Wheeler, Lysander (fl. 1837-1903) to his sister Martha
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07460.024 Author/Creator: Wheeler, Lysander (fl. 1837-1903) Place Written: Gallatin, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 April 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 21 x 25.5 cm. Order a Copy
Writes that he would like to hire Welly (his nephew Wellington Spohn) at five cents a day to help with the harvest. Reports that rebels are camped nearby and that he is anxious toget rid of them. Discusses the feeling of brotherhood amongst the soldiers even though some regiments, such as the 79th Ohio are not necessarily liked. Writes that while commanding a post, a negro informed them that some rebels were cutting down telegraph poles. As a result, General Paine sent out six companies from the 70th Indiana and all of the mounted regimental scouts. Discusses another rebel raid in Kentucky where canons were shot at a train and ruined the engine. The rebels also set fire to the wooden cars of the train and paroled the train engineer. Closes the letter by writing that although he misses his family, he refuses to get homesick because thousands of soldiers have died of homesickness alone, including some from his own company.
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.
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