December 14, 1864 As 1864 draws to a close, Abbott is back in Nashville, Tennessee. This was an important time for the city, as the Battle of Nashville took place from December 15-16, 1864. Abbott was definitely present for this, as the letter was written in Nashville and he alludes to the upcoming conflict. He tells his family that he is sure they have heard about the military operations that are occurring at Nashville and that it is evident that Confederate general Hood and his troops are making preparations “to take the city,” though Abbott emphasizes that the Union troops are there to defend it. The letter is dated before the battle, so what Abbott is describing are things leading up to it. He says that they arrived on December 1st and have since been building fortifications, doing guard duty, “laying around, freezing and fighting.” Indeed, this is consistent with reports that “From the 1st-14th, Thomas made preparations for the Battle of Nashville.” Clearly, everyone was expecting something big to erupt.. During the Battle of Nashville, the Union was led by George Thomas while the Confederates had John Bell Hood at the helm. The Union outnumbered the Confederates, with 55,000 soldiers vs. 30,000 soldiers respectively. Thomas set out with the intent of completely destroying Hood’s army while Hood’s mission revolved around “a last desperate attempt to force Major General William T. Sherman’s army of out Georgia” in which he would lead his Army of the Tennessee north towards Nashville. This really did end up becoming a very significant battle. With its defeat, the Confederate Army of the Tennessee pretty much became a nonissue. Thomas had carefully laid out plans for the battle and they were executed masterfully. Historian Thomas R. Hay has remarked, “The once powerful army of Tennessee was all but a mere memory.” The interesting thing about this is the fact that the Confederates had suffered two rather enormous defeats just two weeks earlier, at Spring Hill and Franklin. This third battle in that series seems to have been a crucial component to their eventual downfall. By the end of the battle, there were 2,140 Union casualties and 4,462 Confederate casualties. This battle did not benefit the Confederate cause. Following this defeat, Hood then resigned his command from the Confederate army. This battle is one of the more well-known ones that Abbott was actually present for. He has alluded to other major parts of the war but more often than not wasn’t personally involved. It’s really interesting reading his account of the pre-battle preparations and comparing it with information found on the Civil War Trust website. They line up almost perfectly, with both describing steps being taken to ready the Union troops for the battle. This letter is a perfect example of how personal narratives and accounts help to better understand historical events. Works Cited The Civil War Trust: Saving America’s Civil War Battlefields. “The Battle of Nashville.” Accessed December 11, 2013. http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/nashville.html. Cooling, B. Franklin, The Civil War Trust: Saving America’s Civil War Battlefields. “The Decisive Battle of Nashville.” Accessed December 11, 2013. http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/nashville/nashville-history-articles/nashvillecooling.html. Photo Credit: Son of the South. "Battle of Nashville Tennessee, Civil War Harper's Weekly, January 14, 1865." Accessed December 13, 2013. http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1865/january/battle-nashville.htm.
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July 12, 1863 Today’s letter is a short one from Mark to Roe. Mark essentially catches Roe up to speed on what has been happening with the regiment. They’ve moved locations (still in Tennessee) since he had last written, to a place called “Estelle Springs Station” (which Mark could very well have meant “Estill Springs”) four miles from their previous encampment. A change of scenery had to have been nice but was it frustrating to go only a short distance? Or, soldiers might have just been happy to do something different at all. Their objective while camped at the station was to unload and guard the supplies being sent down on the trains. Being on a railroad line was important during the war. Indeed, the Civil War was the first war where railroads played a major role. With the rapid building of the industry in the years preceding the war, 22,000 miles of track in the Northern states and 9,500 miles in the South had a great impact on the war. The North had a significant advantage as its railroads were far more extensive and better maintained than the Confederate lines. Mark also tells Roe about a fellow soldier who had been in poor health and had subsequently been given a discharge furlough to head home. Mark occasionally mentions “furloughs” throughout the collection. Furloughs are a leave from military duty and must be given by a superior officer. When the furloughed soldier left camp, he had to carry papers describing his appearance, regiment and the length of his leave. If a soldier failed to return on the appointed date, he would be deemed a deserter. In the case Abbott mentions, the word “discharge” would seem to indicate that the soldier was being dismissed from the army due to his poor health. Additionally, the size of the company has diminished enough so that only one head cook was needed to feed the group. Based on the letters, it would seem that this was mainly due to illnesses and men either dying from those or being sent home rather than deaths during battles. In fact, it was far more common for men to die from a disease than one would think. “For every three soldiers killed in battle, five more died of disease.” Medicine and hygiene practices were not as advanced yet, meaning that many treatable diseases were not handled correctly. It’s an interesting thing to think about. Of course, many lost their lives while fighting but it’s harder to grapple with the fact that many others died from what are now treatable diseases. For more information regarding Civil War casualties, you can visit the Civil War Trust’s page focused on the topic. Works Cited/Photo Credit: The Civil War Trust: Saving America’s Civil War Battlefields. “Civil War Casualties: The Cost of War: Killed, Wounded, Captured, and Missing. Accessed December 4, 2013. http://www.civilwar.org/education/civil-war-casualties.html. The Civil War Trust: Saving America’s Civil War Battlefields. “Railroads of the Confederacy.” Accessed December 4, 2013. http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/warfare-and-logistics/logistics/railroads.html The Civil War Trust: Saving America’s Civil War Battlefields. “Glossary of Civil War Terms: Improve Your Civil War Vocabulary.” Accessed December 4, 2013. http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/glossary/glossary.html# June 13, 1863
In this letter to home, Mark declares that his duties are easy and that he has “nothing at all to do more than one third of the time” and spends “the most of the other two thirds laying in the shade reading and writing letters!” This might sound strange that soldiers out on the front would have so much down time. But it was actually common during the Civil War. According to the Civil War Trust’s website, during nice weather, “soldiers could expect to be engaged in battle one day out of 30.” That means for most of a month, they would be in camp passing the time. They did the usual drill practices but otherwise were on their own in finding things to amuse themselves. What would it feel like to have signed up for war and then not be fighting continuously for the cause? Motivated to join the military based on patriotism soldiers found that life in the army was not as exciting as they had anticipated. Mark also mentions to his family the Vicksburg campaign he talked about in his June 12 letter to Roe as well as some skirmish taking place at a Fort Hudson. This was in reference to the Siege of Port Hudson, which saw Union Major General Nathaniel P. Banks moving his army against the Confederates at Port Hudson while Major General Ulysses S. Grant simultaneously was moving against Vicksburg. At the time of this letter, the siege had been going on for almost a month. After a siege of forty-eight days, the Confederates at Port Hudson surrendered once news of the Union’s victory at Vicksburg became known. This victory was highly beneficial to the Union because it allowed it to navigate the Mississippi River from its beginning down to New Orleans. The rest of the letter is more lighthearted, with Mark advising one of his sisters about how to interact with suitors and expressing his undying gratitude for the care package his family had recently sent. He also admits that he hopes Roe recovers soon as he finds life is much better when Roe is in camp. He says that while the other boys in camp are great company, “they cannot fill a brothers place.” I think this indicates how close the family, or at the very least, the brothers were. The constant care packages show that the family wanted to make sure that the boys were provided for and had some reminders of home to carry with them. Works Cited: National Park Service: The American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP). “Port Hudson.” Accessed December 3, 2013. http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/la010.htm. Helm, Gary, The Civil War Trust: Saving America’s Civil War Battlefields. “Life of the Civil War Soldier in Camp.” Last modified 2013. http://www.civilwar.org/hallowed-ground-magazine/winter-2013/life-of-the-civil-war-soldier-camp.html May 28, 1863
The second letter Abbott wrote today was also to a sister, Becca. He tells her how he has been hoping and hoping for a letter from her but to no avail. He reminds her that just because their sister Lydia has been writing him good letters doesn’t mean that Becca doesn’t have to as well. Abbott says that, “I never feel as though the letters from home are complete unless there is something in it from each and every one of you.” Again, this is a strong indication of just how close this family was. It made Mark far happier when he was receiving correspondence from everyone individually, instead of just one letter from the entire family. He also praises her for her abilities to successfully wash clothes. Like his struggles with cooking food, Abbott admits that he has come to “regard washing day with a wholesome dread. And I feel as if I’d gained a great victory when I hang out a shirt or pair of drawers made clean by my own washing.” He also acknowledges that he can now sympathize with the women and that it’s no wonder Becca hasn’t had time to write if she has been doing the washing. Abbott rejoices in the fact that he no longer has to drill, as it is terribly boring and he much prefers laying in the shade. He seemed to have a great sense of humor and a good outlook on life. Reading through his letters, it feels like you really get to know him, as you see just about every mood possible throughout the course of the war. Overall though, the impression I’ve gotten of Abbott is one of this young guy who, despite being in less than ideal circumstances, is trying to make the best out of what he has. This letter is perhaps one of my favorites of the entire collection. While Abbott is definitely being entirely serious about his struggles with domestic tasks, you can tell that he has a sense of humor and that he actually is learning new skills that he had before taken for granted. His chatting about drilling and picnics remind the reader that he was still a very young man. I think that’s easy to forget in the larger context of the letters because Abbott seems older than his years and really has had to grow up quickly and hold himself accountable. But this letter strays from all of the talk about battles, politics and the Confederacy. It’s simply a letter from a brother to his sister, which is quite wonderful. July 23, 1863 Today’s letter introduces us to John Abbott, someone we’ve only read about thus far. Isaac Mark Abbott, who had been trying to contact his other brother for the past few months finally receives a response. John writes a lengthy letter to his brother and we learn that he too had been waiting for a response from Mark and was becoming increasingly worried as more and more time passed with no word. It’s interesting that both of them were trying to contact one another and had been anxiously checking the mail in the hopes of hearing from the other. John is at Camp Bowers Hill, Virginia in quite a different part of the war than his brothers. He makes references to the Army of the Potomac whereas Mark and Roe really only talk about the Army of the Tennessee. The postal service was a bit spotty during the war. Sending and receiving mail between soldier and family/friends was easy enough when a regiment was camped out in one spot for awhile. It was another matter entirely when the regiment began to move around at a greater frequency. Perhaps this is why the letters between Mark and John weren’t reaching each other. We know that Mark had been sending letters to John and not receiving answers but we also know that his company moved around a number of times over the course of a few months. But the lack of communication was worrying. Indeed, John remarks towards the end of the letter that though he is well aware that very few men from one regiment are actually wounded or killed in a battle, he worries because “the certainty that you [Mark] stood as good a chance to be hurt as anyone” was a most concerning thought. John also comments on an event he calls, “Morgan’s Raid,” and how well the citizens of Indiana had responded to it. It turns out that this raid was actually fairly significant thought it is not something that I personally have ever learned about. While not a major battle, it is definitely an interesting event. In July 1863, General Braxton Bragg, leader of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, ordered that a raid be sent through Indiana and Ohio “to draw Union cavalry north into Kentucky.” In fact, Morgan’s cavalry raid was “the largest military campaign conducted in Indiana” during the war. I thought that this was significant since the Abbotts hail from Indiana. John tells Mark how he heard that the people of Indiana joined together. A Confederate spy, Thomas Hines, had been sent ahead of the raiders to see whether any Indiana citizens were Confederate sympathizers and discovered that most were not. Something John says also indicates that no matter what party they belonged to, the people of Indiana banded together to fend off the raiders: “Butternuts and Radicals forgot their color, Democrats and Republicans forgot all their creed except the ‘Union’ and all joined in driving the invaders from the best state in the U.S…”. This just seemed to be a pretty interesting bit of the Civil War that many might not know about and it’s cool that John Abbott mentions it in his letter. The image included is that of a broadside sent to Indiana citizens from Indiana governor Oliver P. Morton. He informs the men of the state that there has been an enemy invasion and implores them to leave their normal occupations for a time being to defend the state. I think it's interesting to include because it helps highlight what John is talking about when he infers how patriotic Indiana citizens are. The full-sized image can be seen here. Works Cited: Burke, Kathryn. National Postal Museum. “Letter Writing in America.” Accessed December 4, 2013. http://postalmuseum.si.edu/letterwriting/lw04.html Geib, George W (Butler University). Indiana Historical Bureau. “Morgan’s Raid.” Last Modified August 2, 2010. Accessed December 4, 2013. www.in.gov/history/3993.htm (morgan’s raid) Balewski, Zuzanna and Maya Fraser. Indiana Public Media. “The Invasion of Indiana: Morgan’s Raid and the Battle of Corydon.” Accessed December 4, 2013. http://indianapublicmedia.org/momentofindianahistory/invasion-indiana-morgans-raid-battle-corydon/ Photo Credit: Indiana Historical Bureau. "Morgan's Raid." Accessed December 13, 2013. http://www.in.gov/history/3993.htm. September 5, 1862 Indianapolis, Indiana This letter is the first in the Isaac Mark Abbott collection and marks the beginning of Abbott’s life as a Union soldier during the American Civil War. On this day he writes to his family, telling them that he has officially been accepted to serve Uncle Sam. At this point, Abbott is at Camp Joe Reynolds, in Indianapolis. Throughout the war, Abbott moves frequently with his regiment, with most of his time being spent in Tennessee. In the letter he sounds very upbeat and ready to tell his family about his life, as he puts it, “soldiering.” While at camp thus far, he observes that it is a nice place to live in and that he has been to two meetings and a Grand Ball, in which he partnered with a fellow soldier. He estimates that around 2,000 men are in camp but expects one of the regiments, the 96th, to be leaving in the next few days. This optimism, while not necessarily as strong during the duration of the war, never completely dies out, despite some less than ideal conditions. After reading through the entire collection, it is interesting to track his mood and how it fluctuates as he becomes more involved in battles and other war-related situations. Abbott closes the letter by expressing his wish to come home on Sunday and that he will write again soon. This shows a bit of homesickness, something that frequently crops up in his later letters. He also reminds his family to address their letters to him at Camp Joe Reynolds in Indianapolis. Abbott is extremely fond of receiving correspondence from home and at the end of nearly all his letters, gently urges his family and friends to write to him as frequently as possible. The emphasis on making sure where to send the letters becomes a theme throughout the collection, as Abbott often mentions that he or his brothers have not received letters from the family, possibly due to incorrect addresses. *Note: Throughout the collection, Isaac Mark Abbott refers to himself in a few different ways: Mark, I.M. Abbott, and Ike, for example. Photo Credit: Burke, Kathryn, National Postal Museum. "Letter Writing in America: Civil War Letters." Accessed December 17, 2013. http://postalmuseum.si.edu/letterwriting/lw04.html#Scott. April 24, 1863
Mark writes to his sister Lydia. He is unfortunately rather ill at the present time, though he is thankful that it has only been for five days, whereas others in the regiment hadn’t been healthy for three or four months. Here is an example of his optimism. It had to be miserable being sick while camping in unfamiliar territory and in all sorts of weather. But Mark is quick to acknowledge that things could be worse for him. One man from their regiment had to go the hospital and died only two days later. He does acknowledge, however, that he is feeling the loneliest he ever has thus far. At the time of writing this letter, Mark had been in the army for roughly a year and a half. The constant moving around caused wear and tear on both the bodies and minds of the soldiers. I’m sure it was common for troops to feel dejected and out of sorts. His regiment marched out a few days previously, leaving the ill Mark behind. It seemed like they were definitely going to engage in some sort of battle as they took quite a bit of ammunition with them and had another week’s worth of rations sent out to them the night before. Mark wasn’t entirely thrilled that he wasn’t able to go, as he heard news that Confederate troops were “thick all around there.” I’m sure it was frustrating to have been sitting around, waiting for something to happen, and then miss out on the chance to actually take part in the action. He also tells her he hopes she is making arrangements to attend school over the summer, reminding her that their brother John will pay for her tuition for six months, after which Mark and Roe will pick up the remaining expenses. Mark promises her that as long as she wants to go to school, her three brothers will cover the costs. Such a gift must have been amazing for Lydia. Indeed, it again shows the unity of this family. The brothers were all off fighting around the country yet made sure that their sister was able to further her education and achieve various goals. November 2, 1862 It appears that the regiment has relocated to Indianapolis, this time at a Camp Dumont, and no one is quite certain how long they will remain there. That also is a fairly common element throughout Abbott’s letters. He never seems quite sure about how long his regiment will remain in one spot or how often they will be called to march out to battle. There must have been quite a bit of down time and waiting around within the camps. Of course, there were daily activities, such as drill practices, but those certainly would not occupy large spaces during the day. Indeed, Abbott comments on his daily life, which does not appear to be particularly stimulating. His description of his daily routine hints at the monotony of camp life. The letter is brief, something he apologizes for, as he does not have much to say. He asks the family to write lengthy responses to give him something to do during the day, as he has to pass his time by writing and reading letters. This then, is why he emphasizes continually the importance of letters. Without them, he simply would not have much to do in his free time. However, one positive aspect he notes is that the regiment is not in danger of starving, as they have quite a lot of food at their disposal. This is somewhat surprising to hear, as one would think that it would be hard to transport large amounts of quality food as the regiment moved about the state. Indeed, perhaps Abbott’s rations were atypical. The average Union soldier would receive one pound of hardtack (hard bread), ¾ pound of salt pork, a little bit of fresh meat, and some coffee, sugar and salt rations. Abbott, on the other hand, lists a variety of foods he has available, such as bacon, beef, potatoes, beans, rice, and molasses. Seeing as this letter was written in 1862, perhaps food was a little more abundant towards the beginning of the war and as it progressed, began to move towards the typical rations. Those interested in learning more about Civil War dining experiences can go here, where one can learn about both the Union and Confederate food situation. He also mentions that Sunday church services are held, though only in fair weather. This seems to indicate that the regiment tried to maintain ordinary, everyday practices, despite being out in the field. Works Cited/Photo Credit: Helm, Gary. The Civil War Trust: Saving America's Civil War Battlefields, "Life of the Civil War Soldier in Camp: Disease, Hunger, Death, and Boredom." Last modified 2013. Accessed December 2, 2013. http://www.civilwar.org/hallowed-ground-magazine/winter-2013/life-of-the-civil-war-soldier-camp.html. November 23, 1862
Today’s letter offers some very interesting insight into how Mark views the war at this point. He has been with the regiment for almost three months now and has been able to gain a more thorough understanding of the conflict. The family must have asked about when he thought the end of the war was coming because he states the belief that, in six months’ time, he will be home and the war over. While acknowledging that this could be a foolish hope, he still remains very optimistic in his assertion. One reason is because the Governor had just made a speech upon returning from Washington, saying that “our prospect of success now is much brighter than it has been since the war began.” Knowing today how much longer the war was going to last, this letter is a little sad. It seems like the people at the time really had no idea about the extent of the war and just how contentious the issues would prove to be. On a lighter note, he talks happily about the turkey dinner that was provided for the regiment. They were also due to participate in a dress parade later in the day. Mark is confident that the regiment will look “pretty good” as they were getting drilled enough to make a good impression. In fact, after one of their drill practices through town, there was an article in the paper the next day praising them on their “fine appearance.” Little compliments such as these had to have been morale boosters for the soldiers. Any little bit of optimism would more than likely have benefited them and kept their spirits up a little better. He again implores his family to write soon. Letters definitely had to have been one of the main ways that soldiers kept their sanity and spirits up. In times of war, it is terribly hard to remain upbeat, being so far from home and not knowing exactly what is going to happen next. Receiving these little bits of home must have been life savers on some occasions. September 11, 1862 Lebanon Junction, Kentucky Abbott has reached his regiment at Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. At this point, the letters take a different turn, now focusing on Abbott’s daily life as a solider out in the field. He first describes his extensive journey to reach Lebanon Junction, during which he took a train as transportation. This letter introduces readers to the presence of the Confederates, who have burnt a bridge along the Salt River, slowing down Abbott’s trip considerably. There are now thousands of men rebuilding and guarding the bridge area. It’s strange to think that these opposing sides were essentially right on top of each other during most of the war. Today, warfare has changed enough where, sometimes, soldiers may never actually see the enemy they are fighting. Upon finally reaching the regiment, Abbott believes he is in the “most desolate looking country that I ever got into.” Water is scarce and not particularly fresh or good to drink. These conditions were probably not the most ideal to live in. There was already the stress simply of being in the war. Having to battle the elements and master basic survival skills more than likely was an extra burden. We also hear briefly about Roe, one of Abbott’s brothers, who is also in the regiment. He is described as looking “the best he has for a long time.” It’s interesting that this family had multiple sons fighting during the Civil War. The worry was even more intensified as even if the family received a letter, mail was bit slower then, meaning that that was not a definite indication that the boys were safe. To close, Abbott anticipates not receiving his uniform for another six weeks and that he must stop writing as he is on guard duty soon. Can you imagine today’s soldiers heading into battle without their uniforms? Photo Credit: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/e/v/a/Lynne-Evans/PHOTO/0007photo.html |
AuthorTessa Wakefield, student intern at the Concordia College Archives, assembled these blog entries in 2013-2014 for the Isaac Mark Abbott Civil War Letters Collection. The posts summarize the content of the letters, interpret Abbott's experiences and place them in the larger context of the Civil War. Archives
March 2014
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