Wheeler, Lysander (fl. 1837-1903) to his parents and sister
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07460.002 Author/Creator: Wheeler, Lysander (fl. 1837-1903) Place Written: Shelbyville, [Tennessee] Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 October 1862 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 15.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Wheeler's regiment has marched 33 miles and many of the men have discarded their belongings along the way. He writes that they pass slaves along the road at almost every house and although a few volunteered to join the Union soldiers, they later backed out. Wheeler describes the slaves as well brought up and states that they support the Union. He is wary of any news of movements and feels that he can't rely on anything that is said anymore.
Lysander Wheeler, a farmer from Sycamore, Illinois, enlisted in the Union Army on August 7, 1862 as a private. He was mustered into Company C of the 105th Illinois infantry and later promoted to sergeant. Wheeler was mustered out on June 7, 1865.
[draft]
Sunday
Oct 5/62
Shelbyville
Dear Parents and Sister
I thought I would write you a few lines this morning while I had time We are encamped near Shelbyville 33 South east from Louisville as Davis wrote you from Louisville of course I need not mention anything of our trip to their. We are well and all right of course I have not seen Aunt Martha yet the next day after getting here [inserted: Today] We [group] up our line of march our Regiment with 4 or 5 others and Cavalry and Artillery [struck: and] marched 16 or 17 miles marching nearly all night got up yesterday morning started about 11 oclock A M and [2] went 15 or 17 miles farther making about 33 miles in all carrying knapsacks &c yesterday Lots of the boys pulled off their drawers and threw them away and the road all along was strewn with shirts vests, hankerchiefs &c all I saw picked [inserted: up] was a pocket inkstand I picked up myself and I gave that away lots would have thrown knapsacks away if allowed to, tho they belong to Uncle Sam they weren't allowed to. We do not know whether we march to day or not the first night 50 of our company fell behind but got in most of them the next day, but Darius and [inserted: I] kept up without any trouble Darius does not carry his knapsack so I put my blanket in his that saved [3] me [strikeout] [inserted: some carrying] and sometimes he helps me carry my gun. Each man has his own gun to carry 40 rounds of secesh pills 3 day provisions and Canteen of water but the provisions grow lighter and so does the water occasionally this is a nice Country we are marching through [struck: to day] [inserted: now], down east style, good dwellings and there is lots of slaves here withal, at most every house the niggers are out to the road with the white women and some [inserted: white] men we ask the niggers all sorts of questions a good many say Massa is in the Sesession Army two or 3 volunteered to go with [inserted: us] went a little ways and backed out they are all about like [illegible] and [illegible] has as regards their manner of talking they are well brought up [4] for niggers every thing looks as we've seen southern life represented the nigger women with a big white hankerchief on their heads and it is fun to see 10 or a dozen nigger children dancing around in the door yard with as little clothes on as possible they seem to be happy as clams they all say they are [struck: all] for the union, there has been skirmishing between here and Louisville but a few days back two unionists were shot last night 3 of the 10 [of them] (with us) were out foraging and were taken by the Secesh We have had fresh pork shot by our [illegible], and this morning some of our boys in our company brought us in a big calf and turkeys &c and some brought in preserves We cooked our meat on the coals. 6 of our boys went out this morning and brought in 3 big horses expecting to have them to carry our baggage but they wont allow us to use them it is said for that purpose I understand some of the field officers want horses and are going to take them for their own use and pay the boys something for them. We were told at Louisville that they [inserted: were] fighting 15 miles from there in this direction but we hav'nt found it yet [strikeout] expected to be at it before this we are guarding an artillery train and know nothing about the big army it was told us we were to reinforce before this time nothing that is said can be relied upon here anymore that at [bower] the commander of this brigade is Ward Please write soon and dirct as on the little Piece of paper
Lysander
[envelope]
a letter from Lysander when in the service
D A Spohn Esq
Sycamore, De Kalb
Ill.
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