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Letters from the Civil War - Matthias Davis to Jane Van Kirk
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The letters that are in this blue are letters in the possession of Bev Petersen.

The letters that are in this red are letters in the possession of Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Virginia

Septempber the 21st 1861

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Dear wife I again have the opportunity of informing you that I am well at presant and hoping these lines may find you enjoying the same We left Indianapolis last Saturday night and got to Cincinnati Sunday morning and we left there that evening and took the Marietta road and went to Parkersburg and we got there Monday at noon and ther we took the Cars and came to Webster and we got there Tuesday morning at 8 oclock and Wednesday at 1 oclock we left there and went within 2 miles of Philippi and the

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Thursday we came to Laurel Mountain which was 18 miles and yesterday we marced 16 miles and Now we are at Beverly and we do not know where we will go when we leave but the talk is we will leave tomorrow morning at 5 oclock but we do not believe it although it may be true I would like to be at home to see you I want you to Pray for my return And all of the Praying people that you know to Pray for me I understand but not by the officers that every soldier has 40 days in each year to go home to see his friends in if that be the case

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true I think that I will have a chance to come home and and see you but I do not think we will have to stay long becaus the enemy is retreating all the time towards Richmond and when they all get there we can get through I think at one battle and I think that will decide it one way of the other and I do not suffer much uneasynefs about the matter over here about 18 or 20 miles at Cheat mountain there 60 of our me killed and took 40 priosioners and the rest of a bout 3,000 run

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I sent my hat to Aarons I want you to go see all of my kindred just as often as you can I want you to writ to Mother and go and see her as soon as you can now this is my request and if you can not get anybody to take you if you will let them know it some of them will com and take you down well I have no more room and I will have to quit give my respects to all of our kindred and a large portion of your self writ as soon as you get this direct to me in the card of capt M. C. Welsh Co D 7 regt ind vols no more but remain yours until death Matthias Davis to Jane Davis and all of the kindred so good bye

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Virginia

Septempber the 21st 1861

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Dear wife I again have the opportunity of informing you that I am well at presant and hoping these lines may find you enjoying the same We left Indianapolis last Saturday night and got to Cincinnati Sunday morning and we left there that evening and took the Marietta road and went to Parkersburg and we got there Monday at noon and ther we took the Cars and came to Webster and we got there Tuesday morning at 8 oclock and Wednesday at 1 oclock we left there and went within 2 miles of Philippi and the

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Thursday we came to Laurel Mountain which was 18 miles and yesterday we marced 16 miles and Now we are at Beverly and we do not know where we will go when we leave but the talk is we will leave tomorrow morning at 5 oclock but we do not believe it although it may be true I would like to be at home to see you I want you to Pray for my return And all of the Praying people that you know to Pray for me I understand but not by the officers that every soldier has 40 days in each year to go home to see his friends in if that be the case

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true I think that I will have a chance to come home and and see you but I do not think we will have to stay long becaus the enemy is retreating all the time towards Richmond and when they all get there we can get through I think at one battle and I think that will decide it one way of the other and I do not suffer much uneasynefs about the matter over here about 18 or 20 miles at Cheat mountain there 60 of our me killed and took 40 priosioners and the rest of a bout 3,000 run

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I sent my hat to Aarons I want you to go see all of my kindred just as often as you can I want you to writ to Mother and go and see her as soon as you can now this is my request and if you can not get anybody to take you if you will let them know it some of them will com and take you down well I have no more room and I will have to quit give my respects to all of our kindred and a large portion of your self writ as soon as you get this direct to me in the card of capt M. C. Welsh Co D 7 regt ind vols no more but remain yours until death Matthias Davis to Jane Davis and all of the kindred so good bye

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State of Virginia, Camp Elkwater
November the 23rd 1861

Dear Wife it is with pleasure that I sit down to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well with the exception of a bad cold. I hope these lines may find you in good health. I got a letter from mothers dated Nov. the 13th and they said they had not received no letters from neither your nor me for more than three weeks and they did not know hardly what to think of it. But I have written three or four letters to her but suppose they was misscarried by some means. I do not know whether you
wrote any to her lately or not And if you have not writen to her lately I want you to without delay

I want to write once a week to me and as often as you can to Mother and tell our friends to write to me. If I can get a furlough I am a going to come home a bout christmas or new year but I do not know whether there will be any furlough granted or not
for I never heard any body say any thing about it but I think that I shal try to get one. Our pay master has not come yet
And I do not know whether it would be safe to send money home in a letter or not. But if we get paid off and I have any good chance to send the money home I will send it to you and I expect that I will have plenty of chances to send it home. Jane I would love to see you and Johny better than any body else in this world And I have no doubt that you would love to see me.
I am certain of that part of it.

November the 24 I received your letter last night and I was glad to hear from you, but I was sorry to hear that you was not well. I was also glad to know that you are well provided for . Oh! How I would love to be with you to day. Jane, I know that if I
was there today I would have some good times And I know more than that too. I very well know that if I was there I would have several sweet kisses from those two loved ones that I left behind me. Well Jane we all have fine times here but I am not as
well satisfied as I would be if I was at home with you and Johny. We have commenced building our winter quarters But we are not at work at them today for it is Sunday and it is a snowing and has been all the fore noon so that we cannot work

I am well satisfied that you would do every thing that was in your power to make me happy and comfortable. We heard yesterday evening that the pay master had come but we do not know whether it is true or not but we hope it is true. Col. Millroy
went out to Green brier yesterday so we understood and he reported that there was not a secesh (?) in the camp and he went 8 miles further and he could find none And further more it is reported that we will have to give up our arms to the Virginia
troops and then we will go back to Indianapolis and get other for our selves don't you wish it was true if I could get to come and see you and Johny yes says you and so do I wish it was the case. Well Jane I will have to quit for this time but rememer that I remain your beloved husband until death write soon Matthias Davis to Jane Davis

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Camp Kelly Va

January the 22nd 1862

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Dear Jane I again sit down to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well And sincerily do I hope these lines will find you enjoying the same I have not received a letter from you for several days But I am looking forward for one everyday Well I will have to tell you the dream that I had last night Although it will be not profit either you or me I dreamed that I was at home and in my dream I saw you and johnny as plain as I ever saw you in my life I thought that you and johnny was laying in the bed and johnnys head was

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perfectly wet with swet And I went to the bed and uncovered his head And he raised up and I thougt he had red whiskers on his face but I thought they was tolerable short I awoke and found it to be a mistake I wished that it had been true But it was not true and I could not make it so Well that is all of it We had a false alarm last night or this morning rather and two companies of our regiment went out this morning at 3 oclock companies B and C and found the enemy to be a lot of cows So they came back without a fight I was on guard last night I was guarding the Brigade commisary and that was not hard work for I staid

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in the house We have got into a Brigade at last and I do not like it much either for we are kept a great deal closter now than we used to be And and another thing is too that we do not get to run around over the world like we would if we was a regt to our selves there is no chance for me to come home as long as I am able for duty For I think by the the movements generally that there is a big figt defending And they will want all the help they can get I understand that Gen McClelland says that if he could get the chance to put it off another sixty days he thinks he could settle this war without any more fighting But he will not be allowed that privelige

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I am in tolerable good health At least I am as well as I except to be while I stay in the army To tell the truth I have not been well that is as well as I used to be since the battle at Green Briar But I am able to be on duty pretty near all the time You need not be uneasy about me for I am not atal dangerous I weight 144lbs I suppose I look well enough but I do not feel well at any time I am afraid you will be uneasy about me, but you must not be Well I still feel that my peace is made with my maker I am stil trying to live religeous I never lay down at night without offering up my supplications to Almight God for his goodness and mircies

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that he has extended towards me alalong through the short journey of my life Jane I want you to pray for me that I may return hom safe. I believe that i have penned all my thoughts I have not recieved them things you sent me yet write as soon as this comes to hand I remain yours truly and respectfully while life lasts

Matthias Davis to Jane Davis and friends generally Good bye for the present writ soon

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Camp Kelly

Pattersons Creek Va

January the 25th 1862

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Dear wife I seat myself this morning with pleasure to write you a few lines to imform you that I am very much under te weather this morning But I hope these lines will find you enjoying good health I had a severe cramping last night in my stomack But as it happened we have a man in our bunk that has studied medicine a great deal and has practiced a right smart and he gave me a dose of opium and it eased the pain in a very short time But I fell tolerable sore about the stomache I received your letter yesterday dated the 14 inst I

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was glad to hear from you which I always am But I am sorry to learn that Johnny was sick You did not tell me what was the cause of his finger nail coming off I was also sorry to hear that you was stil suffering with the toothache You wanted to know if I did not recollect giving Will 60 cents to pay Scott I recollect it very well and so does Jim I expect for I know that Jim saw me give it to him You said you did not intend to pay it neither do I want you to pay it You said that old Mat was out to see you again I did not suppose he thought enough of you neither did I suppose he respected me enough to come to see you so often For I wrote a letter near two months a go and he has never

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answered it yet And so the other day it was one day last week I wrote one to Mahala But i hve not had time to get an answer from her yet I expect the reason he did not answer it was that I asked him to buy me an indianruber over coat and I would pay him for it when I got back home But I am glad he did sent it to me for I have about as much as I can carry on a march We have not been paid of yet and I expect we that we will not be paid until the time for the next pay day And if we do not we will then get paid fo four months But i expect you will need it for I allow they will cut my wages down some for staying behind the regt while I was sick And I think that charity begins at home Therefore

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I will send you the money If you think you can spare the money to pay ??? for that corn you may pay it But I do not want to discommode your self to pay it But if you can pay it without doing your self any harm you may It is $3 You told me about that wedding and you said it would surprise me And suprising it was to me I am not certain that I know who Mrs Phebe White is unless it is Seth Whites (?) mother But I know who Beesie (?) is though There was 5 companies went out on a scout last night Col Gavin went along with them and they found a negro and wanted him to tell what he knew about the sesesh and he would not tell And Gavin threatened to hang him and he stil would not tell And they then

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made arrangements to hang him and he then told them of a sesesh artillery man and they went and got him And he says the sesesh came and took four of his horses and he went with them in order to take care of his horses This is his tale about it But we have taken a great many prisoners since we have been in the service We are expecting a battle all the time now and will be very apt to have one before many days The report is that the sesesh is agoing to try to get into Ohio They say if they can not get there they will have to give up the ghost and die But there a great many of them that will die before they get there I will have to quit for this time I feel very weak and do not feel like writing much I expect that I remain your husband while life lasts Matthias Davis to Jane Davis Write soon and oblige yours

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Post Hospital
National Hotel Cumberland, Md
February 25, 1862

Dear wife it is with pleasure that I undertake to write you a few lines to let you know that I am gaining some in health and strength. I hope these lines will find you enjoying good health. I received your letter last sunday dated the 9 inst (?)
and was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well. I sent a letter to the capt. last sunday and told him if he pleased to send me a furlough and money to take me home and back again and then he could take his pay
out of my pay when we was paid off but I do not expect he will do it but I think he ought for I never asked him for a furlough until now although I have been sick
a right smart since we have been out. Well Jane you was saying that nothing in this world would please you better than to see me come home to stay at home. It would please me better than any thing else that I know of and I do not think it will be very long til that time rolls around for I thin the war will soon be over. I think that about two or

three more victories like those lately gained will settle the stomachs of this rebellion and bring them to a lively sense of their duty and obligation to a government that has made them every thing they are (except rebels). You said you wanted me to tell you how I like my shirt and socks and mittens. I like my shirt and socks first rate they could not suit me better And I would like my mittens just as well as any thing else you sent me if they was large enough for me But they are so small that I cannot get

my hands into them at al they will not do me any good whatever But I can sell them likely and if I can't sell them for what they
are worth I will keep them and bring them home with me. You also wanted to know if them apples rotted they did not but they was very good and mellow. You said pap was going to the city sometime in next month and you wanted to send for some things if I had no objections. I have no objections to your sending for what you need But I have objections to your sending for what you dont need. But I think you had better send for

a bed tick if you have any way of getting it filled with feathers And send I want you to send for what you can not do without and you know better what that is than I do. You said Johnny had quit crawling and took to walking altogether. I wish I could be there to see him. Any you also said he had such a bad temper and it done him no good to whip him. You must not whip him too much for that is as bad as to not whip enough. You wanted to know if you had better sell our cow and buy a younger one.
You had better sell her if you can better your self But you had better not sell her til you know where you can get a good young
cow and do not buy one that is under three or four years old and then let her be a mighty good one And then go on and sell the old one. Well I will have to quit for this time. You must be saving of your money. You do not tell me whether you draw any more
from the county or not. I would like to know. This will be my last letter till I get some postage money. I thought I would tell you so you would not be uneasy. I close write soon. I remain your affectionate husband until death.

Matthias Davis to Jane Davis and friends

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Camp Gavin
Springfield, Hampshire Co. Virginia
January the 1st 1862

Dear wife
It is with pleasure that I embrace the present opportunity, of informing you that I am well and I hope these lines will find you the same. We have been expecting an attack here for several days but we have not had it yet, and if all reports are true, I don't think that we will have any more fighting to do at all. The report is that Mason and Slidel, is released and that peace will be made
by the first of March at farthest. And I hope this report is true, but I fear it is false. But I think that peace will made time enough for me to get home to help the people cut their wheat this coming harvest Although I may be mistakened We have been her several days and it is a good place and a nice country comparing it with where we

have been stationed. This is the windiest day that I ever seen to my knowledge. The wind comes very near blowing our tent
over sometimes. The boys all appear well satisfied and they pretend to want to fight but I do not know whether they are in ear-
nest or whether it is pretense But as for my own part I would a little rather this rebellion would be put down without the firing of another gun And to tell the truth about the matter it is not very funny to have the bullets and shells a whistling around
a persons head like they did around my head at the Greenbrier battle but I want it emphatically understood that I was not afraid nor I am not affraid yet and if I have to go into another battle I expect to go into it fearless as regardes being killed For if
I get killed I think my peace is made with my maker. Such thing migt be that I am deceived but I

trust that I am not deceived. I received your letter dated Dec. 22 since I commenced writing. I also got that bunch of hair that come off your head and the curl that was taken from Johnnys head and they look very natural. You said you wanted me to send you a lock of my hair if I could spair it. I can spare it and you shal have it and that too with all my hear. I mean by that that you can have it as free as I ever took a drink of water and that you heart with it. You had ought to have platted that hair of your
that you sent me but it matters not about that for I can plat it. I have plenty of time. I will have to quit writing pretty soon and go on dress parade but I can finish writing to night. Well I have to stop writing butI did not go on dress parade but I went to shoveling gravel to grade our streets with and would rather be on dress parade that to do that.

Well not I am writing by candle light and I can not see the lines. Well tomorrow is the day set apart for general inspection of arms and Knapsacks and clothing and every thing has ato come out as bright and as clean as a new pin and if things dont look just right we will catch a little home made thunder if I am allowed the expression. Jane I want you to keep in good spirits
and pray always without ceasing. You said something about you would like to come out here. I will tell you what is the fact if you had the best chance in the world I would advise you to stay where you are for just as sure as you are born it is the worst place for woman that ever you seen or even thought of. But I was thaken care of as well as if I had been at home. I am well now but I do not know how long I will stay well for these wars does not agree with me very well.

But I think I will get through tolerable well if the war is ended by spring. But I am a little affraid there will be no such good luck as that. But I dont think it will last much longer. Jane I wish it was so that I could be at home with you. I think that I would
know a little better how to stay at home with you that I used to. You used to say a right smart about leaving you on Sunday but
I dont think I will allow you to have that to do if ever I get home again. I dont any other idea only that I will get home safe but if it should be the case that I never get home I want you to remember what you promised me before I left home if you recollect what that was and I suppose you do if you do not let me know in your next letter and I will
tell you. You said you wanted me to get my mineature taken and send to you and if you would rather have my mineature than to have the money let me know and I will get it taken the first chance I have and send it to you and I will get it taken with my knapsack on my back and my gun and accouterments on. But if you would rather have the money and you think it would do more good than the likeness would I will send it to you the fact if you can have the one that you thing will do you the most good. As for my own part I think the money would do you the most food as you have one of my pictures. But it is for you to say which you will have and you shal have it. I have not got them things that you sent me yet but I recon I will get them before a great while. But if I do not get them it will
that much money gone for nothing.

But I think I will get them at least I suffer no great deal of fear a bout them yet. You said that Johnny got sweeter and spunkier every day. don't you think that I wish I was there to see him and you toos. There is nothing that would please me better.
You said that Thomas Herbet was married and so he did not get Mary Williams. Well it is getting late and I will have to bring my
scattering remarks to a close and I expect you think it about time. But I could write all night. No more at present but remain
your true and affectionate husband until death From Matthias Davis to his wife Jane Davis and friends

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March 2 1862

Well I did not get a letter but I will finish this one and put it in the office and when yours comes, I will read it and answer it, as soon as I get some way to pay for it. I under stood last night that we would not be paid til about the middle of this month
and mabe not that soon. For the troops started yesterday on a march leaving their tents and everything they could not carry on their backs. I was the general supposition that they was going to Winchester. I do not feel as well today as I did yesterday. I
(hope) these lines will find you all well. I will have to close for this time. Write soon as I remaine yours affectionatey until death Matthias Davis To Jane Davis

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Letter from John Rafferty in the same collection of letters

Vermillion Ill May 7th 1870

Dear Sister I Received yours in Relation to the note you hold against the estate of Jamison Van Kird. I think it will be the Best and Safest way for you to Send it out and have it filed if it is filed with the Balance of the claims it would stand as a Debt against the Estate and the Estate could not be Settled without its being Paid off but as it not Stands the Estate could be Settled without paying it off you can Send it to any person who you want to attend to it for you. I think I will sell this

Fall let it Bring what it will. I think __ selling it without an order of court and having all the kins to Sign a deed and Save the cost of getting an order. I want to know if I put it up at the highest Bidder and Sell if you will all sign the Deed if not of course
I will have to obtain an order before I can make a title to the purchaser. I want you to See all the Rest of the Interested parties
out there and let me know when you write again. I have writen to Elizabeth and Margret they are willing to sign a deed when Ever I can make a Sale the
failing on any part of any one of the kins to Sign a a Deed would defeat this arrangement of Selling
and I would at last have to obtain an order before I could Sell.
We are all well. Ester got home on Monday Evening all Right told us of her visit amongst you all and the good time she had generally during her visit. Give my Respects to Mr. Tnisler (?) tell him think he had better come out and Buy this place of Jemisons it would make you and him a nice little home.
Yours truly
John Rafferty