CAMP LIFE AND THE BATTLE OF SHILOH
(Tennessee - Ohio) McCarty, George R. Letter signed by CORPORAL McCARTY, 78TH OHIO INFANTRY, COMPANY E. 19 DECEMBER 1862 FROM “CAMP NEAR YOUCAPATAPA” MISSISSIPPI, TO HIS UNCLE IN TRIADELPHIA, OHIO, ABOUT CAMP LIFE AND THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.
(Letter in full as written.)
Camp near the youcapatapa River
Miss. Dec. 17th A,D. 1862
Dear Friend I take the present opportunity of informing you that I am well & hope that these few lines find you & your family the same. I expect that you think I had forgotten your but I have not. I think of you and all the rest of the folks in Triadelphia every day but then put off writing to any of them, but know I shall try and scratch a few lines to you. Thinking you will excuse me for not writing sooner, will write the news in camp to day does not amount to much. I guess that Old Price has got out of hearing of any of us _ and our army here has stoped & I expect will stay here the balance of the winter or at least it looks that way to us know it seems to be the opinion of the men that the ware is over in this department and if that is the case we will not go any farther South at the present. Some say that General Price & the greater portion of his army has gone to Virginia but I dont believe that although sutch might be the case for it seams to me that any thing can happen in war times and aspecial in the 78 Regt although we have a very good Regiment just about as good as any that is in the service although it had a pretty hard name and but sutch is the case with about all new Regiments, you know that a new hand at the business allways makes things go whether They go right or rong, they have to go & some times they get their & that was the way with this Regt once, but thank fortune I have stoad it through the storm so have but there is Thousands that has not.
Well uncle I have not mutch more news to write of any importance and I will give you a little history of our travels since we left Zansville. We left you Zansville on the 10th of february for Cin. And arrived there the next day then started for paducah on the steamer Tecumsch arriving on the 18th then returned back to the mouth of the cumberland and arrived before fort Donnelson on the 15th he next day we marched to the battlefields but before we arrived the whole rebel forces had surrenderd unconditionaly. Then we encamped on the hill about 2 miles from ___ and the 18th we marched to ____ , on the 7 of march we marched to the Tenn river above fort henry & from there to ____ landing on the 15 of march & from there to crumps Landing arriving on the 17 Encamped upon the bank of the river a few days an then marched to Adamsville distance 9 miles. On the 6th of April we marched to Shiloh Battle field participating in the fight the next day. We bivouacked near or on the battlefield until the 16th of April when we moved to Shiloh Springs. On the 4th of May marched towards monteray and encamped at the Camp Leggett where we build breastworks & on the 8th we moved to stony point a short distance on the 18th marched forward on Cornith hard and encamped at camp Fenwick where the Brigade build breastworks again. On the 2nd marched to Bethel arriving on the 4th and from there to jackson on the 7th of June where we remained until the 26th when we were ordered to start for Grand Junction arriving the same day with the 30th Regt Ill. Vols, & then returned back to Bolivar on the 25th July & on the 30th of August we had a small fight about 5 miles from camp on the 18th of September we was ordered to Cornith we arrived there on the 16th & pitched tents & the same evening got orders to march to ____ville and arrived there the next morning and the rain just poured down the heaviest kind & expecting to join into a fight right away. The town was full of rumors about the skirmish they had the day before. The next day we marched on towards ____ driving the enemies pickets back for three days, when we arrived back at Bolivar safe, on the 5th of October marched to _____ expecting to find something for to do but Just as usual nothing there returned back to camp once more with considerable fatigue and I think that I will fatigue you with my nonsense as I shall quiet that subject for this time, the boys here is all well and hearty and appear to like the service better every day I dont expect you would know them for they are fat and very lazy. That it is hard work for them to eat their rations of crackers & fat meat & other things in proportion. Every thing is working out fine here in camp, the weather is nice and pleasant. It is a little cool of nights, but it is just right it makes the boys turn over while they are sleeping and that you know is good for any ones health I don’t think it is good for me to sleep to sound, well uncle I must tell you the joke the boys plaid on the old ____ the other night but I dont know what it was but any how they hoked a keg of whiskey from him and had a jolly time of it. You better think well uncle I expect if you had of been here you would of died a laughing at some of them. Well the boys must all have their sport here as well as at home. We had a good old time here _____ well there is one thing yet & that is the description of our tents, we have to carry them on our backs they are about a yard & half square and each one has his peace and two of us goes together and it makes a pretty nice tent of it just about big enough for that old hog of your to turn around in.
Well I shall have to bring my letter to a close by bidding you goodby you must excuse all mistakes for I repeat there is plenty of them know more at presant but write soon and let me know how you are prospering. Give my love and best respects to all enquiring friends.
Your truly
Geo R. McCarty
Mr. Edwards, Esq.
Of Tridelphia
Morgan County
Ohio.
Oh! yes there is one thing I shall let you pay the postage.
George R. McCarty (1839-?) was a “mast moulder” who was mustered into Co. H. 17th Ohio Infantry as a private in May 1861 for a three months service. He was mustered into Co. E. 78th Ohio Infantry which was raised in Morgan County, Ohio, in December 1861. He rose through the ranks to Corporal but appears to have deserted or disappeared, as he was not listed on the muster out roll.
Foster Edwards (1793-1871) was a farmer and protestant Methodist minister in Morgan County, Ohio.
Folio sheet folded to 4 pages, written in ink and quite legible. Several expected fold tears. Retains the envelope addressed to Mr. Foster Edwards, McCarty’s uncle. The envelope is postal stamped Dec. 10, 1862 while the letter is dated Dec. 18, 1862. I cannot be positive, but it appears that McCarty was confused on his dates as the letter date appears to be overwritten in his hand which would account for the weeks difference in dates.