illinois Volunteers. Capt. Newton was married to their sister, Mary M. Prindle (b. 1835).
Letter 1
Camp Benton
St. Louis
December 6, 1861
My dear wife,
Yours was received a few moments since. I am gratified if you are finding out how much it costs to live. I have known for some time. I enclose you $5 & if you are likely to get out, will send you more. We are having very good times. We have several men sick, however. One has been today discharged from the service—Charles Brown by name. We have still the same trouble in our regiment in regard to Colonel as we had before we left Geneva & I don’t know as it will ever be settled. If it wasn’t for Hall, Nim, and a few of the same class, I should feel like resigning & coming home. We are in hopes that Preston will yet be appointed Colonel. If he is, I am all right & may get a better appointment. I don’t know, however. Don’t say anything about it.
I have been well with the exception of a bad cold & headache. I am as black and grimy as a nigger. You would scold some to see me, I guess. Our quarters are heated by two coal stoves and the lamp black is flying in every direction. My hide being rather rough, the superfluous dust attaches itself to me.
Since writing above, we have been on drill 2½ hours & it is now after 6 o’clock. I want you to gave I’m hurry & get well. Tell Father to have Latham inform me how he is getting along. We must have our officers here now soon. We may march soon. We are drilling nearly all the time & I assure you I get very tired before night comes. There is nothing new now. Our orders are very strict. We can hardly stir without getting in guard house. Some get in for doing nothing & some for doing too much. I tell you, it is a splendid sight to see 20 or 25 regiments of men maneuvering in one field at once & it requires considerable figuring to keep them from running into one another.
I can’t think of anything tonight so I will quit until tomorrow.
Saturday morn. Tell Jim that Billy Sawyer came off drunk & left his satchel in the room we occupied at the court house. I want him to go there and see if he can find anything we left there and bring it on. Also go to Steve Blain’s house in Geneva & get his rubber blanket. It is raining like shot this morning & everything looks gloomy. Mud! Mud!! Mud!!!
I don’t find my needle book anywhere. I think you didn’t put it up. I have had the toothache some for a day or two. You may send me anything you think best & it will be thankfully received. Tell that Doctor to tend to his duty & keep the baby well because I think considerable of her.
Write often and tell the rest to write. Yours, — Don
Letter 2
Benton Barracks
December 7, 1861
My Dear Wife & all friends at home,
We leave here tomorrow at 2 o’clock for some unknown destination. As soon as we arrive at our destination, I will write you. We have received our orders since dark and now at half past 11 o’clock are nearly all packed. We are to receive new guns tomorrow and I hope better ones than the ones we fetched on here with us. We can’t have worse ones, God knows! Our men are all getting acclimated & are all out of the hospital today but one. Some have bad colds yet but as a general thing are feeling very well. I am better than I have been before since I come here & think I shall stand it well. I have no fears but that my health will continue good. I can stand more grief that one half of the old stagers!
I just begin to find out that a Captain is the poorest paid & hardest worked man in the company & has the most fault found with him. But God will reward the patriot if our country don’t. It makes a man feel rather singular to be under orders to go he knows not where. We feel that we are not our own any more but belong to Uncle Sam & he does with us as he pleases. We feel as if here was a higher Power that overrules all for good & He that noteth the fall of a sparrow will look after one as unworthy as myself. I feel as if I should be grateful for the prayers of my friends for my Health & Safety & hoping I may live to see you all again. I am affectionately your husband & friend, — Don Carlos Newton
Mary, you must write often to me if only to assure me of your and our little Mary’s health. God knows I pray for her health and that when I come home she may be a nice little chunk of a gal ready to meet her papa. You must learn her to expect me as soon as she gets old enough. If we are gone so long. I hope to be back next summer. If we can succeed in giving these devilish Rebels a thrashing. We can. I feel it in my bones, We have some bully fighting men in our company & I think everyone will stand by me to the last. You will hear from me again in a few days. Until then, farewell. — D. C. Newton
You did not send my needle book & I want it bad. You can address me to Benton Barracks & it will follow me. Yours, — D. C. Newton
Letter 3
St. Charles, Missouri
December 9, 1861
My Dear Wife,
We are at this place enroute for St. Joseph, Missouri. We have got along so far without accident. All well but very tired. It is now 1 o’clock at night & we have but one half of our baggage over the river. It will take till daylight. We crossed the Missouri at about 9. I am having some trouble with drunken men, Everything else goes off smooth. I will write again from St. Joe.
Yours affectionately, — Don
Letter 4
Macon City, Missouri
December 10, 1861
My Dear wife,
We are now at this place enroute for St. Joe. We arrived here at 6 last evening & now at ½ past 8 this morning are still waiting for more cars. We slept last night in hog cars—all manure—did not get to bed until half past 12 & you better believe I was glad to camp anywhere. I am now in a drug store. We officers have been around & dried up every liquor shop in town & are now cruising around the private houses seeking whom we may find. I never was as tired in my life as I was last night. I slept none until after one last night since we left at St. Louis Sunday [8 December]. Soldiering is the hardest work I ever done and the way they use soldiers is a caution to shakes.
You need not think of coming yourself as I don’t think you can stand it. Last evening the cars were fired upon from the bushes by one man. I was upon top of the cars & the ball struck the top of the 3rd car ahead of me. They are pretty hot around here. This is the junction of the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad. There are about 2,000 troops stationed here. 1,000 cavalry for scouting.
I am well. Write me at St. Joe as soon as you can. Yours lovingly, — Don
Letter 5
Stewartsville, MO
December 13, 1861
My dear wife,
We are now at this place. We were called from our beds & ordered here it was said to surround & take a Rebel camp. We came 20 miles on the cars and then got off and after marching 3 or 4 miles cross lots & over the worst roads you ever saw, we surrounded the town. On getting off the cars we divided into two equal portions—one taking the east and the other the west. The left wing posted themselves all along the east side of the town behind stumps & fences &c. &c. We of the right wing made the charge through the streets but never a secesh did we find. ¹ We found some in the morning & made some arrests. We forwarded them to St. Joseph this afternoon. None of us slept a wink last night & I am about worn out. We have got to be out all night tonight. We expect an attack from them some but I am of the opinion they daren’t. We have 200 men and will have by 9 o’clock 200 more & 2 pieces of artillery. Then let them come if they dare. We have picket guard out all around the town & allow nobody to pass out or in without a pass from Captain Bowen [of Co. B] or myself.
Legore [Prindle] cried last night because he could not shoulder a musket & come with us. I took supper last night with Mr. & Mrs. Beach at St. Joe. Their boy that was born without finger nails is now a great, fine, plump boy of over 6 months old and is a fine looking one too. They are all well. I would go up & see Elisha [Foote] if I could. I find they are 100 miles from here and would take 3 days to go and come without any time to visit. I have written to him to come down and see us.
I am too tired to write more tonight but will write you again tomorrow or next day. Have no fears we shall give the cowards if they dare attack is the allfiredest drubbing they ever got. We are well armed & they have none at all scarcely.
I have not heard from you but once since I left home and am very anxious you had better believe. Yours lovingly, — Don
Direct to St. Joseph, MO until further orders. Tell the rest of the folks to write to me often. My letters to you will have to answer for all. I have no time to write—only when I ought to be abed.
Lovingly yours, — Don
¹ Sgt. Dewitt Clinton Smith of Co. B recalled that upon entering the town of Stewartsville, they found no Rebel encampment but two or three women who “were too old to run away.” [Peoria Sunday Journal-Telegram, “Last La Moille Vet, 88, Recalls Civil War Episode”]
Letter 6
Stewartsville, MO
December 14, 1861
My dear wife,
We are still at this God forsaken hole looking up seceshers. We have forwarded the first installment to St. Joe & have 4 more in the guard house now. We are going out again on a scout tonight to see what we can find. We learn there are a good many turkeys, pigs, &c. out about 5 miles & we propose to help ourselves.
Jim Kelly is quite unwell today & has the doctor threatened with fever but I think will get along. We have now here about 400 men & no fears of all the force they can bring against us. I still hear nothing from you. Should like to know how you and the baby are better.
Sunday [Dec. 15th], half past 2 o’clock
I wrote you yesterday but there was no mail since & I have broken open the letter at the post office. I have had command of a Jayhawking party this morning. We went out about 2 miles & cramped on a yoke of cattle, 10 turkeys, 3 fine hogs, 6 large nice sheep, 10 geese, about 1 dozen chickens 2 wagons, & one load of corn, 1 mule, lots of blankets & other things too numerous to mention. We have been back about an hour & have the sheep dressing now. We are going to have a Thanksgiving dinner. You know we left Geneva Thanksgiving Day and have not been able to have our dinner yet. Today we are going to wade in. You ought to have seen us when we came back driving 3 hogs and carrying turkeys, chickens, 7 geese string across our muskets. It put me in mind of the picture in Harper’s Weekly. I forgot to day that we fetched in one old secesher & have him in the guard house. We are making them hunt their holes. I tell you, it’s real fun to go Jayhawking. I shall go out again tonight or in the morning. The boys like to have me go for I have no conscience. Had just as leave steal all the secesher’s have got as not. I now think of going to Old Johnson’s tonight. He is in the Rebel army and has left lots of pigs &c. at home. I’ll make them scarce if the commander of the post, Capt. Bowen, will let me go & I guess he will for he said he was well satisfied with what we done this morning & ordered mutton for dinner. I shall order turkey well done. I hope to hear from you tomorrow morning without fail. Lovingly, — Don
Capt. Bowman returned at half past 10 this evening with 2 seceshers & one rifle. The boys say he wouldn’t let them take anything else, Wait till I get command of an expedition, & I will fetch in the luxuries I tell you. Good night, — Don
Letter 7
Stewartsville, [Missouri]
December 17, 1861
My Dear Wife,
Nine o’clock at night & I have just returned from a scout. The news came in about 11 today that about 12 of Co. B were attacked about 7 miles south of here by a band of Rebels & compelled to retreat & wanted reinforcements. Lieut. [William H.] Wilcox of Co. G & myself formed up a company of 75 men & went to their relief. After footing it about 7 miles, we came in sight of some of them & undertook to surround them but they got sight of us and run like the Devil (forgive me the expression). We sent some shots after them & followed to the ring leader’s house & captured 2 horses, one sabre & belt, one double barrel shotgun, about 2 lb. of rifle powder, about 50 musket cartridges, 15 or 20 turkeys, ducks, geese, &c. Got back very tired, you better believe. This is hard work. I have tramped yesterday & today 40 miles. I yesterday fetched in 2 horses, 1 mule, 2 prisoners, but I believe they are going to set them at liberty on their taking the oath. A good deal of consolation to spend a whole day catching roughs & let them take the oath & go again. Perhaps it is for the best but I don’t believe it. I would shoot every cuss of them if I had my way.
The rest of the regiment went by here today to a station 8 miles above here. This is a dog’s life, you better believe. They are going to put 7,000 men on the line of this [rail]road to rake down and harrow the Rebels. They are the worse lot of men I ever saw. You may travel all day & you can’t find one at home. As soon as you heave in sight, they mount their horses & away they cut for the timber. Now you see them and now you don’t—just like the little joker.
Now in relation to you and Addie, I think you had better get together & talk up & see if you can’t arrange your matters satisfactorily. There seems to be by your letters & hers some misunderstanding about what she was tto do and what you are to do. As I understand, she was to do all the work & I to furnish everything. Now I think she much have understood it the same way. If you can’t get along & take care of the baby, you must have Father’s folks look up a little girl to help you. You need have no fears, I will pay for all the help you need. I sent you $5 a few days since. You never wrote me whether you got it or not. I send you an order to have Father pay you $10. I hate to send from here by mail & as soon as we get paid off again I will replace it & send it by express. It costs too much to send small amounts by express. If it can’t be arranged so you both will be perfectly satisfied & you can’t get someone to go into the house & board, you may go to Father’s or Mr. Gammon’s to board & I will send them the money to pay for the board once in 3 months.
Albert [Hall] & I have had a long talk about it. We both feel alike in regard to your staying together but I don’t want you to stay a minute unless she is willing perfectly to stay & do the work & you can get along & take care of your baby. I had rather hire a small girl & have her to help you if you & Mrs. Hall can arrange to stay together. I know in your delicate health that perhaps the baby is going to be too heavy for you & perhaps in that case boarding at Father’s or Gammon’s would be preferable on account of there being so many to help you take care of her. I would prefer you went to Father’s on account of being near our house or finding someone who would move in & give you the front room & board you & help take care of the baby. You must use your own judgement. But at any expense take care of your health for I want you many years yet. I have less & less fears of getting killed in this infernal war. I am as tough as a buck and can eat a cast iron dog or any other delicacy.
Now you myst understand that I regard your health more than anything else & I want you to not overlook yourself taking care of your baby in help can be obtained for money. I am sorry that you and Addie both feel as you do, but I know it is human nature & consequently don’t blame either of you at all. From what I can judge by Mrs. Hall’s letters, she thinks she is used as a servant & don’t propose to do only as she is a mind to & from yours I judge that your health is such that you can’t get along & have her go just when she wants to without consulting in regard to your health whether that will permit of your being left alone now or near as I can see she thinks that arises from a wish on your part to control her actions & I know that is not so. Consequently, if she can’t be made to understand that she will have to be tied up a large portion of the time & not be free to go as she pleases without regard to the state of your health, break up the arrangement at once & go to boarding. Let me hear from you as soon as you can. I want you to read this letter to her & have her read Albert’s letter to you & you will both find out our sentiments. I am obliged to close.
Lovingly, — Don
Letter 8
Stewartsville, Missouri
December [20] 1861
My Dear Wife,
Last evening on going to the train, I found Lieut. Lee and James [Prindle] aboard. The train only stopped a minute & I caught Jim and held him & the car went on to St. Joe with all his baggage. I have nearly all the cakes left that you first put up for me & Jim tells me he has a lot more. I am very sorry he did not get the cartridges as I am nearly out of them.
I am boarding at the Skelton House ¹ at $2.50 per week & lodge in my own quarters. Our boys were all glad to see Jim back again. He arrived all right. We have very comfortable quarters. Half of our company is quartered over a secession store & I have my room in one of the small rooms. It used to be an old Masonic Hall & is first rate. The other half [of the company] is in a secession house which has two large rooms in it. We have stoves in all the quarters but my room & I calculated to cramp on one soon for it. We manage to cramp on all the wood we want. [Lewis H.] Everts is out today after an old secesher with 8 men. He likes the fun. I don’t think much of it, gadding off across the country catching an old Rebel, fetching him in, swearing him, & then letting him go again. The man he is after today we have had down once & let him go but now the Major thinks he has proof that will hold him.
Ever since we left St. Louis it has been as warm & comfortable as in August until yesterday. Now it is snowing & is as cold as the Old Harry. I am going to St. Joe tonight if possible to get there & if I go, Jim will go with me & we shall stay over Sunday with the Beach’s folks. We have several cases of the measles in our company & quite a number in the regiment. Colds are nearly all the complaints we have. This is a great country for colds. I am as hearty as a buck yet only I have had the toothache for a couple of nights which naturally makes me mad.
I enlisted a new man yesterday & think I shall get 2 more in this town. We have had to discharge 2 men—one in St. Louis and one here on account of breaches. Our man who was shot in his—-has had quite a time with his—-. They swelled all up as big as goose eggs. He was just fool enough to go on a long scout & walk some 30 miles in one day. I was gone when he started & did not know he was going.
I left off writing yesterday at Stewartsville. Today I am at St. Joe & have a few leisure moments & will write to you. I have received 3 letters from you in 3 days. The one Jim fetched was the last one written. The next to the last I received yesterday & the first one today. You see how they come. You need not write often enough to overburden yourself as the letters have got to coming now. I can stand it if I get one or two a week. Now you, little dearie, you can write me all your little and big grievances, I want you to do it & I will try my best to console you & don’t you go without anything you want. If you want a new dress & have no money, go and get it & have it charged. You shall have the money to pay for it soon. And about your arrangement with Addie, I wrote you a full account of my ideas some days since. I only wanted that arrangement on account of your being in your own house & not because I thought the expense would be less. I then thought that Mrs. Addie was very sweet-tempered & you being so yourself, I had the idea that you could certainly have very good times & yenjoy yourselves better both being bosses in your own house & could talk up & arrange all little matters amicably & in fact, live like pigs in the clover. But now things do not go off as I anticipated, you perhaps had better make some other arrangements. Either go to Father’s or Gammon’s or anyone else you are a mind to & I will pay your board. That will relieve you from all responsibilities of caring for supplies &c &c. It would suit me better if someone could be found who would go into the house & board you. If a man and his wife & a little girl whom you could imply to help you take care of Baby May could be found, it would be just the thing. I should want you to keep the parlor with your own furniture & let them furnish the furniture for the rest of the house or that part they wished to occupy. Now I don’t suppose anyone could be found who would answer my description but if there could be, wouldn’t it be well.
I want you always to let me know all your grievances just the same as if I was at home. I like to bear your troubles & vicissitudes. I have been used to it so long that it has become second nature to me. If you pass lonely hours, you must also remember that the lonely hours are not all on your side of the fence by any means. I lay awake a good many night & think how I should like to see my Mary & Baby May but it can’t be did at present.
I came here today to get that tooth pulled that used to bother me so & I am going to see the dentist at 3 o’clock. He does not keep his office open Sundays & I went to his house & he agreed to be there at 3. I dread it, I tell you.
I stayed last night with Beach, James [Prindle] is here with me. He came down after his baggage. Mrs. Beach sends lots of love to you and baby. Her baby sits alone but does not say anything. Altogether it is a pretty sweet baby.
Your Father is called General & has the oversight of the Police Guard & horses &c. at Stewartsville. Jason and Legore [Prindle] are both well & are doing well. Have not been sick since we left. The Old Man is in his glory sending the seceshers to the guard house & back &c. Albert [Hall] is well. James Kelly has been sick but is getting well now. He has not drank much of any since we left & has as a general thing behaved himself very well. But he is a crotchety fellow at best. I believe all the Batavia Boys are well except A. A. Smith & he has had neuralgia & is getting better.
Yours lovingly, — Don C.
¹ Charles William Skelton (1814-1879) was married to Dorothy A. Irish (1817-1899) in 1842 in Indiana. He was born in Brooke county, Virginia. His eldest son, Frank Skelton (1843-1912) enlisted in Capt. Newton’s Co. D, 52nd Illinois, on 1 January 1862.
Letter 9
Stewartsville, MO
December 24, 1861
My dear wife,
I wrote you from St. Joe just as I was going to have a tooth pulled. I went down & took chloroform & had it out. Jim [Prindle] said I hollered so you could have heard me a mile & that the dentist pulled a full minute on it. At any rate he got out & I feel immeasurably relieved. I got you your fine Christmas present & am very much obliged indeed. I should have bought you one in St. Joe but it was Sunday & none of the shops were open & so I sent you a few dollar bill to buy your own with & with it many wishes that you may have the merriest of all Christmases for you & Baby May. I don’t expect to have a very merry one myself out here in this Cattaraugus of Missouri catching the mountaineers. Oh my sakes, you ought to see them clothed in rags and tatters, homespun linsey woolsey, patch upon patch, till not one of a hundred can tell the original piece. Never on the face of God’s green earth was there another such a race got together. The Clay Eaters of South Carolina can’t be worse. Half of them can’t read & write. Lank-bodied, lean-faced, lantern-jawed, big-footed, forsaken-looking lot of humans—no, not humans [but] Devils, I never want to see again. If I had a hundred of the flattest-nosed niggers that ever walked. I wouldn’t give them for a thousand of the best you could find in this country.
Darn such a Christmas as we are going to have. I never thought about it until now. Gosh, how I wish I could drop down in upon you & stay until tomorrow night [and] eat some of your good things. Wouldn’t I stuff my old belly once. I have nearly all the cake you made for me when I left. I have the tin box full & the space that is under it. Your last installment just came in time enough to fill up but that ain’t like it would be to take it fresh from your table. How my mouth waters when I think of it. It’s no use, however, to wish or think here. I am Uncle Sam’s machine—go here, go there, & away I go. I like the life—after all something going on all the while—all excitement. Just a few minutes ago a man came in & told me that 4 men had taken a hand car & gone to the next place below here for whiskey. I just went down and tattooed myself for to watch it. I saw the car coming round the curve full speed. Lieut. Graves and myself stood on the track & commanded them to halt & halt they did & I seized upon the jug of brandy, 1 jug of whiskey, 1 jug of rum, & took it into headquarters. You ought to have seen the poor cusses beg for it. But after getting it into headquarters, it was a stationary article. Four more of our men are out without orders & when they get back into the guard house they go for 48 hours on bread and water, or I am a dunce.
Christmas morn and as fine a day as ever shone upon & here I sit in my room writing to you & wishing to see you. If there was anyone coming along of whom you could get help to take care of your baby, I should be tempted to have you come to St. Joe & stay a spell with Beach’s folks. I have written Elisha [Foote] to come down & fetch his folks to St. Joe & see us. I trust you to give me a history of all your little or great troubles every time you write of all things that happen between the times you write and I will do my best to console you. I am some pumpkins on consolation, you know. I am getting anxious to hear the result of your & Addie’s consultation on the two letters she wrote you.
Legore [Prindle] had a letter from Elisha a few days since. They were all well when they wrote. I have been thinking every time when I wrote about telling you to send for the [Chicago] Tribune if you wanted it. I forgot all about it. It is my opinion that we shall lay here all winter and consequently there will be but little in the papers about us. Six companies of our regiment went by here last night at about 11—three companies to guard a bridge 12 miles above here and three to guard another about 20 miles above. They have to go into tents while we fortunate fellows have good quarters with stoves I them & nothing to do but soldier around.
As I write, the boys in their room have a fiddle a going & are having a stag dance (that is a dance without any girls). Some are playing euchre & some writing home. Some are coming in here with Captain [asking,] “Can’t I get a pass? I have an invitation to go out two or three miles,” or “I have had an invitation to a Christmas dinner,” or any other excuse they can get up for to get outside of the lines. Since writing the above, 3 men have been in here to see if they couldn’t go out. “No sir,” said I, “It can’t be did.” So they borrowed some books of me & went to reading perfectly satisfied. How would you like to come out here & live with the mountaineers? If it was not that there is no doctor here that knows his head from a putty ball, I should like to have you come. But our baby May’s health must be looked after pretty close, even to the great sacrifice of us both & it is a great sacrifice to me to have to be away so far from my friends & family.
My health has been excellent so far & I feel as if it was always going to be good & that if the war should last 3 years, I should be one of the fortunate ones that would live to come home & live to a good and green old age & to tell my grandchildren of the many sights I saw in the war for the existence of the government. I will write again soon. In the meantime I expect to hear from you, — Don
Letter 10
Stewartsville, DeKalb Co., Mo.
December 27, 1861
My dear wife,
Yours of the 23rd came to hand this morning & I was glad to hear your were doing so well. I received a line from Beach this morning with the sad intelligence of the death of little Carrie Foote & that Frankie was quite sick but that they thought he would get well. Disease diphtheria. I can appreciate their feelings for Carrie was truly a model child & had come to an age that made her very interesting. She has gone to keep our little babe’s company.
I have had another talk with Albert [Hall] since receiving your letter. He says he had rather she would stay there but if you & she can’t agree perfectly, neither he nor I will consent to your keeping up the arrangement. Having Mr. Colton come in would suit me very well if they could accommodate you as I know them to be very estimable people & I suppose their small mischievous children are grown up out of the way. I don’t want to have them learn many May any of their Colton tricks. I have made up my mind that there is no house large enough to hold 2 women and that Addie [Hall] is very, very slow & that that is the main trouble that it takes her so long to do a little that she thinks she is doing an awful sight of work. I am satisfied from what James [Prindle] tell me that she is not the woman I thought she was & if you can’t make everything perfectly satisfactory so that she will feel right & you too, quit right where you are. I am sure that if it is no accommodation to her, it is none to you or me. Of course the expense is larger but I thought the comfort would be greater to you or I never would have went into it.
There was a bridge burned down here near Hudson night before last & we are consequently without direct communication with the East. The trains run each way to the bridge & we get our mail but no freight. I thought when I wrote my last letter I should like to have you come to St. Joe but I have altered my mind very much within 2 days about that. I am fully satisfied that it is dangerous to anyone to travel anywhere on the railroad in this state.
I am engaged today in building a log fort to guard the bridge near our town. They are in small squads all along the line of the road committing all kinds of depredations every time they find a place without troops they pitch in & burn and destroy. They are perfect cowards & never do anything but when they can find a place unprotected. It is costing a pile of money to guard this railroad, I tell you. The little bridge we are posted to guard is only about 60 feet long & 20 feet high and it takes 3 companies at at expense of over $200 a day & simply because the government can’t get along without the road to carry its frieight. About 10 miles below is a bridge over the Platte River where there is 600 men & 10 miles above us is 3 more companies of our regiment & 10 miles above that [are] 3 more.
We have heard this morning that a man by the name of Mitchel was appointed Colonel of our regiment—not officially however. We are in Gen. Prentice’s Division & not Gen. Pope’s as you supposed. You say you hear no news. I will tell you some. They say our here that Ors Brown has run away with Comstock’s widow. That Emma Lorel has a baby. Than Lizzie Van Nortwick is in a bad way. I suppose you will be much obliged to me for telling you. Jim Kelly is nearly well & is acting today as corporal of the guard.
Jim Prindle is as tough as a bear and is today fixing up his bunks for his section in their quarters. Jason, Legore, and your Father are all well. Albert [Hall] is well. We have had several cases of the measles & I shouldn’t wonder if Jim had them but all that have had them have had them very light & all members of the regiment are getting along well. There has been one death [James Raw] in Co. H—the Aurora Company. That is all the fatal cases since we left which I call doing pretty well for 1,000 men considering the hardship we have been through since we left.
I have been boarding at a hotel at $2.50 per week. I am going to a private house today at $2.25—a Mr. Hicks ¹ from [Montgomery county] Ohio—good Union folks. Tell Father to give my respects to all the boys & tell them to write to me. I have not heard from no one but you & Father since we came away. I received a paper from Ed Smith & sent him one back. Not a word has been written me how things go on at the shop or how the boys are getting along. Does Bruman stick by yet & all the rest? How does Early get along selling his cutters [sleighs]? I saw his advertisement in the Aurora paper. Have you sent for the Daily? If not, have Gammon sent for it for you. I sent you $5 dollars a few days since and $5 from St. Louis. You never said whether you got them both or not. I had a first rate Christmas dinner—roast Turney, &c. &c. I felt homesick Christmas for the first time. I wish you a Happy New Year & a very happy one for the baby as it is her first one. What a prospect for her ahead & how much trouble she may have. It almost makes me sick sometimes to think of it. Write me often and tell the rest to do so too.
Yours affectionately, — Don Carlos
¹ Mr. H. C. Hicks came from Montgomery county, Ohio. He was the proprietor of the Stewartsville News in partnership with T. V. Eby in 1870.
Letter 11
Stewartsville, Dekalb county, MO.
December 29, 1861
My dear wife,
For fear you might think I was dead not having written you since day before yesterday, I now—Sunday, 2 o’clock in the afternoon—sit down to inform you of my whereabouts. We are still at this God-forsaken hole. ¹ I have been building a fort at the bridge. It is built of logs about 11 feet square with port holes all around. It faces the bridge & is about 100 feet from it. Last night about 12 o’clock Capt. Bowen who is commander of the post came to my door and sung out, “Turn out! Turn out! We are attacked! The guards at the bridge are firing rapidly.” I sprung from my bed, lit a light, run into the men’s quarters, gave the alarm ordering them to turn out armed & equipped instantly, came back & dressed myself & was at the foot of the stairs all in 3 minutes. In 10 minutes, both companies were out formed in line & double-clicked nearly to the bridge when Capt. Bowen sung out, “Halt! Front! Right dress!” And we came up rapidly in line of battle. He then came out in front of the line & said he only wanted to see how quick we could get out & that it had been just ten minutes from the time he first gave the alarm to that time & that we had done well. Gave the command, “Captains take charge of their companies.” I took my company, marched them around in front of their quarters, fetched them up in line of battle and made them a speech. Told them I was well satisfied with their getting out as soon as they did, but that I wanted them to get out & formed next time in five minutes & then asked them if they could do it & they gave one grand shout Yes! I then thanked them, broke ranks & I 15 minutes was fast asleep again. I tell you, it is exciting to be called up out of sound sleep with an alarm, but how I wanted to get a crack at them.
We had an alarm today. Some of our men saw a company of cavalry come winding south & southwest. The drums beat & the companies were drawn up in line of battle & still they came slowly on. When they got up they proved to be a company of cavalry stationed about 10 miles above here who had been out on a long scout & had 10 or 12 prisoners among which was 1 rebel captain & several other soldiers.
I have been this afternoon running a Rebel Printing Office & you can see the fruits of my labors. We are going to start a paper in a few days & I will send you one as soon as issued. We don’t get any mail for 2 or 3 days. They have been raising the devil on the track above here but don’t get alarmed. We can take care of ourselves & if you don’t hear from me, you must remember that they don’t interfere with the railroad anywhere near where Co. D is quartered. They know better than to approach very near the City of Stewartsville.
My new boarding house I like first rate. It is just like home. The people are Ohio folks & the woman cooks the nearest like you of anyone I have ever found & can make the best bread I ever eat. There is one young lady in the family & if I wasn’t married, what a chance for me. But alas, I have a widow at home. [Lewis H.] Everts pairs in large among the girls, you better believe. I am paying $2.25 per week for my board—rather expensive, but I have been paying $2.50. I want Father to go to Eaton’s opposite the Tremont House Chicago & buy me 2 of Smith & Wessons 6-inch revolvers & 500 cartridges for them & send them to me by Mr. Gifford of Elgin who is connected with the Quartermaster’s Department of this regiment. Eaton sold them when I came away for $20 each & 100 cartridges with each revolver. I want the best bargain made that he can make. I understand they are higher now. I will send the money soon to pay for them. I have made up my mind that I shall never get near enough of the devils to hit them with my sword so I want 12 shots at them at a distance. I have sold my revolvers for $20. Mine was a 5-inch one and I want 6-inch because they will carry about 40 rods further than the 5-inch ones & I want to give them hell. I also want two pouches for them made of good harness leather after the pattern I send in this letter.
Tell Father to say to Coffin that he will have to wait a few days after the 1st of January for the interest on that mortgage. We shall get paid about the 15th, I suppose, & I can’t pay anything before that. Then I will send money enough to pay that, pay the taxes, & enough to support you until next payday, I think.
At an election held for 2nd Lieutenant, Jo Kessler was elected to the office & I am very well satisfied. I have enlisted 3 new men today—one of them is 6 ft. 5½ inches tall & weighs 200—a bully old fellow you better believe, and one of the other ones is the best shot in the company. George Spalding of Geneva is Orderly in place of Jo, & Jim Prindle 2nd Sergeant—a notch higher than before, & makes him Left Guide of the company. We have had no mail since Friday—3 days. Shall get an old heap of it when it comes. Col. [Robert F.] Smith, the present commander at St. Jo sent word to us today that we would be paid soon. Glory Hallelujah! Write often if you don’t write so long. I have written Gifford to inform Father he can leave the revolvers to have [ ] get them. His address is Fulton Gifford, Elgin, Illinois.
Yours lovingly, — Don Carlos
¹ The 52nd Illinois Infantry arrived in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Sunday, 10 December 1861. Only Companies I & K received the New Enfield Rifles. The remainder of the companies were issued old Belgian (smoothbore) muskets. On 12 December, 1861, Companies B & D of the 52nd Illinois were sent to Stewartsville, a small station 22 miles east of St. Joe to guard the bridge. They were soon joined by the rest of the regiment and spread along the railroad from St. Joe to Cameron, Missouri—a thirty-five mile stretch.
Letter 12
Headquarters 52nd Regt. Ill. Vols.
Stewartsville, Mo.
January 1, 1862
My dear wife,
Here we are New Year’s night in our room & a pretty New Year’s we have had. I have been out scouting all day & have footed it over 20 miles and my legs ache like the deuce. I got 7 head of cattle. I took one horse & 2 more cattle but the horse threw one of the boys over his head & run into the woods & that is the last we saw of him. About the same time 2 of the cattle seceded into the woods.
I wrote you 2 or 3 days ago but as no mail has left here since, I suppose you have not got it. I wrote about getting me 2 revolvers & to have you send them by Gifford but if Latham comes first, send them by him. I could sell a dozen if I could advance the money to pay for them until payday. But I don’t want to do it. I have been envying you all day so cozy in your parlor with a good warm fire & I tramping over the secesh country without my dinner. I did not eat a mouthful from sunrise till dark tonight. Night before last I stayed with Mrs. Beach & she gave me quite an insight into the character of Mrs. Addie. She says she is a very disagreeable character & she don’t think you are going to get along with her at all. If that is the fact, the sooner you find it out the better.
I now think that I will get a furlough in March for 8 or 10 days at least. The Colonel has promised me one if we stay here but life is very uncertain & armies more so. He don’t know but we may be ordered from here tomorrow.
All the boys are well & also your Father. I am as hearty as a buck. I will write again soon but you must not be scared if you don’t hear from me sometimes for weeks as the mails here are very uncertain. We have had no mail over this road since Friday last.
Yours lovingly, — Don C.
Letter 13
Headquarters 52nd Regt. Ill. Vols.
Stewartsville, Mo.
January 2, 1862
Again dear Mary have I sorrowful news to communicate to you. This morn came the enclosed letter from Elisha [Foote] ¹ announcing the death of dear little Frankie and also a line from Benon saying that they were very fearful that Lucy would go the same way. You must be prepared for worse news than you have yet received. God knows I hope & pray not for I fear it would be more than poor Elisha could bear. The loss of two lovely children like those and then the loss of a wife like Lucy—my heavens! It seems to me it would be more than I could bear. I hope for the best but fear the worst.
Yesterday I wrote you I had just returned from a scout with 7 head of cattle. Last night someone came to our cattle yard and picked them all out and turned them all out and today I took 6 men and went out again & found the cattle and 2 horses, 1 wagon, and the man himself, & then I told him if the cattle were turned loose again, I would Jayhawk the whole arrangement. Tonight the Captain is going to send the old cows to St. Jo for to work on the entrenchments. We have 3 to send down tonight. ²
Yesterday one of our squads under command of Lieut. [George W.] Graves, Co. B, came so near catching the Capt. of the whole Jayhawking gang that he got his overcoat, horse, saddlebags, dinner, saddled blanket, & all the rest of his traps. I went out a few days since & tried to catch him but we only got near enough to shoot at them once & then they run. Oh my you ought to see them scud once. They are smarter than rabbits. Lieut. Graves chased one afoot yesterday ½ a mile & then caught him. He is one of the ring leaders. He had a pistol that will carry a ½ mile. We are all well and doing well.
Don’t be alarmed if at some times you don’t hear from us in weeks. I shall write every day or two but our mail matters are very uncertain.
Yours lovingly, — Don C.
¹ Elisha F. Foote, Jr. (1826-1909) married Lucy Richards Prindle (1838-1911) in May 1856. Lucy was Don C. Newton’s sister-in-law. Elisha took a claim eight miles southeast of Nebraska City, Nebraska Territory, in May 1857. Both of their oldest children, Carrie Foote (1857-1861) and Frankie Foote (1859-1861) died in December 1861 of diphtheria. The Foote’s “baby” referred to in these letters was William May Foote (1861-1892) who was born on 21 Sept. 1861.
² After guerrillas burned the railroad bridge over the Platt River leading into St. Joseph, Missouri in 1861, Col. Robert F. Smith of the 16th Illinois Infantry was placed in command of the Union forces sent to St. Joe to guard the railroad between Hannible and the latter place. His brigade included the 16th and 52nd Illinois, the 2nd Iowa, and the 39th Ohio. Smith and his 2500 troops and 12 cannons entered St. Joe in September 1861 and began the erection of an earthen fort which overlooked the city.
Letter 14
Headquarters 52nd Ill. Vols.
Stewartsville, Mo.
January 4, 1862
My dear Wife,
Your letters of 27th & 30th both came in the same mail. was glad to hear from you that you were well & getting along better in your family arrangement. I think your dress a very fine one indeed. You could not have suited me better. I think you two critters are coming out rather gay. Perhaps you are setting your caps for a new feller? Well alright, take all the advantage you can now. We poor Uncle Sam’s [ ] are out here in the wilderness catching seceshers and such like vermin. You ought to see them skedaddle (found in the appendix to Duboll’s Arithmetic) when any of us come in sight of them. Out of the backdoors, under hay stacks, into the brush (purely Missourian). There’s a right smart heap of Rebels about here & a powerful sight of soldiers around taking care of them.
You complain that you haven’t had a letter in 3 days. We did not get a word from Illinois in a week by rail or telegraph & I did not get uneasy. I thought you knew enough to take care of yourself. I know I do & am as well & tough as I ever was in my life. Can eat anything from a rattlesnake to a corn dodger. I have as good a boarding place as it is at home—everything neat and tasty. Our Col. Wilcox went up to supper with me last evening & he said he did not know before why I was so contented here but he had now found out & that if he had as good a boarding house, he wouldn’t want to move himself.
You asked about our colonel. We don’t know any more about it than you do. We are here with two companies. Two companies are 5 miles above us, two more 4 or 5 miles above them, & so on. No chance for consultation & you can’t find out anything from anyone here simply because no one knows. Some day before long we expect to pick up a Chicago or St. Louis paper & find announced that someone of whom we never dreamed is appointed Colonel of our regiment. Well, go ahead with the old arrangement. Perhaps they think there is no hereafter but I guess they will find that there is a—-well, I don’t like to mention it but if there ain’t, there ought to be for these damned miserable politicians who control the army matters. I have enlisted 6 men in this town & now have 101 men plump. I am trying to get rid of some of my worst ones & going to try and fill their places with new ones.
From your accounts, Baby May is some pumpkin & as smart as the best of them. I hope and pray that her health may continue good and that she may live to cheer us in our declining years & that your health may continue good enough to take care of her without injury to yourself. How I wish you could get rid of that old standing pain in the side of yours. Has the little Baby May got any teeth yet? I fear trouble when she comes to cut them. I write so often I don’t give a chance for anything to happen between times so I have no news to write.
I am occupying a room about 8 by 16 & have Sam and George Spalding, our Orderly Sergeant, occupying it with me. We have a two-story bed. I sleep above & they below. They have a shelf that turns out to make their bed wide enough. We have a stove & window, 2 cane seat chairs, a clock, water pail, wash dish, looking glass and all the accoutrements for living. Sam gets up every morning before I do, blacks my boots, builds a fire & sweeps the room—keeps everything in order just like a woman. Looks after all the little things. I pay him $5 per month & relieve him from all guard duty. I had rather give him $10 than not to have him. Jim [Prindle] is now in my room fixing the arrangements of his new section. He is promoted to 2nd Sergeant which gives him a new section & makes him Left Guide of the Company. I like my new Orderly first rate. He makes them walk the chalk & saves me a good deal of trouble. He is also a first rate writer & a good fellow withall.
We are now pretty well officered. Jim Kelly makes the poorest officer I have. He is as willful and obstinate as the devil & is not satisfied with anything. After electing the new Lieut., there was several promotions & he was as mad as a March hare because I did not make a sergeant of him. He has never filled a corporal’s place as he ought to & I never shall make a sergeant of him until he does what is set down & is as sure as if it was graven on stone.
How does Old [James] Grimes get along? I have just found out how he got along so well with the boys. There was some of them in my room last evening & confessed that he used to keep bottles of liquor in his tent & fill their bottles & the Batavia Boys used to have free run to his cellar & they say there was a keg of brandy & a large demijohn of wine & that he said when they were gone, there was more where it came from. I wish I had known it when I was there. I used to know that he drinker himself but that he made a walking liquor shop of himself I never mistrusted. You ought to have seen him at St. Louis. He looked like a little Bantam rooster among shanghais with his little bob-tailed coat. Oh Chricke!
Yours lovingly, — Don C.
Letter 15
Headquarters 52nd Regt. Ill. Vols.
Stewartsville, Mo.
January 5, 1862
My Dear Wife,
I have not received a line from you dated since the 30th day of December. We have no mails here now oftener than once in 2 or 3 days. We have not had a mail since the 1st, But one went down to St. Joe night before last & one of our boys went down after the mail & there has been no train back since & here I am in my room waiting & [ ing] without anyone’s from home. I have written you 2 or 3 letters since I heard from you. One of them has lain in the office here 2 or 3 days waiting for a mail train to come along. In my next to the last one I wrote I sent the sorrowful news of the death of little Frankie Foote. How lonesome must be their home now used to having 3 little ones to cheer their happy home, now in one short week reduced to one. You must not think it strange at times if you don’t get a letter for weeks at a time for the rebels along the line of this road are as thick as mosquitoes in August and as cowardly for they always run when Union troops get within hailing distance of them & oftener run on the merest rumor of approaching troops. We have got so we don’t expect to have any fights or even skirmishes as long as we stay here. We now get up in the morning & eat, loaf around until noon, & then eat, loaf around until night, then eat, them loaf & then go to bed. We go a scouting perhaps 2 or 3 times a week for fodder &c.
Last evening just at dar it commenced snowing & now the snow is about a foot deep & not a cutter [sleigh] in the whole country. Oh for one of E. C. N. & Co. cutters, the black ponies, 2 good buffalo [robes] & my wife and Baby May. But no use in wishing. That is played out. Here I am & where are you? I can in my mind’s eye picture out you sitting in a chair at the melodeon in your cozy sitting room with. baby May in the old rocking chair propped up with pillows—her little eyes bunged out, hands a going to keep time with the music, hollering Dad, Dad. She may be sick but I always look on the bright side of everything & calculate that trouble comes fast enough without help from me. I have written so often & so much lately that I can’t think of anything to write. Only that all the Brindles are well as also your humble servant, — Don Carlos [Newton]
I should not have written today but got a chance to send this by a Mr. Beverly of Elgin who was going through Batavia & the mails being so uncertain, I thought I would let you know that I was well & doing well tough & hearty as I ever was in my life. If I am always as well as now, I shall get along. You write that I was sometimes carless of my health but I believe there are few men who put in more days in a year than your respected correspondent. Why don’t some of the shop boys write me? I have not heard from anyone in Batavia but you, only once from Father, and once from Gammon’s. Tell Father to stir up the boys & remind them of their duty. My office is now full of boys & I can’t think of anything more to write. Let me hear from you as often as convenient.
Direct your next letter to Capt. D. C. Newton, Co. D, Stewartsville, Dekalb county, Mo.
Letter 16
Co. D, 52nd Regt. Ill. Vols.
Stewartsville, MO
January 8th 1862
My dear Wife,
Here we are yet. I am sitting in the headquarters waiting for a train to go to St. Joe on. I have been all day making out my pay rolls & am going down to have them approved. Your last letter spoke of giving part of the cake to Albert & the rest of the Boys. This was the first intimation I had ever had. I supposed of course it was all for me & consequently locked it all up & have eat but little of it. I will attend to distributing it among the boys at my first leisure. Had I known about it, I would have had a New Years dinner for the boys out of it but the time is past for that & they will have to imagine it is holiday. All the boys are well. Legore [Prindle] is growing like a weed & is as fat & rugged as a bear. Jase [Jason Prindle] is ditto. Your Father never enjoyed himself better in the world than now. He is Captain of the Police Guard and makes them walk the chalk. He also has general oversight of all the stock taken from the seceshers & confiscated. We have taken nearly all we can find in a space of 20 miles around this place and have trotted in nearly all the seceshers we could find or hear of & made them take the oath, We have trailed in & sworn nearly 300 of them.
We shall have out our [news]paper in a few days & then I will send you one containing the oath and the names of all the yaller trousers gentry. I went out about ½ mile from town & arrested one last night. His name was Breckinridge & is a 2nd cousin of the late Vice President. He had said he would die before he would take the oath & that no federal soldier should enter his yard for he would shoot him before he entered. I took 6 boys up & very quietly surrounded the house & then went to the front door and knocked. He come to the door & acted as if he was taken completely by surprise. I stepped right in before he had time to shut the door & politely informed the gentleman that I wanted him to go to town with me. He said he would as soon as he could change his clothes & invited me into his sitting room. Then he wanted to go into another room and get his clothes. I very politely informed the gentleman that I would go with him but he concluded to send his wife & changed his clothes there. Then he kissed wis wife & children & bade them all goodbye. I could hardly keep from laughing. He was as tame as a chicken. Well I took him down to the Captain’s office & stepped out for a minute & when I come back, he had taken the oath & was talking as glib as you please. So the darned cowards go—bluster and brag what they will do & then when we go to have them do it, they are as peaceable as kittens & never done a wrong thing in their lives. We have got so we each & everyone of us think we can whip a ton of them.
I am better acquainted in a circuit of 10 miles around this place than I am in the same distance around Batavia—especially with the secesh. We have trotted ion nearly all the old heads & made them take the oath or sent them to St. Joe for trial when we could prove anything against them. We have got two splendid 2 & 3 year-old Durham heifers—one pure white. Ask Father what they would be worth if I should send them home. They are as nice as those we generally see at fairs & large size.
I am very much gratified to hear that Baby May is improving and growing so finely. I am anticipating a good deal of comfort with her when I come home. I should like to come home about as well as anything in the world. I am not homesick in the least but fond thoughts of the dear ones at home come stealing over me during a great many of my leisure hours & it seems as if my wife & Baby never seemed so dear to me as now. I suppose distance lends enchantment to the view. Sitting here in this far off country I can appreciate the many favors granted me by my friends better than I ever could at home. My kind old Father & my Mother—God bless her. Sisters & brothers seem nearer and dearer than ever before. I can now see & appreciate the feelings of brother Orrin in his wanderings over this God forsaken country. I find on looking at my watch that it is after 12 o’clock—time honest people were abed and no train yet. It should have been here at 7. I suppose these secesh devils have tore up the track somewhere above here & that I may be compelled to sit here waiting all night for go I must on the first train. My candle is nearly burned out & here I sit still writing. You, I suppose, are home in your own happy home abed and fast asleep dreaming perhaps of me. well dream on. Don’t I wish this accursed war was over with and peace & prosperity restored to our once happy land & I at home with you but no such happy lot for me yet. I am bound to see the end. I want in after years to have the satisfaction of knowing that I contributed my might towards flogging the miserable rebels. Won’t I feel proud of it in my old age. They can’t kill me& I calculate if ever I get a chance to give them fits (I am some on fits). I could write more but my candle is giving out & I think this is enough for once, don’t you?
I have heard nothing more from Elisha but hope & pray that Lucy may be spared to him. I may learn something at St. Joe of Beach. If so, I will write you from there. Kiss baby for me, Give my love to all the rest. Tell Jane I should like to hear from her & also Helen.
Your loving husband, — D. C. N.
Letter 17
Co. D, 52nd Regt. Ill. Vols.
Stewartsville, MO
January 11, 1862
My dear wife,
Yours of the 6th came to hand last evening. I am very much delighted to hear that baby May is so healthy and improves so fast. Can’t you get another likeness of her taken on iron & sent to me. I wrote you a short line from St. Joe yesterday & that will answer your appeal for the present to join me. I should be most happy to have you come as you very well know & should Lucy recover which I very much doubt from the letter I saw from Elisha yesterday & we should remain here, I will send for you. But the way the thing looks now, we shall leave here soon—within 3 weeks at least & you would them have to stay at Beach’s for 2 long months before you could go up to Nebraska. That would be a great deal more lonely for you than it is to stay where you are without seeing me. If we stay here, I will either come after you or send. If we go from here, I think you had better stay at Batavia until warm weather sets in & so that you can come comfortable. You have but little idea how much trouble it would be for you to come here with your baby, not being able to carry her a rod yourself, & the weather so cold as it is. On one or two places on this road you have to walk from a third to a half mile down banks & up again where bridges are burnt or broke down. There is hardly a day that the trains run through without more or less interruption.
There is a funeral here this afternoon of an old Revolutionary 1812 Soldier & our boys are burying him with the honors of war. All of both companies are out except the sick, the guard, and myself. I had to stay at headquarters & take the command and let Capt. Bowen go. Legore [Prindle] says he has written you & has received no reply. I don’t know what to do about Latham. I have been compelled to give another man his office. I held it for him until the 1st of January & I count that is pretty well for a man who never was in camp a day. It has given him four months pay amounting to nearly $65 for not one day’s service. If not here soon, I shall be compelled to register him as a deserter. I hate to do this against one of my old friends & neighbors. It is a bad name to hand down to posterity—a deserter from U. S. Service.
Sunday morning and one of the bitterest ones you ever saw. We are sitting on our room cracking hickory buts and eating apples, telling stories and some of us wishing we were at home around our happy firesides, chatting with our dearly beloved wives and children. Oh for one day at home, but alas, that can’t be did here. We are here and here we have got to stay.
I had a letter from Col. Preston last evening. He says he still expects to be our Colonel & I rather think he will be too. We have also received intimation from Springfield saying that we should get new guns soon. If so, we shall either go down to Ft. Leavenworth or be ordered back to St. Louis & down into the country around Rolla or to Cairo. If we go to Ft. Leavenworth, we shall go into Jim Lane’s Brigade probably. We are greatly I hopes of going back to St. Louis & down the river to New Orleans. I want to see the world & shall never have a better chance than to let Uncle Sam pay me expenses around. I gave this morning one of the large pound cakes to Jim [Prindle] & told him to invite in the boys, Jase, & Legore, and your Father & have a feast, and I also gave one to Albert & told him to imagine that it was Christmas & that he was eating his Christmas dinner. I sent Father a day or two since a copy of the Proclamation issued by Capt. Bowen & I will send you a copy of our new paper. We shall get it out Wednesday.
I have a very fine boarding place & the woman makes the best bread and biscuits I ever ate in my life. I tell her I have a great mind to have you come on just to learn how to make bread but also you are not healthy & this is an enemy country. I send you a specimen of our printing. Write the address in a very plain hand so then can make no mistake in sending them. Many of our letters got the 32 and the 42 Regt. I don’t think they can make any mistake about this.
Lovingly yours, — Don
Letter 18
Co. D, 52nd Regt. Ill. Vols.
Stewartsville, MO.
January 13, 1862
My dear little wife,
I received this morning another letter from Elisha [Foote]. He reports Lucy as improving slightly. He says that she has had 2 sinking spells & that she was in most excruciating pain the night before. That he is nearly worn-out & altogether he is having about as much trouble as he can bear. The baby he reports as being perfectly healthy & as not having taken the disease as yet. He says it is an awful disease & one that children rarely recover from. The poor fellow is nearly broken-hearted & wants that I should come up there to see them. I really wish it was so I could but a man might just as well be in state prison as here for all the privileges he can get in the line of furloughs. From the tone of his letter, I think Lucy is far from being out of danger yet. He says that they have had to swab her throat 4 times in 24 hours with nitrate of silver (a very painful operation he says) to keep the false membrane from growing across her throat. We are all well & hoping for the best & praying that Lucy may be spared to cheer Elisha’s declining years & also that the baby may grow and flourish.
I want you to have Father box up a lot of those old magazines & papers up in the garret of our house & Father’s & put those two pistols in it & forward to me by express. The boys will pay the express charges for the sake of having the books to read & they are of no earthly use where they are. Have him fill a candle box or one larger & if Ed does not charge more than $1.50, send them on if he does send by freight. You must wait patiently until it is decided whether Lucy recovers or not. I still think it very doubtful.
I wrote you yesterday. Consequently I have no news to write. I received your last letter on the 12th in the evening & it was mailed on the 10th. That is the quickest a letter has ever come to our company. Yours lovingly, — Don C.
We expect to get our pay this week but may be disappointed as we were last week. —D. C. N.
Letter 19
Co. D, 52nd Regt. Ill. Vols.
Stewartsville, MO
January 16, 1862
My Dear Wife,
We leave here this day for Cairo & I shall mail this at Quincy to you. So you see we are to be once more on the soil of Illinois & where you can hear from me more direct than here. We have had no mail from the East since Saturday & I get somewhat anxious sometimes & want to get on a railroad where they ain’t tearing it up all the time. The 12th Wisconsin went through here today going to Fort Leavenworth to go down with Lane’s Expedition where we wanted to go. Now we may go down the river on the Great Expedition which will be a great deal more glorious or we may lay a year in Cairo—who knows? I don’t. After laying around camp so long you better believe we pine for something to do & the longer we lay here the madder we get until we could whip our weight in wild colts.
Well, farewell Old Stewartsville. Farewell blue-faced, shad-bellied, lantern-jawed, copperrus-breeded, God forsaken Missourians. Joy attend them all their days if they only keep the oath. If they don’t, well if the Lord don’t take care of them, Uncle Sam will.
Direct to Cairo next. Goodnight, — Don
[in pencil]
Friday, we are now 20 miles west of Palmyra. Stopped at a bridge they are repairing. We have come through in cattle cars without fire in them. Thermometer at zero this morning. We left Stewartsville at 4 yesterday & now it is one o’clock & you better believe we are tired and the prospect is that we shall have to march 20 miles tonight before we sleep. A pretty prospect! Ain’t you glad you didn’t come to St. Joe? I am, if you ain’t.
Saturday morn at Quincy. Well, my dear wife, here we are again on free soil. Thank God. We got here last night about 10 o’clock after a weary march through the snow of 11 miles. Over 100 men of the regiment gave out on the way & laid down & said they could go no farther. I hurried through & sent back for my stragglers. I have got them all through now & am nearly tired out. We rode 24 hours in a cattle car without fire or anything else. Oh a soldier’s life is a jolly one you know. You ought to hear the boys cheer when they struck free soil again. Just as soon as we struck free soil we stopped & gave 3 cheers as tired as we was. ¹
I am well & will write you from Cairo all the particulars. Yours lovingly, — Don
¹ The men in the 52nd Illinois marched from Palmyra, Missouri, along the railroad track through the snow to the Mississippi River opposite Quincy, and then crossed the river on the ice. They were initially housed in every available building until the following day when they were moved to the town’s Concert Hall where they remained until January 19, 1862. [Source: “A Chance to Leave my Carcass on the Field of Battle…” Thesis by Todd Theiste, 2010]
Next set of Capt. Newton Letters: I Shall Never Die on the Battlefield
Cpt. Don Carlos Newton, 52nd Illinois 