Thomas Wright's Diary

1934

Dear Brother /Sister

I have news! Pop did fight in the war! 59th Ohio Infantry. I haven't got much on this but two letters home. I will enclose and what I have read so far in the diary he left Camp Dennison, went to Paducah.
One letter is addressed to Betsy and one to Granma Wright. I'll start with the one to Betsy.

Ta my love Betsy

My days have been long, seems they is a lot more ta soldiering than I even thought. The 59th is reforming I am part of K company. Theo's company.
Betsy my darling, I miss our walks around the old place. Tellin ya what I want it ta be.

Yar smile, that laugh when ya think, I am thinkin ta big. I want our place, ta be special. One we can be proud of, raise a family tagether. Lot a sick fellas here. So many here, the grass around the place is about gone from all the walkin. It rained a few days back. Place was a mud hole, about pulled my boots off a walkin. Mud a grab thum and take hold.

The food, let's just say it is somethin ta eat. Might nasty ya ask me. Don't know how long I a be here at Camp Dennison. Once we gets located and assigned, where we goin. I will let you know.

Those sick fellas and wounded, I try an stay away from thum. Heard tell some have measles. Lan sakes don't want that. Don't want ta die, waitin ta fight. Theo, looks old an tuckered out. Might scary the way he aged. Hope I don't look that a ways.

I met a real nice fella, from Circleville name is Leonard. Gots himself a farm, about as big as the old place. He is a carpenter also. Told me ta stick close like mud on his boots. He teach me how ta stay alive. He re-upped fer three years.

Ya an Ma, take care. I be home when I can. I love ya, Betsy, more than ya would know.

With my love
Thom

Grace, Thom think you can see Betsy has ta be Momma. Pop loves this woman dearly. Grace check with the Ebaugh family that Leonard has to be the man at Fiddlers Knob. Maybe they still have his letters home.

Ta Ma

Ma I am just fine, I look a might proper in this here uniform. Goin ta have a picture made whens I get paid, ta send ta ya. I miss ya, hope ya an Betsy is doin just fine. Didn't think this soldierin be so blame hard. Days go from sun up ta sundown.

I am at Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati. They is a train that go through the camp. Filled with soldiers from up north. Why some fellas from Michigan came through the other day. Never thought I would meet someone from Michigan. Some just have war supplies, car after car filled cannon, horses an such food. The train ends at the landing in Cincinnati.

Ma I am thinkin this war can't last ta terribly long.
The amount of men passin through here an supplies. Well think the north means ta fight, but hard. Not sayin the south won't fight, just my can they keep up with the weapons and other supplies that be goin through this Camp. How much is passin through other camps like this?

Ma I miss yar an Betsy's cookin. The food is not worth eatin. Mind now ya an Betsy take care.
Best be closin.

With love
Thom.

Grace/Thom I am at a loss why Momma and Pop, didn't talk about what they did. I truly hope Pop done nothing so wrong. That Momma and Pop felt guilty about it. If I am not finished by July still plan on a visit here. Think we have a lot to discuss.
You two take care see you in July.

Your brother
William.

                                Tid Bits

March 13, 1862
The Federal Government forbids all Union Officers from returning fugitive slaves. Effectively annulling the fugitive slave act of 1850.

A Smallpox epidemic in San Francisco spreads to British Columbia.

March 9 1862

The first battle between two ironclad ships, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia, begins.

July 1 1862

The Bureau of Internal Revenue, the for runner of the Internal Revenue Service, is established in the United States.

Abraham Lincoln signs into law the Pacific Railroad acts. Authorizing construction of the first transcontinental railroad.

August 14 1862

Abraham Lincoln meets with prominent African Americans, to discuss migration to Africa or Central America. This advice is rejected, this is the first time such a meeting took place.

November 4 1862

Richard Jordan Gatling patents the Gatling gun, United States.

December 2 1862

The first Hospital Ships in the United States Navy enter service.

December 30 1862

USS Monitor sinks in a storm off Cape Hatteras North Carolina.

December 31 1862

Abraham Lincoln signs the act that admits West Virginia to the Union dividing Virginia into two states.

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