MMS 1380 - Askew family Correspondence

Robert Askew Letter

United States of America
Columbia, September 16th, 1861

My Dear Bro.

It is with great pleasure I now set down to send you a few lines to let you know that we are all well here at present. By the blessing of God we are in the enjoyment of good health and strength for which blessing the temporal in their nature we are laid under renewed obligation to praise God, the Giver of all good.

I received your kind letter on Monday Sep 9th and was very glad to hear from you. It seemed to do one good now to read even a letter that is not all war news. The last letter I sent you I deferred in riteing, expecting by delay to send you word that the rebellion would in the mean teim receive its fatal blow. But for some reason that we cannot comprehend at present, our army was defeated. But rest assured that that defeat we experienced at Mannasas has waked up the country to a proper feeling on the subject of the rebellion. We know now fully the work that lays before us and we are shaping our course accordingly. I will send you this letter without delay, tho I do not know but they are fighting at Washington now. We have had no regular dispaches from the Capitol since Thursday night and the last dispach was that the rebels was driving in our pickets. You will bear in mind the pickets is out 3 miles from the main army.

Thair has been a wonderful change in our armys for the better since our defeat. Gen. McClellen, tho a young man, the whole country has full confidence in him, the right man in the right place. He has had a thorough military education and he is a man that fears God and that is as good as an army with bannars. I do not go beyond the truth in telling you that Genl. McClellan has got 200,000, 2 hundred thousand men in and around Washington City. If the rebels attack Washington City, you will hear of the most terrible sacrifice of human life that has ever been recorded since Waterloo. The General is in his saddle nearly night and day and it seems his energy and strength grows with the labour. But I must not say much more of the efficiency of this great and grand army of men till they have been tried. Suffice it to say they have voluntarily taken oath they will die on the spot before they will run. There will be no more Sunday fighting and marching unless they are attacked. Chaplains is appointed into every regiment and the great majority of chaplains is Methodists.

General Fremont is appointed to the command of the grand army in the west. He has about 100,000 men under his command. He has put Misura under Marshall Law and declared all the Negroes free that has taken all America by suprise. But the President of the United States fully indorses his action. I daresay you will have heard of a great battle fought in Misuri where Gen. Lyon and Sigal on our side and McCullough and Price rebel. Our side 8000, rebel 22,000, 22 thousand. Sigal won a glorious victory. Lyon was killed in the early part of the day. Sigal is a Hungarian and a splendid artilerist. He mowed the rebels down like grass. It was reported McCullough was killed, but he was not killed, but his horse and sword was captured. So it appears he was only dismounted. Lyon and Sigal attacked the rebels just at daylight in the morning, captured their pickets and too the rebel camp by surprise. Our side got posesion of the hills on each side of the rebel camp, planted their guns within nise range of them and Lyon with infantry attacked their center. The struggle was very severe but the rebels was driven out of their encampment, all their baggage was captured or destroyed. Our fleet under Gen. Butler and Comodore Stringham bombarded and took 2 forts on the cost of North Carolina, Forts Clark & Hattaras. They took in addition to the forts 750 prisoners and 750 officers. There reason their was so many officers they were holding a court martial in the rebel forts. Our army has gained another victory in western Virginia, Gen. Rosecrans our side and Gen. Floyd, rebel. Our boys marched 17 1/2 miles that day and came upon the rebels in a strong entrenched position at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Gen. Rosecrans held a counsel of war with the officers on his staff and they declared their willingness to give the enemy battle. So they mormed in line of battle and marched up to the enemy's entrenchments and fought them till dark and then laid down on their arms to wait for daylight. But in the darkness of night the rebels sliped away, escaped over Galexey River, burned the bridge and escaped. James' Colonel, Col. Lowe was shot dead in leading his men up, but so tremendous deadly was the volly from our boys that they had only one killed and one wounded. This is in James Regiment. In connection with this letter I will send you a paper that will give you the full particulars. James has got through the second fight without a scratch. During the fight they had 18 killed and 78 wounded. Number engaged, 5000, rebel 5000. The rebels lost all their tents, baggage & horses and 50 head of beef cattle.

I would like to send you news other than war news if I had any to send, but it seems there is nothing, nothing but war. You wished in your last to know about the length of time of enlistment, it is 3 years or during the war, if the war is over in 6 month they get their pay and an honourable discharge and if the war lasts for 6 years it will be all the same. About the pay, that is 13 dollars per month, food and close. Equivilent to £2.12 per month, 2 good suits of uniform per year, 1 good woolen blanket, 1 India rubber blanket lined with cotton, 2 pair of shoes. If they are wounded they get a pension of 8 dollars a month and wounded or not so they get 160 acres of good and land if they behave well in service 100 dollars extra at the end of the service. You will ask where will they get all the land to give. In the first place all the rebel property will be confiscated. Texas alone is 6 times as large as England and without the rebel property there is millions of good land in the territories that the rebels wants so bad for slave territory. But they will not only get none of that, but will ultimately lose all they have and good enough for them. I firmly believe the Lord will smite them with a curse. He will bring the Counsels of the Ungodly Hypocrites to nothing and the Lord will have them [?]. Rest assured dear Bro. There will be a day of reckoning with these rebels for their high handed crimes, murdering private individuals and burning property has been their course.

Uncle and his family is all well and send their kind love to you all.

But the decree has at last been sent forth from the president of the United States. No quarter to rebels in arms. Yesterday I spent a good portion of the day in Camp. Camp Clay has had its name changed to Camp Corwin. 1 regiment of cavelry is all that is in camp here at present. Thousands of troops is moving nearly every day to one point or another. The Col. of this cavelry is a Methodist. His name is Col. Taylor. He was in our Sunday School yesterday, Sunday morning and adressed the school. I think I am not going beyond the truth when I tell you there is thousands of our Church members and ministers gone to the war. 2 ministers right here that I know are become captains. As for my part, I have plenty of work at present, but have no idea that it will last long. Business of all kinds is nearly suspended. If needs be I am ready to take up arms to defend my home, my civil & religous liberty. Perhaps you will think it strange for a minister of the Gospel to go to the field of battle. But necessity know no law, the rebels has drivin us to this last alternative and we are determined. By the grace of God and a strong arm to put down rebellion. Our trust is in God who made heaven & earth. Our cause is both just & holy, and we are relying on the old maxim now that God helps them that helps themselves. The rebels so far have have been very successful by theft & cunning, by lies & deceit & by all dishonourable means that it is possible for depraved man to practice, but the decree has at last gone forth, the hand writeing is on the wall and the so called Southren Confederacy is weighted in the balance and found wanting. 20 millions of free men will spill their hearts blood ere the contest will end. We are waiting every hour for the click of the telegraph to anounce the Year of Jubilee to the fettered Negro. Genl. C. Freemont has opened the door in the West and it will soon become general.

I have not had a letter from James for 2 weeks, but he was very well when I last heard from him. James' Company is armed with the English Enfield Rifle. They are certain death 1/2 a mile. I will give you a little knowledge of military matters. A regiment is devided into ten, these are called companys. Regiments are numbered with figures, 1,2,3, etc. James is in the 12th Ohio. Companys is numbered by letter, A, B, C, etc. Each Company contains 100 men, rank and file. James is in Company A, 12th Ohio Regiment. Matthew went into Camp last Monday, Col. McCook, 1st Ohio Regiment. James' Regiment was 500 miles away and marching through the mountains on the track of Floyd and had Matthew started for James, more than ten to one he would have been murdred before he could have reached him. Matthew is in camp at Dayton, Ohio, 60 miles from here and I do not know what company he belongs for I have not had a letter from him yet. He will undoubtedly belong to Co. A, as they are all picked men for that Company.

The P.O. you spoke of not understanding in your letter is Post Office. Thair are hundred of things crowding in my mind just now I would like to send you, but my letter is full. Tell our dear mother she has not a son who will be shot in the back. We will stand for truth and right as the beaten anvil to the stroke. Give our kindest love to all our friends at Dalton. Everyone hold up our hands by prayer that we may prevail. I send you the envelope of James last letter. The South said they could whip our boys 5 to 1, but it has always been the reverse. I shall send you papers every week. My wife joins with me in love to you all.

Yours in Christ,
Robt. Askew

Robert, Matthew, and James Askew's letters to their sister Hannah, living in England. Robert who was a clergyman who did not join the service, explains the mood of the country in the Fall of 1861; Matthew who served in Co.D, 1st O.V.I. describes his experiences during the Battle of Stones River; James who was in Co.A, 12th O.V.I. writes about camp life in the Kanawha Valley and his brief period as a prisoner.

Matthew Askew Letter

Convelesent Camp near Nashville, Tennessee
January the 21st, 1863

Dear Brother,

I now take the pleasher of wrighting you a few lines. I hope thay will find you in good health when this reaches you. Dear Brother, I am sorry to informe you that I am in the place that I am. I first must informe you of my Christmas and New Year. Christmas Day we was called on picket, the 26th we marched in the direction of Nowlinsville Pike, 27th we fought all day and drove the rebbels 8 milles to Triune, 16 milles west of Murfresbroo, 28 we marched towards the battle ground, 29th some fighting done, 30th the Battle comenced with the advance, hard fighting before dark, 31st comenced the Battle of Distruction. Our Divishon, the 2, was comanded by Genral Johnson was atacted at day light and drove back and scatired in all direction. The Rebbs force against our Divishon was Hardee and Cheatem Corps. Thay had 5 or 6 to our 1. I so them marching up 4 regements deep in front of us and the Texes Raingers on our flank, bad for all the roring of musketry and artilery it beat all. I bellive it was about 8 oclock in the morning, the calvery run over me. I was knocked down and taken prisnar, striped of all acotrements, hat and every thing I had. The worst of all I had 2 ribs broke and my back very much injured, but thank the Lord I am getting better. I often think I should not complain for thair was hundreds in a worse fix than I was. Thair was 8 or 9 of my company killed and wounded right on the place. I and my partners was retaken the same day, but I lay 3 days and nights on the feild without a bit of any thing to eat or drink and the weather was very wet and cold. I was picked up the 4th morning at day light by 1 of our ambulances and taken to Nashville where I still remain. I have not had much news from my regement since. At least I have not seen any of the boys. I understand thay are 3 miles south of Murfresboro.

I received your last kind letter on the 14th of December and I answered it as soon as poseball, but I have not heard frome you since, thou I am expecting a letter from you every day. Pleas right me a few lines as soon as posebal. I feel ancious to heer from you and I think you will have heird from Brother James by this time and it may so be you have heard from the Ould County and got some news from our dear frinds at home.

We have ben living on half rations since the battle, but now we have full rations of every thing. The river is up and thair has 40 bots or more come up the Cumberland to Nashville. Provishons is verry dear in Nashville. Flour 8 to 10 dollers per barell, meat 10 to 12 cents per pound, butter 75 cents per pound, potatoes wone doller per peck, appels 15 dollars per barrel, shugger 20 cents per pound, wood 12 dollers per cord, and every little notions in perporsion.

We had a few days of pretty hard winter weather heair, snow 3 or 4 inshes deep. But this morning it has all gon and become warme, but very muddy in our camp. Our camp is made up of all the men that is slightly wounded and sick that belongs to the 2 Devishon, which is comanded by General Johnson of Kentucky. I supose we have in our camp 400 and 50 men out of the whole Devishon. The town is pretty much all hospitals. They have taken a god many of the churches for the sick and wounded. The Hospital no. 8 this morning reports 16 in the dead roome and every other I supose as bad as it. The men that dy heair is a cation of all diseses you can menstion.

I can give you no information of your nabours. Dan Groves was taken prisner and wheather he was retaken or not I canot tell. I have not heard from James Bennet or Joseph Hogan since the fight. I hear our Regement is going to be paid of shortely, but thair is a pore prospect for me to receive any pay. I have got no discript rowl with me and I am not abel to go to my Regement, so I will be very like to mis my pay this time.

I must now come to a close. Pleas giv my kind respects to you dear wife and children, Uncel and Ant and all my inquiring frinds.

I have no sight of getting a furlow this winter as thair is so many that is worse than I am that canot get home.

Pleas right me a few lines as soon as poseball and send me a few postedg stamps as I am out of money till I get to my regement. I could get all I wanted.

I had 4 bullets shot throw my close and when I fell a nother horse blounged right on my bowles, but still I was abel to go on my hands and knees. My best frind was from Cinncitia, his name was Goerge Jemmeson, a brick layer. He was shot through the thigh with a cannon ball and died soon after.

So no more from your well wishing brother,
Matthew Askew

[diagonal along edge]

Dear Brother, I do not know wheather it would be better to direct my letter to wheir I am at present or to the regement. I will leave that to your self.