Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Boys in Blue: Diary Entry, Pvt. Abner W Foreman, 7th Ill. Inf. Co. D

Two days after Abraham Lincoln’s death in Washington D.C., Pvt. Abner W. Foreman of the 7^th Illinois Infantry Company D “received the disturbing news” of the President’s death and wrote the following in his diary:

Beaufort, NC April 17, Monday

The darkest day in the annals of our country. Just received the disturbing news that Abraham Lincoln has been assassinated. The numerous ships here in the harbor have the stars & stripes at haf mast as a token of National grief. The countenance of every union man is the very picture of grief. It seems to the me the darkest day I ever Saw. Wo be unto traitors is the but determined expression of all soldiers here

Boys In Blue: Diary Entry, Pvt. James W Ferguson, 10th Ill. Inf. Co. G

Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865 and died the next day at 7:22 a.m. Word immediately spread about the President’s death, but the information wasn’t always accurate. This diary entry from two days after the event in WashingtonD.C.by Pvt. James W Ferguson of the 10^th Illinois Infantry, Company G is an example of how information transfer became a game of “telephone.” The basic facts are correct, but some of the details are skewed.

Monday April 17..1865

All is quite today, nothing farther in reguar to Jonsons surrender—-but the terebal news has reached us of the ontimely death of our President Abraham Lincoln. he was assasionated when at the theater the assasian Shot him through the head. as he was getting up to leave at 10 oclock and Pm and lived till 10 oclock Am and died, the likewise brook into Secretary Seward house and pearced him in several places and his Sun served in the same manner, the think Seward will recover but his sun is not expected to recover, the assasians is not found yet

Letters from the Boys In Blue: General Grant had no political aspirations

Ulysses S. Grant was building momentum in the Civil War, having won victories in April 1862 at Shiloh and earlier in 1863 at Vicksburg and Chattanooga. As a result of his military victories, General Grant’s political star was starting to brighten, although he did not realize it at the time. In December 1863, Barnabus Burns, who was the chairman of the “War Democrats” in Ohio, sent Grant a letter asking to present the general’s name as a presidential candidate at the Democratic Convention. You’ll find General Grant’s December 17, 1863 response below:

Chattanooga Tennessee,

December 17^th 1863,

B. Burns, Esq.

Chairman Dem. Cen. Com.

Dear Sir:

Your letter of the 7^th inst. asking if you will be at liberty to use my name before the Convention of the “War Democracy”, as candidate for the office of the Presidency is just received. – The question astonishes me. I do not know of anything I have ever done or said that would indicate that I could be a candidate for any office whatever within the gift of the people. I shall continue to do my duty, to the best of my ability, so long as permitted to remain in the Army, supporting whatever Administration may be in power, in their endeavor to suppress the rebellion and maintain National Unity, and never desert it because my vote, if I had one, might have been cast for different candidates.

Nothing likely to happen would pain me so much as to see my name used in connection with a political office. I am not a candidate for any office nor for favors from any party. Let us succeed in crushing the rebellion, in the shortest possible time, and I will be content with whatever credit may then be given me, feeling assured that a just public will award all that is due.

Your letter I take to be private. Mine is also private. I wish to avoid notoriety as far as possible, and above all things desire to be spared the pain of seeing my name mixed with politics. Do not therefore publish this letter but wherever, and by whatever party, you hear my name mentioned in connection with the candidacy for any office say that you know from me direct that I am not “in the field,” and cannot allow my name to be used before any convention.

I am, with great respect,

Your obt. Svt.

U.S. Grant

Soon after this letter was sent, Grant would be promoted to Lieutenant General and given command of the entire Union army. Four and a half years later, in late 1868, the Confederacy was no more, President Lincoln had been assassinated, and the general who stated “Nothing likely to happen would pain me so much as to see my name used in connection with a political office” was elected to his first of two terms as the eighteenth President of the United States.

Letters from Home: Eleanor “Ella” Gordon to her father Samuel

On the first of October in 1863, Private Samuel Gordon of the 118^th Illinois Infantry Company C sat in a camp near Berwick Bay, LA and wrote to his wife Permilia. Ten days later, Permilia wrote back to Samuel and in the letter included an additional letter from their eldest daughter Ella, who had just turned eleven years old.

Hamilton

Oct 11 1863

dear papa

I thought I would write you a letter. I have put those apples you spoke of up for you. I keep your room in order. I go to school to Miss Safford I like her verry much I wish you would come home very much

From your daughter

Ella Gordon

Samuel Gordon would muster out of the Union Army on October 1, 1865 in Baton Rouge, LA and return home to Hamilton, IL. Ella grew up and would go by her given name, Eleanor. Eleanor Elizabeth Gordon became a teacher, a minister in the Unitarian Church, and a leader of the Suffragette movement in Iowa.

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

Letters Home: Hiram Roberts to his young daughter Nellie

Hiram P Roberts, Chaplain, HQ, 84^th Illinois Infantry, sent this letter on Christmas Day in 1863 to his five year old daughter, Nellie.

Papa’s Log Cabin

Whiteside Tenn

Christmas Day

Darling Nellie

Your little letter came to me the other day & I was glad to get it. Tell Emma I thank her for writing it for you. I suppose you are having a good time to day. Did Kris Kringle bring you anything last night? I don’t believe he comes down this way at all for I haven’t heard anything about him. I haven’t anything to send you for a Christmas present so I will put in 25 cents & you may get what you want or what mama thinks is best.

Be a good girl & mind mamma & I shall love you all the better.

A Merry Christmas to you from

Papa

Boys in Blue: General Ulysses S. Grant

Between the Mexican War and the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant fell on hard times. He eventually ended up near St. Louis, MO on a small piece of land owned by his wife Julia’s family and in 1856, built their home called Hardscrabble. Their stay at Hardscrabble was short lived and at the beginning of 1857 the couple moved in with Julia’s family in nearby White Haven.

The rest of 1857 was not kind to Grant financially. He had been trying his hand at farming, but had not been successful. He would end up writing his father seeking a loan of five hundred dollars, but it does not appear that the loan was ever given. By the end of 1857, Grant was desperate enough that he would pawn his gold watch for twenty two dollars.

The pawn ticket, shown above reads:

St.Louis, Dec 23^rd 1857

I this day consign to J.S. Freligh, at my own risk from loss or damage, by thieves or fire, to sell on commission, price not limited, 1 Gold Hunting Detached Lever & Gold chain on which Freligh has advanced Twenty two Dollars. And I hereby fully authorize and empower said Freligh to sell at public or private sale the above mentioned property to pay said advance—if the same is not paid to said Freligh, or these conditions renewed by paying charges, on or before Jan 23/58

U.S. Grant

Letters Home: H.L. Brush to his son Charles

In our last post, 1st Lt. William Brush wrote to his brother Charles. Towards the beginning of the letter, written on March 28^th, 1863, he mentions, “…my health was never better in the world.”

In this letter, written just two weeks later, from the Brush brothers’ father H.L. to Charles, H.L. writes of William, “…I fear he is very sick.” The whole of H.L.’s letter to Charles is below. What will become of young William Brush?

Ottawa Ap^l 10^th / 63

Dear Charles

Yours 5^th & 6^th was rec^d todays mail

and we were very glad to hear that you was well, sorry the

old mare has taken to her tricks & ran away, if she comes up

this way I will advertise her, Same mail brot letter from

William of 9^th They had been out on drill & he was taken with

a chill, & hot at same time, he had two days before wrote

that he had a cold, says he was very hoarse, and to day

I rec^d dispatch that he was sick typhoid fever, & to come

up tonights train as the Regmt. was under marching

orders to leave tomorrow, I am all ready now 11 P.M to take

the 1 oclk train , I fear he is very sick but know nothing

further, he is very ambitious, has had a great deal to do, &

much to trouble him, he writes that he would not have

had it happened for any thing, but so it is, will write you

from Chicago—I think that the Negro Regmts, will be

ordered into the most sickly part of the country, and if only

about one in about ten are good for any thing, they will prove very

unreliable, always brot up to obey & fear their masters, they

will be very likely to fly from their bayonets, I would not

accept a Brig. Gen^l Commission in such a Regmt with the

Presidents salary, but men differ. Capt. Bill Strawn

told me yesterday he had a notion to get one, & that Collins

had proposed to join him, but he remarked that the depart-

ment was overun with applications from officers for higher

positions in such Regimts, Luke is with us & can manage

things very well I think, I hope to be able to bring William

down on a cot, but fear I cannot for several weeks.

The Officers except for Collins were unwilling to leave, so soon

as many of the men are sick and absent, whereas the

65^th Scotch Regmt. are all in readiness but Colⁿ Moon

writes that through wire pulling they have been

favored, he says that Gen^l Ammen is an Ohioan & is

prejudiced against the 104^th because I suppose they

fought well at Hartsville, while the Ohio Boys run

without discharging their guns, As mother will finish

this letter and I must go to the cars I will say good night

don’t send up any money, use it for yourself I do

not want it, we have planted out quite a large patch

of Wilsons Albany Seedling Strawberries they are not bad to take

with Sugar & Cream, wish we could send you some, but

of Wilsons Albany Seedling Strawberries they are not bad to take

I suppose the South produces other as desirable fruits

which will not mature up here north—Affty yr Father

H. L. Brush

Letters to home: 1^st Lt. William Brush to his brother Charles

1^st Lt. William Brush was mustered into the army on August 27^th, 1862 in Ottawa, IL, and served in the 104^th Illinois Infantry. On March 28^th, 1863 he sent this letter to his brother Charles.

Camp Douglas Chicago March 28^th / 63

Dear Brother

Yours of the 24^th just rec’d with much pleasure. I had begun to think that you had not rec’d my letter becaus I did not hear from you. my health never was better in the world. I have had the entire command of the Company every since we came to Chicago with the exception of six days that I was down home.

Col. Moore is in command of or Reg’t. in spite of all that man or any other man can do. (before the Col. came back he was at work with all of his might. One of the boys told me that he hurd him say that if he could get Brush out that that would be one big stone out of the road. that he would try his best to do so, before that I always tried to do my best to pleas him and do what was right, but since I have sworn that if I ever got an other good chance at him I would improve the chance. he has told lies to the Co. about me and to the Commissioned Officers. I will pay him back in som day in his own coin. Now just look at it it he would never of been Capt. of a Company if I had not gon in with him when I went to LaSalle to see him he had ben recruiting two week’s and only had seven names on his roll. I went in with him and went to recruiting we raised 1.41 men and we gave him the office of Capt. I took the next best. now just becaus I was sick he tried to take the advantage of me. he went around with a paper pretended to have the nomber of days that I was sick ~~on it~~ he said that I was of from duty 96 days. now that is a down up lie. I lost 6-7 days in all, even if I had ben sick all of the time it is nothing to him. I write this to show you what kind of man he is. When the Coln came back I went to him and we had a long talk with him. I told him what I was a going to do if he did not back water. I told the Col. what I cold sware to. ~~The~~ Moore told me that he would not take a word from him that he would sock it to him if he did not keep cool. if he brings charges against him he is agoing to bring me in as a witness. if I ever com up on that case I will do it justic (now mark what I say) I have my friends in the Co. & he has his he has some that he has told that he would promote providing he got me out. Clark is 2d Lieut. You spoke to me about calling on our folks in the City I have called upon Mrs Patterson Lucy is at her house I took dinner at her house last Sunday she is a very fine lady. Have not called upon Mr Dickerson’s family or Mr Gould will try and go and see Hattie next monday. I am detailed as officer of the guard to morrow. I com on duty every fift day that is not very bad. I dont think that we will stay in this camp a great while we have had orders to prepair to march but when we have to march is another thing. I am afraid that ~~they~~ we will be ordered in to Kentucky I hope not becaus marching is plaid out. I hope we will go to memphis.

I dont think it is best for an Officer to wride a very showey horse. if that old mare is good ~~tuff~~ tough critter I would keep her. not try to get a high headed gay horse one that is all the time dancing & prancin around. That is one thing that the Rebels blow so much about they say that our officers dress up in dark blue cloths and lots of brass buttons & straps, and fine horses, for them to shoot at. They say that they make a good mark. Now we lost our A, A, A, G at the Battle of Hartsville he was a son of Judy Golson of Cincinnatio very welthy he rode a black horse. and had on a dark over coat. They took him for Coln Moore. he was shot with two balls. I recd a letter from home to day the folks are all well. I have bought a coat paid 30.$ for it a pair of Boots 10.$ Poncho 8.$ I tell you it takes the money if in good style you wanted to know how much my board costs I have a darkey we have a mess in camp my board cost from 2,50 to 300 a week according to how many cans of oysters I buy

Write often

From your Affectly Bro

WE Brush

[Across top p. 4] Give my best respects to Ralph [upside down]