LETTER ONE: Samuel Cabble, a private in the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry (colored), was a slave before he
joined the army. He was twenty-one years old.
Massachusetts, 1863
Dear Wife,
I have enlisted in the army I am now in the state of Massachusetts but before this letter reaches you i will be in North Carolina and though great is the present national difficulties yet I look forward to a brighter day When I shall have the opertunity of seeing you in the full enjoyment of fredom i would like to no if you are still in slavery if you are it will not be long before we shall have crushed the system that now opreses you for in the course of three months you shall have your liberty. great is the outpouring of the colered peopl that is now rallying with the hearts of lions against that very curse that has separated you an me yet we shall meet again and oh what a happy time that will be when this ungodly rebellion shall be put down and the curses of our land is trampled under our feet i am a soldier now and i shall use my utmost endeavor to strike at the rebellion at the heart of this system that so long has kept us in chains ... remain your own afectionate husband until death.
- Samuel Cabble
*Note: Samuel Cabble returned to Missouri for his wife, and together they moved to Denver, Colorado.
joined the army. He was twenty-one years old.
Massachusetts, 1863
Dear Wife,
I have enlisted in the army I am now in the state of Massachusetts but before this letter reaches you i will be in North Carolina and though great is the present national difficulties yet I look forward to a brighter day When I shall have the opertunity of seeing you in the full enjoyment of fredom i would like to no if you are still in slavery if you are it will not be long before we shall have crushed the system that now opreses you for in the course of three months you shall have your liberty. great is the outpouring of the colered peopl that is now rallying with the hearts of lions against that very curse that has separated you an me yet we shall meet again and oh what a happy time that will be when this ungodly rebellion shall be put down and the curses of our land is trampled under our feet i am a soldier now and i shall use my utmost endeavor to strike at the rebellion at the heart of this system that so long has kept us in chains ... remain your own afectionate husband until death.
- Samuel Cabble
*Note: Samuel Cabble returned to Missouri for his wife, and together they moved to Denver, Colorado.
LETTER TWO: Letter from John Sweet, Confederate Soldier, to His Parents
Tennessee - November, 1863
We have just returned from a trip into East Tenn where we got big amounts of everything to eat and everything we eat is so good to me as I had been starved out so long on some bread & beef, all that we got while we were here besieging Chatanooga. up there we got sweet and Irish potatoes, chickens, molassas, wheat bread and everything else that was good for a poor soldier. Oh, how I do wish that I could be at home now, for it is getting late in the evening and I have had nothing to eat since breakfast and no telling when we will get rations for our rations are out, since we left our ration wagons behind in coming here to this place, for I know you have all had a good & plentiful dinner. know you will say poor John, but this is
only a chapter in military service which we often read, but I am content and will be more so when we get rations. The independence of the bounty is what I want and I am willing to suffer for something to eat many, many days if it will only send me to my dear parents, a full and independent boy.
- John H. Sweet
Tennessee - November, 1863
We have just returned from a trip into East Tenn where we got big amounts of everything to eat and everything we eat is so good to me as I had been starved out so long on some bread & beef, all that we got while we were here besieging Chatanooga. up there we got sweet and Irish potatoes, chickens, molassas, wheat bread and everything else that was good for a poor soldier. Oh, how I do wish that I could be at home now, for it is getting late in the evening and I have had nothing to eat since breakfast and no telling when we will get rations for our rations are out, since we left our ration wagons behind in coming here to this place, for I know you have all had a good & plentiful dinner. know you will say poor John, but this is
only a chapter in military service which we often read, but I am content and will be more so when we get rations. The independence of the bounty is what I want and I am willing to suffer for something to eat many, many days if it will only send me to my dear parents, a full and independent boy.
- John H. Sweet
LETTER THREE: A Letter from William Norton, Union Soldier, to His Mother
Hilton Head, South Carolina
October 8, 1862
My Dear Mother,
Hearing that there is a mail going out this afternoon I thought I would improve the opportunity and write you a few lines. I am sorry to tell you that I am not very well at present. I was taken sick about three weeks ago with chronic diarrhea, and have been in the hospital about a fortnight. I have been pretty sick but I am getting better now and hope to be well in a few days.
I would like to have you send me some things which will come better in a barrel than in anything else. I should like some good fresh eggs, a bottle of preserves, some lemons if you can get some good ones, some ginger root. Some butter would be very nice, it will come better in a tin can than in anything else. I would like some sugar too. I wish you would send a bottle of good Cider Vinegar also - I would like some pickled onions, and some dried apples. Some prepared chocolate would taste first rate, as we do not get good tea and coffee.
A towel and a couple of handkerchiefs will be very acceptable also. If there is any room for anything else I wish that you would fill it up with onions and good sound apples that are not quite ripe that they will get better. Direct to the care of Capt. Sanford, Co C, 7th Regt. Conn Vols. ______ DD Tompkins Esq Asst. Q M General No 6 State St. N.Y. Please send it as soon as possible.
I have not heard from you since I have been ehre but should like to do so every mail. If convenient please send $5.00 the next time you write.
Give love to all enquiring friends, and believe me -
Ever your aff son
William Norton
Hilton Head, South Carolina
October 8, 1862
My Dear Mother,
Hearing that there is a mail going out this afternoon I thought I would improve the opportunity and write you a few lines. I am sorry to tell you that I am not very well at present. I was taken sick about three weeks ago with chronic diarrhea, and have been in the hospital about a fortnight. I have been pretty sick but I am getting better now and hope to be well in a few days.
I would like to have you send me some things which will come better in a barrel than in anything else. I should like some good fresh eggs, a bottle of preserves, some lemons if you can get some good ones, some ginger root. Some butter would be very nice, it will come better in a tin can than in anything else. I would like some sugar too. I wish you would send a bottle of good Cider Vinegar also - I would like some pickled onions, and some dried apples. Some prepared chocolate would taste first rate, as we do not get good tea and coffee.
A towel and a couple of handkerchiefs will be very acceptable also. If there is any room for anything else I wish that you would fill it up with onions and good sound apples that are not quite ripe that they will get better. Direct to the care of Capt. Sanford, Co C, 7th Regt. Conn Vols. ______ DD Tompkins Esq Asst. Q M General No 6 State St. N.Y. Please send it as soon as possible.
I have not heard from you since I have been ehre but should like to do so every mail. If convenient please send $5.00 the next time you write.
Give love to all enquiring friends, and believe me -
Ever your aff son
William Norton