Letters Home: Knowlton Howard Chandler to his mother

Captain Knowlton Howard Chandler of the 19th Illinois Infantry Company F sent this letter home to his mother in Chandlerville, IL. One of the highlights of the letter is Captain Chandler’s description of how he was heating his tent. The whole letter can be found below:

Camp Anderson, Oct 24^th  1861

My Dear Mother

                        In haste I seat myself to answer your favor  which reached me on the 21^st.  I was glad to here from you, &  hope you will write often.  I was sorry that the mony I sent you would not pass. I have changed the bill here for the Gold, without loss.  it is concidered to be the best mony in the state, & I supposed it would be good in Illinois. to day is a great day with us.  it is Pay day.  our Company are  to be Paid this afternoon which will prevent my  writing much.  we have been at this place 3 or 4 weeks but will probably leave here   tomorro  such a rest   we have not taken before since our start from Chicago, we are going about 12 miles nearer the Enemy the only fault we find is that we cannot go much nearer to them, I still enjoy myself, & have good health.  the weather is getting quite cool, but I have made my tent comfortable by a putting into use my mecanical engenuity. I dug a trench through my tent & under the curtain covered it with stone & dirt procured a joint of stove pipe & set it up at the end of the trench on the out side, Built a fire in the Tent, at the other end of the trench & I can tell you that it warms the tent  finely  I would like to have you look in upon us some cool evening & see how comfortable we are.  the word has just come for us to go &  draw our mony so I will Bid you good By for the present. I   send you  1 $5⁰⁰  Bill United States Mony which is good as the gold.  I hope you will get it. do not fail to ask for more when ever you want any give love to all Friends. Please tell Emma that I have written to the Dr. Lippincott three or Four times, but have receive no answer.    tell her to mention the fact when she writes to him.  give my love to her, tell her that I often think of the good meals & the Pronunciation of (Euphratise)

                                                    From your son with much love

                                                                                 K H Chandler

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