Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Boys In Blue: Pvt. William Alphonso McLain

At the age of 15, William Alphonso McLain joined the Union Army for a one hundred day stint in the 9^th Illinois Infantry. The age listed on his papers? Twenty-two. Three years later, William mustered into the Army for another one hundred day tour, this time with the 135^th Illinois Infantry. The age listed on his papers? A more accurate eighteen.

Boys In Blue: 1st Lt. Michael F Swartzcope, 31st Illinois Infantry, Company A

Michael F. Swartzcope of Illinois stood six-foot-five and a half and at 41 years of age he mustered into the 31^st Illinois Infantry as a Private. Census records tell us that Michael worked as both a cooper and a surveyor before the war began. Over six foot tall and a surveyor…sound familiar? By the end of the war, Michael was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and Quartermaster. Michael’s Lincolnesque life continued after the war; Lincoln was a lawyer, and Swartzcope followed a law career as well, serving as a judge in Jackson County, IL from 1865 to 1869. Judge Swartzcope passed away on March 22, 1901 at the age of 80 at the Home for Disabled Veterans in Danville, IL.

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: Charles Brush to his parents following William’s death

Previously, we posted letters from William Brush to Charles and subsequently, the letters from the boys’ father H.L. to Charles regarding William’s sickness and then, death. In the letter below, Charles writes to H.L. saying, “…little did I think when I bid him good by at the depot last fall that it was for the last time on earth.” The full letter can be read below:

H(ea)d Q(uarter)s 53^rd Ill Vol

Memphis April 18^th /63

My dear Father and Mother,

Your kind but

dreadfully sad letter ~~letter~~ of the 14^th inst was received about noon today. I

would not write to night but I know that in Your sad berevement that You are

anxious to hear from me. You only, who alike with me are afflicted can immagine

with what surprise and anguish I read the sad news of Dear Williams death, and

even now I can hardly realize the fact but little did I think when I bid him good by

at the depot last fall that it was for the last time on earth. and although I was

not permitted to see and be with him in his last hours, I thank God that You was

there and that he did not die among strangers alone and I pray God that we may

all bear up under this load of grief and affliction and be reconciled to the will of

~~him~~ our Heavenly Father. O, I would have given any and evry thing if I could have

seen him before he was consigned to his last resting place, but it is now too late,

it is hard for me to think of, but a kind providence ordered that I should be here,

His will be done. I am content to stay where I am but on Your accounts it would

give me pleasure to spend a few day at home but is seems impossible I hope and

trust that You Dear Father and Mother will not give way in this hour of affliction.

I fear it will make Mother sick and almost dread to see the next letter. May God in

his mercy be with You all to keep and strengthen You My friends in the Regt (they

are not a few) many of them friends and acquaintances of Will) deeply

sympathise with me in this berevement , but I can not write more now. I am

quite well. love to all of You. it rains very hard to night. write soon and often.

Affclly Your Son,

Chas. H. Brush