Private Sidney Brewster letters

I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at the present and hope that these few lines find you all the same. I have sent three letters home and haven’t had any letters from home. I would like to hear from home if possible for I am 300 miles from home right among Rebs but we make good Union men of them all. The most of the men are for the Union. They called together a meeting today for the purpose of getting volunteers for the Union, but they face the fate they are going to draft. I must tell you I am made the Kentucky bear skirmish. Corporal [Hiram] Ordway ordering out a squad of men to kill the bear. The men walked gamely to their work but they had no load in their guns so they were obliged to charge bayonets upon the bear. They run a bayonet through the neck which killed it dead. On close examination it was found to be an old black cow which cost then twelve dollars. I guess they won’t kill another bear very soon. I just got back to our quarters when we heard the bugle blow for dress parade. The boys thought it strange to be called in to dress parade so soon after drill but when we got in line Colonel Neibling came with General Anderson by his side, the respectable gentleman was led along the ranks and was interested to the officers as the hero of Fort Sumter. After that he came near the middle of the regiment and then he addressed a few words to us about the war and as the Co. C is in the middle of the regiment I got a very good sight of the General.

I don’t know how soon we will have to leave here, perhaps in a day or two. We do not know where we will go yet. The artillery is going by here every day; they are all rifled cannons and all brass. We have all we can eat, fresh beef and pork, potatoes and every thing that anyone could ask for. My leg got well right off and I feel healthy as a bear and I can eat most anything. We have any poor ? to write. I don’t suppose you can send this letter but its does not make any difference to me. I am bound to catch all I can think of. They got grocery along with the regiment. We can draw half our pay to the grocery. Now they first draw tickets. They are five cents, ten cents, and twenty five cents tickets. The can draw $2 and no more than $5 worth of these tickets. I haven’t drawn any yet and I believe I shan’t. I have got ten cents left of the money that I fetched with me. When I draw my pay, I will send it all home for I be just as well off without any money as with it. We have more fun than a little. There are more Negroes around here that a few of the boys have a good deal of fun with. The darkeys, they peddle cakes and apples and the boys get them to dance and sing. One will so got ? you can beat the rest, then he will reach bracket down double time with his eyes, and could out with his hands in his pockets shaking a few rusty coppers. Some of our men have gone to meeting. The tent where I am stay is a very ? There is two Hoffers, Riley French and Sam Moore, good boys, two McLargins. They have prayers before going to bed and have prayer meeting once or twice a week, but some will be swearing at the same time. I have stood guard twice and I have been in the area. I have wrote all I can think of at present. Write soon, give my love and respect to all.

I now seat myself to write you a few lines to you to let you know that I am still alive and well and hope these few lines to find you the same. I have received two letters from you which I received with pleasure. We left Picksville shortly after I received your letter, we marched down the Big Sandy about 7 miles then we got on the boats and sailed down the Ohio River then down the river to Cincinnati, then we sailed on to Louisville. We are in camp about five miles from Louisville. I have seen four states inside of one week which is Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. We have been in service three months. We will soon draw new clothes. My clothes are good yet and I think that we will get paid off before long. I think that the war will be brought to a close within three months. Those postage stamps you sent came handy for where we have been we couldn’t get them for love nor money. Write as often as you can for I can’t write every day. Sometimes we have no chance to write. The boys is well, the most of them. I have wrote all I can think of at present. Direct your letter to Louisville, Kentucky, 21 Regiment O.V.I. in care of Captain McMahan.

I received your letter last night which was written the 10th of November. I was very happy to hear that you are well and the rest of the folks the same. I have received three letters from you and one from George and one from John Moyers is all the letters I have received. I wrote a letter the next day after we came to Louisville which was sent to you. The measles is in the camp. George Hathaway has got them and lots of the other boys. For my part, I have been pretty well. We have drawn our clothes for winter and we are going to get two months pay which you may look for $20 of it pretty soon. If you received any money from me, pay Mr. Moyers $3 and the rest you can use to comfort yourselves for I suppose the times are hard. When you write again, write how times is and how you all get along and how my steers and sheep and bees look. A many a bee hive I have seen shot to pieces by the soldiers. There are ten swarms of bees here, where they are one in Ohio. The boys growl about hard times but when we look back to our forefathers in ?, we haven’t had any hardships at all. I suppose we will leave here in a few days for a place called Elizabethtown, a distance of 110 miles where they are about 100,000 Union troops. The 21ers can go home this time and so they have seen the elephant. I have wrote all I can think of at present and more than you can read I suppose. A.V. Smith is well and fat as a hog although he has been poor. I must stop writing for there is nothing very soon.

I received Wes’ letter and Durwin’s letter the 5th and was glad to hear that our folks are all well. For my part, I am well and rich as a hog driver for we got $27.25 today for two months pay and a form most had for. I will send $25 home in this letter to you to keep for me or you can pay Mr. Moyers $3 and the other $22 you can use till I get home, then I will want it. I suppose to begin on my farm. Maybe you think I am counting chickens before they hatch. We are going to send our money by express to Perrysburg in car of Henry Peck, which will be distributed to our folks. We are about 110 miles from Louisville. I have wrote all I can think of at present. Direct letter to Louisville, Kentucky, 21st Regiment.

I once more take the opportunity to address a few lines to you to let you know that I am well and hope that these few lines lines to find you the same. We are still we were when I wrote you before; that is nothing new. Josh is well and the rest of the boys. We have got the best Colonel in the division and the best General in the division. He is General [Ormsby M.] Mitchel and he ain’t afraid to speak to his men and I ain’t afraid to say that he has got the best brigade in the division. I got a letter from Joseph Moyers last night. We have got a stove in our tent which keeps our tent as warm as a house. Our tents are getting old so that they leak but the boys say our new tents have come but that they are over to the depot. They are Sibley tents, the best and most dependable tents in the army. When you write again, send all the names of the boys that went from Stony Ridge into the 72nd Regiment. They is a number of caves around here and I am Riley French went and saw one of them which was half a mile long and they was a good many curious things to look at. They was things formed inside in all shapes and a number of springs. I can’t think of much more. You spoke of England going to fight us, but if they do that they are a sneaking mine lousy rose and doesn’t fight us when we were together. I have wrote all I can think of at present. Tell the boys to write as soon as possible. Give my respect to all. Good bye for today.

I received your most unexpected letter yesterday and was glad to hear that you are well and the rest of the folks around. I am well at present and hope these few lines to find you the same. The health of the camp is good at present and the boys begin to feel their old. The cannoneers are daily practicing with their big guns. A few regiments had a sham fight today in our division. We have been in this camp about two months. We are laying on our oars on the account of wet weather. It rains every day most, but our quarters are well ditched and the water does not stay long with us. The 4th Ohio Cavalry is here and are daily scouting the woods between us and Bowling Green. The force at Bowling Green is not so large as supposed to be. A man that was taken prisoner by our pickets says that Buckner’s force never was more than 25,000 and they are dying very fast. The men from Tennessee cannot stand the cold weather. It sets them into a cough which carries them to the graveyard. He says that they bury 200 or 300 every week. I don’t think that he has more than 10,000 able bodied men. Our force are said to be 80,000 and as soon as the roads get passable, the Union flag will wave over Bowling Green. You said in your letter that you had my valise, which is all right. I wish I had it with me while we are laying here. The paymaster is in the camp and we will probably get our pay tomorrow. We have three months pay due us but will probably get but two months pay. I haven’t been sick since we left Camp Vance. I have wrote all I can think of at present. Excuse my bad spelling, write back if can make it convenient.

I once more take the privilege to write you a few lines to you to let you know that I am alive and well and hope that these few lines find you the same. We arrived at Bowling Green last night but found that the Rebels had fled and gone to Marshall, Tennessee. They had a strong “fataction” enough to whip 50,000 men. I must bring my letter to a close for the mail is going out. I will write more in the next. Direct your letter to Bowling Green, Kentucky.

I received a letter from you the 3rd of March and was very glad to hear that you are all well. I am well of course, the rest of the boys are the same. They are in good spirits and think they are going home in a few weeks. Nashville is quite a place; it ought to be for it is the capital. The last letter that I wrote home was at Bowling Green. We have run the Rebels so far that we can’t hear from them any more. The Rebs is about run in this state. The fact is that they are entirely defeated at every place and they are disbanding. General says that the rebellion is played out. We drew $26 pay today and I will send $20 home as soon as I think it will come through safe. I will send a picture to Elnora in this letter. Someone ought to have my cattle to break this spring. You can let Sam’s man have them as you see fit. I have wrote all I can think of at present, so good bye.

I received your letter today and was glad to hear that you are well and the rest of the folks the same. I am well and as tough as a knot. Josh Smith is the same. You sent me Sam’s money, which you needn’t have done for we have plenty of it. We was paid $26 the 4th of March. I would send $20 home if I could send it safe but I won’t send it from here. Some says the 3rd Ohio Cavalry and the 72nd Ohio Regt. is here but I haven’t saw them yet. We have a nice camp and plenty to eat, enough to wear, and good health which is better than all. Tell George and Durwin to write to me if it is not too much trouble. My cattle will want their necks broke this spring. I suppose George will do it. You said in your letter that you wanted a lock of my hair. I will be home in a few weeks and you can cut as much as you choose. Tell Durwin to pitch in for cash jobs for I want to work with him. Boots is worth $25 per pair, coffee $1, ? 7 cents per pound. Everything in preparation. Write soon. I must stop for I can’t think of anything more at present. I suppose that I have wrote more than you can write so I will close my letter. Good bye, write soon.

I take this opportunity to write a few lines to you to let you know where I am. I am well and hope these few lines to find you the same. We left Nashville the 18th and after three days march we arrived safe at Murfreesboro, a distance of 40 miles. We have a pretty situation for our camp. It is on Stones River. I have caught a few fish. There is trout in this river but they has don’t been caught yet. We have had a cold rain for four days. It is warm today and seems like summer. They is plenty of cotton raised in this section. I have wrote two letters since I have had any chance. The mail is going out and I must quit.

I seat myself to answer this letter; I received it Monday. Was glad to hear from you. Received $25, this makes $50 I have received from you. I received your overcoat the same day that I received this. It was very nice and clean considering what it has been through. I thought it not quite clean enough to put away so I washed it. It looks as nice as new, ain’t a spot on it. We was glad to see one thing that had near since you left home. I am in hopes you will soon come home. The neighbors are in great excitement concerning the Pittsburgh battle. The 72nd Ohio regiment was in it. The news is there is but a few of them left. I can’t learn that you was in the fight. I have watched all the papers, I have not read anything about Mitchel’s Division being in the fight. I read of Nelson’s Division being in the fight.

I received your letter today and was very glad to hear from you and the rest of the folks. I am well and the rest of the boys are the same. I got that likeness the 31st of May and the letter the 2nd of June. I was very glad to get the likeness and the letter too. We are about 25 miles west of Huntsville. The weather is not so very warm yet. I have saw it as warm in Ohio last June as it is now. I have had a mess of new potatoes. They are quite large. I got the three stamps and the stamps on the likeness and letter wasn’t marked and I got them all sound and are going to send them back to you one at a time. Also a secesh stamp. You didn’t say whether you got that last $25 or not that I sent by the orderly. I and C of our company and the two companies out of our regiment and some from other companies went to Winchester and had a skirmish with the Rebels. We killed several opf them, they took a few of our men prisoners, one was Hary Clemens [Henry Clements] of Company K. There wasn’t a man hurt on our side. Next time you write how my things are getting on. I have no more to write, so good bye for this time.

It is with pleasure that I take my pen to write to you. I am well at present. I have received 5 letters within the last 10 days, besides the likeness. Our mail has been stopped for some time. The likeness was the first that came though I was very glad to get it. The last letter that I got was written the 25th of May, the rest of them I got was mailed April 9, April 16, April 23, May 12, and May 26. I have numbered these letters just as they came. The boys are all well except J. Smith, he is not very well. I shouldn’t wonder if he gets his discharge from the Army. It is getting pretty warm. There is not much chance of us getting into battle very soon. Corinth is evacuated and another place will follow. We will chase them to hell and back again if they will stand, we will fight them to hell freezes over and then we will fight them on the ice. We don’t drill any in this hot weather . We had to stand picket guard every other day. We have no camp guard. We can go to town when we want to. Captain Canfield and his company are at Elk River and two other companies guarding the bridge.

I received a letter from you today and was glad to hear from home and that you was well. I am well at present and hope these few lines to find you the same. I am on picket guard about one mile from camp. We have been on guard for six days. It is called the Buck Island road. There is 10 of us. We have to stand one hour and a half out of 24 hours. It is not hard work. The day time we lay in the shade. The paymaster is in camp and we will be paid off this afternoon. Part of our company are at Elk River and the most of the regiment about 10 days go. I and about 30 more of us went to the Tennessee river to take a flat boat back up the river 20 miles for General Nelson to take his army across the river. It is about 25 miles where we struck the river. We started from camp about 6 o’clock at night at Brown’s ferry, about 4 miles from the mouth. It was then 4 miles to the Tennessee river. We went to a little village about half way and stayed the rest of the night and then went to the river. When we arrived at the river, I was detailed to go back with the teams and by that means I got out of the boat ride. They is not much going on at present. Everything still. I have no more to write at present.

I received your letter today and was very glad to hear from you. I am well at present and hope these few words will find you the same. We are on half rations and we steal the rest from our neighbors. I have killed 5 or 6 hogs since I have been in Athens. I was on picket the other day and we captured a revolver worth $20. There was a fight about 3 miles from here. I could hear the shooting. It was the 18th O.V. and the rebel cavalry. Our men killed 10 of them and wounded many more. There was but a few of our men hurt. The longer I am in the service, the better I like it. The time goes very fast. The boys in our company is in good health. They are getting up an Alabama regiment. They have about 400 men.

I received your letter today and was very glad to hear from you. I am well at present and hope these few words find you the same. It is very warm here. Our Second Lieutenant and one Sergeant is going home for recruits tomorrow. The regiment is in better health than last winter. I am glad that Josh is getting better. We are camped at Athens courtyard. We expect to have a brush every day. We have good time nowadays. The boys have stole all of types out of the printing office and the next they will steal the press but it is not very handy to carry in a knapsack. I am glad to hear that I am an uncle. I wonder if it is blind? I haven’t much to write. We have been in service about a year, it don’t seem but a little while. Try to get that money as soon as you can. My steers must be very nigh big enough to do Sam’s work. Tell John Moyers to write. Tell the boys that the Rebels shoot darned careless, just as live hit a fellow as not.

I got a letter from you yesterday and was very glad to hear that you are well and the rest of them. I am well at present and hope these few lines will find you the same. Mr. Smith arrived here yesterday. He doesn’t look much better. His discharge is made out and sent on to be signed by the General. We have moved back to Nashville for safety. I have been in service a year and the war is no nearer to close than when I first came in the field. If this last call will not whip them, we never can whip them in this world. We never done much fighting but we have done as much marching as any other regiment. I think the war will turn in a few weeks; it is now or never with the Rebels. Our troops are fortifying heavy here. The letter that I got from you was wrote the 18th of August. If anyone is coming to this company, you may send my overcoat. No more at present.

I received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you and the rest of the folks. I am well at present and hope these few words will you the same. The Ridge boys are well except Josh and Riley French. Times are as usual. The war don’t look very encouraging at present. We are building large fortifications on all sides of the city. It will not be very easily taken. Our supplies have been cut off, but we have got them cursed Rebels out of the shade for a while. There are about 30,000 soldiers here. Tell Walter to stay at home; if he won’t, make him stay. It is no place for a boy. Josh says that Vane is coming. He better stay at home if he when he is well off or any other boy. Pay day is close at hand. They will pay us up for the old year, three months pay. I will try to send $40 this pay day. I have $16 coming to me from one of the boys and owe $12 and I have a watch that I can sell for $18. At pay day I shall stop trading although I have not lost anything yet. If everything come around right, I will have $60 at payday. Tell Durwin that I hope he will be drafted and then he will know how it goes. I have no more to write at present. Good bye for the present.

I received a letter from you, it was written September 24. I was glad to hear from home. I am well at present and the rest of the boys are the same. We haven’t had any mail for two months until a few days. You need not send any envelopes or papers for I have plenty. Never mind sending my overcoat for I have one. If you can send me some socks I would like them very well for the government socks are not worth much. When you write to me, just direct your letter to Co. C, 21st Regt. O.V.U.S.A. If Moyers has any land to sell reasonable, I would have no objection to buy. You can see, suit yourself and you will suit me. Don’t let my cattle and sheep starve as long as my money lasts. Take good care of my bees. We haven’t been paid for five months. They expect the recruits here every day. I suppose we will stay here to guard this place. We are in the 7th Brigade; the Colonel is trying to get us in Sill’s brigade. If he does succeed in doing it, we will go to Chattanooga and from there to Atlanta, Georgia. I am in hopes that we will stay here. We have nice weather here now. General Rosecrans had a grand review of his army on the 10th. He says the 21st is as good a regiment as he ever saw. I think that he is a pretty good General. He told the boys that they needed clothing and then must have them. He told me that I needed a pair of ? Our regiment is on picket today. I was on camp guard yesterday so I am in camp today and I thought that it would be a good time to write. Josh and Rigs is at home before this time I suppose. I sent Sam things by them. I have wrote all I can think of at present. So good bye for this time from your son,

I received your letter last night, it was dated the 16th. I was glad to hear from you and the rest of the folks. I am well at present and hope these few lines will find you the same. Vance Smith and Frank Van Camp got here last Thursday, the 20th. They looked pretty well. Everything is going on as usual. The cars will run daily after today. I suppose we will get paid off before many weeks. We have six months pay due us. If we get six months pay and what it due me in the Company, I will have $105. I am out of watches and revolvers and out of debt and I will keep so. If you send me anything, put my name on them. The 3rd Ohio Cavalry is here and I am going to see them in the morning. We are going to draw clothing in a few days. I wish you would get Eleanor’s picture taken and send to me. I think we will stay here this winter but I don’t think that I could get chance to come up. For my part, I don’t care about it. Tell Josh that we have heard from Mark Wood. Wilson, Lieutenant Porter’s son, got back last night. He was at Atlanta, Georgia. They knocked the jailer down and whipped the guards and made good their escape and got in the woods. We expected to see them all some of these days. We go on picket every once in four days. I have wrote all I can think of at present. Good bye for today

Since I last wrote you, I have been through hell and a damn sight worse. I was taken prisoner on the 31st day of December, the first days fight after being engaged for about 6 hours. Our regiment was obliged to retreat in perfect confusion. I couldn’t bear the idea of being shot in the back so I took my position behind a cedar and resolved to give them the best I had. But is was all in vain; they was too many for us and it was too late to retreat by this time. The rest of the troops had got out of sight except a few of us that was playing Indiana on them. I started to run but they was too close to us, The bullets whistled around us from every side. I jumped into a large hole which happened to be near. In a moment, about 20 Rebels came up and demanded me to surrender, which I was obliged to do or die. I preferred a surrender. I was cordially taken to the city where I found a few of my company. We was kept at that place three days then we was sent to Chattanooga where we stopped a few days with very little to eat. Then to Atlanta, Georgia where we stayed two days and then they sent us for Richmond, stopping a day or two at every place. We reached Richmond the morning of the 15th, we was then put in prison, so called Libby. I had $50 which they took from me and gave me a receipt for it to be paid when we were released from prison. We stayed five days and our flag of truce boat came to us at City Point, and we was sent there to meet it. They gave me my money back. We have traveled a distance of 1000 miles before getting to our lines. We came to Annapolis by way of Fortress Monroe and across the Chesapeake Bay, a distance of 100 miles. We get plenty of the best kind of rations and a good tent with a good stove. Everything is at a fair price here. Oysters, any amount of them, hardly worth anything in ? was worth a dollar, and here only 10 cents. Flour $50 a barrel I think that they will soon play out. Burnside has crossed the Rappahannock above and below Fredericksburg for more fighting. I must stop for this time; don’t worry about me for I am in good hands. Now direct your letter to Parole Camp, Annapolis, Maryland, 7th Company, 4th Battalion.

I received yours of the 15th and was glad to hear from you. I am not very well but hope to be able to go to the regiment pretty soon. I am exchanged and am ready to go as soon as they see fit to send me. There is great preparation is made for calling out the conscripts. I hope they will take every man in the first class and then take the rest and drill them and keep them ready for the field. I look for the war to last four or five years yet. We will have to ? if we whip them at all. Hooker’s great victory is proved to be a drawed game and his army is 20,000 less than it was and the rest of his mess is two years’ men and their time is soon out. The papers say that Rosecrans is to take command of the eastern army. I haven’t much to write at present. I don’t know when I will go to the regiment. I think it will be soon. Write as soon as you have a minute.

I am at my regiment. I reached it last Saturday and found the boys in good health. It seemed like getting home again. The most of the boys are on picket. We have got the revolving rifles, five shooters. There are a good many troops here. The Rebs are still in Tullahoma. Skirmishing in front is a daily account. We have had the order to hold ourselves in readiness to march and carry 8 days rations with us. I got them things you sent me last winter, the Captain had them. I got 6 months pay at Columbus but went off before I had time to send it home. I will send it as soon as I get a chance to express it. Vance looks as well as I ever saw him.

Yours of the 18th is at hand and I will now endeavor to inform you of my good health, hoping these few lines will find you in good health. We have orders to march in the morning to parts unknown with 10 days rations. I sent home a military roll of Co. C. Please take good care of it. I suppose they will be $60.00 sent to Henry Peck for you. Tell Durwin that ring disappeared instantly. I have nothing interesting to write this time. I will dispense writing till some other time.

Since I last wrote you, we have changed our position to the front. We are now 56 miles farther south than we were a month ago. It is thought by the best men that we have that we will be able to reach Chattanooga without any difficulty. I have been pretty well except my eyes has been very sore but they are getting better. The health of the regiment is very good at the present time. Everything looks so that the war would be of short duration. I hope that it may be for the good of the nation, not that I am dissatisfied or unwilling to perform my duty as a soldier fighting for the Union and Constitution and enforcement of laws. We got our pay yesterday, pay four months $52. I will be able to send $50 home this time and have plenty to use until next pay day. I have drawn ten months pay since I left home this last time and I have sent $110 the first time, $60 the second, and this time $50. If you think you can buy that piece of land that I was talking of with you, you may do so. You can do as you have a mind to, use your own judgment about it. This letter will contain $50 or the receipt for the same. I sent you a roll of Co. C; I would like to know whether you got it or not.