Lewis M. Rose
Content of the Letter
Lewis’ letter was to his wife, Margaret, talking about things he was concerned about back home while he was in the war. His concerns about things going on back home included missing his mother’s birthday and getting his daughter, Alice, a pair of heavy shoes for the cold snow. The military tactics that he included they were doing was going to Jackson to scare the rebels. He also includes words about him leaving Memphis on November 26th and that they were on the railroad “running to Columbus.” That was also the way that they got their supplies at the time when he wrote his letter.
Transcription
In Camp on the
y yacnapatahaga [Yocona] River
Miss Dec 17th 62[.]
Dear wife and children
as I have nothing to do
this evening and there is
a chance of sending letters
in the morning to Oxford
I will send you a few lines
to let you know that we are
still alive and in good spirits[.]
I wrote to you on last Sunday[.]
I was suffering with a gether
ing [gathering] in my ear at that time[.]
on monday evening it began
to run[.] it is nearly well now[.]
our company was called out on
picket this morning and will
not be back until in the morn
ing[.] I did not like to be out
after night said so I staid [stayed] at
y yacnapatahaga [Yocona] River
Miss Dec 17th 62[.]
Dear wife and children
as I have nothing to do
this evening and there is
a chance of sending letters
in the morning to Oxford
I will send you a few lines
to let you know that we are
still alive and in good spirits[.]
I wrote to you on last Sunday[.]
I was suffering with a gether
ing [gathering] in my ear at that time[.]
on monday evening it began
to run[.] it is nearly well now[.]
our company was called out on
picket this morning and will
not be back until in the morn
ing[.] I did not like to be out
after night said so I staid [stayed] at
home and it is a little
lonesome to[too] for the mess is all
gone excepting myself[.] we are
still in camp where we was[were]
when I last wrote why we are
staying here[.] I cannot tell we
thought that we were going to
Jackson to scare the rebels there[.]
some say that we will stay
here for some time[.] congress is
about to settle the war[.] we get
no news here we have not had
a mail since we left Memphis
on the 26th of Nov[.] what is the matter
I cannot tell[.] I hope the cause will
Soon be removed for I want
to hear from home[.] Mag I sold
my comfort before we left
Memphis for one dollar and twenty
five cents[.] I thought that would
be better than to send it home[.]
Mag[,] if Alice is going to school[,]
get her a heavy pair of shoes
lonesome to[too] for the mess is all
gone excepting myself[.] we are
still in camp where we was[were]
when I last wrote why we are
staying here[.] I cannot tell we
thought that we were going to
Jackson to scare the rebels there[.]
some say that we will stay
here for some time[.] congress is
about to settle the war[.] we get
no news here we have not had
a mail since we left Memphis
on the 26th of Nov[.] what is the matter
I cannot tell[.] I hope the cause will
Soon be removed for I want
to hear from home[.] Mag I sold
my comfort before we left
Memphis for one dollar and twenty
five cents[.] I thought that would
be better than to send it home[.]
Mag[,] if Alice is going to school[,]
get her a heavy pair of shoes
them that I got her is to[o] light
but I expect that you have
already done that[.] yesterday
I believe was Flora’s birth
day[.] how I wish that I could see
her walking[.] I hope that
it will not be long until
this rebellion is crushed
and all of us be permitted
to returning in peace[.] I don[‘]t
write now to any one[,] only
you and I don[‘]t know whether
you get them or not[.] our mail
should come by the way of
Columbus Sky[.] we are on the
railroad running to Colum[-]
Bus and it is in opperation [operation]
now that is the way that
we get our supplies now[.]
letters might come and go
in a few days if every
thing was right I expect
that They come to Memphis
and there they stay
unless they send them
back to Columbus and
start them right[.] I would
like to know whether Jim
was ever brought back[.]
I guess that it will not be
long until we get mail
and then we can hear all the
news[.] I expect that you have
wrote often the other day I
wrote[.] I was so hurried that
I had not time to close I expect
that Henry and Steward is
both writing to day[.] they
went of[f] well this morning
we talk every day how we
are a going to eat biscuit
and cob[b]ler pies when we get
home nothing more at present
write soon[.] your affectionate
husband[,] L M Rose
Scans for the letters were provided by the Plainfield-Guildford Township Public Library.
unless they send them
back to Columbus and
start them right[.] I would
like to know whether Jim
was ever brought back[.]
I guess that it will not be
long until we get mail
and then we can hear all the
news[.] I expect that you have
wrote often the other day I
wrote[.] I was so hurried that
I had not time to close I expect
that Henry and Steward is
both writing to day[.] they
went of[f] well this morning
we talk every day how we
are a going to eat biscuit
and cob[b]ler pies when we get
home nothing more at present
write soon[.] your affectionate
husband[,] L M Rose
Scans for the letters were provided by the Plainfield-Guildford Township Public Library.
Personal Information
Lewis M. Rose was born on December 28th, 1829 in Mercer County, Kentucky. Lewis married Margaret A. Kelly (Hays) on February 22, 1855(Margaret became remarried to James Hays). They had two children; Alice Rose Dooley and William McKeown Rose. Lewis also had three commonly known siblings; Thomas Rose, Sarah Rose Van Nice, and Henry C. Rose. Their parents were Lewis Alexander Rose and Flora Vannice Rose. Lewis M Rose’s life ended on January 30, 1863.
Lewis M. Rose (1830 - 1863) - Find A Grave Memorial. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.
Military Career
Lewis M. Rose enrolled on August 15th 1862. He was ranked in and out as a private in the Union and died of disease at Fort Fowler in Tennessee on January 30th, 1863 at the age of 33. Lewis was in Company G of the 99th Regiment Indiana Infantry.The 99th infantry was organized on September 1st, 1862 at South Bend. In this infantry about 152 total soldiers died of disease, including Lewis, and forty-five were killed or mortally wounded.
Sources
http://www.civilwarindex.com/armyin/99th_in_infantry.html
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8467068
https://www.ancestry.com/
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8467068
https://www.ancestry.com/