7th Indiana Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER From Camp In Kelly ' S Ford, Virginia
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:140027 |
CIVIL WAR LETTERThis Civil War soldier letter was written byPvt. Theodore (“Dory”) Longwood (1843-1877) the son of Milo Longwood(1802-1883) and Rebecca Scott (1803-1882) of Aberdeen, Ohio County, Indiana.Indiana marriage records indicate that Milo married Rebecca Scott in May 1829though it should be noted that death certificates of their children record hername as Rachel Tumy of New Jersey so it’s likely this was her second marriage.Other members of the Longwood familyincluded: M...ary Ann (“Molly”) Scott (1823-1892) was a step-sister to Dory & Morty Longwood, a daughter from Rebecca’s first marriage, born in Kentucky. In 1844, Mary Ann married William “Frank” Stevens (1821-1900), a merchant in Aurora, Ohio county, Indiana. Their children included Laura Ida (1846-1919) and Charles (1848-1906). Ida was a regular correspondent with her Uncle Dory during the war. Sarah (“Sally”) Jane Longwood (1830-1907), born in Aurora, Indiana. She married on 23 April 1850 to William Elias Yonge (1825-1893), born in New York City. In 1880 William was a dry goods merchant in Vevay, Indiana. William and Sallie lost their infant son (named “Frank”) in 1863. They also had a daughter named Ada Carrie (1853-1917), a son named William (“Willie” 1852-1939) and a daughter named Alice (1865-19xx). Willie was a regular correspondent with his Uncle Dory during the war. The Longwoods had at least two other children who did not survive childhood. These were Maria Louise Longwood (1840-1841) and Elizabeth Lenore Longwood (1845-1852).Pvt. Dory served in Co.C, 7th Indiana Infantry.Referenced in this letter is Sgt. Mortimer (Morty) Scott Longwood, Dory'sbrother who also served in the 7th Indiana. Dory's fate is described in the followingfamily history quip: TheodoreLongwood was known as “Dory” to his family. He was five years younger than hisbrother Mortimer. Mortimer enlisted in the 7th Indiana, so Dory followed himone year later – being assigned to the same company. Dory was a private andolder brother Mort was a sergeant. Dory’s luck ran out on August 19, 1864. Heand brother Mortimer had been part of the siege of Petersburg – which lastedfor nine months. During that time the two brothers, along with soldiers frommany regiments, were sent to capture the Weldon Railroad which ran fromPetersburg to Weldon, North Carolina. Union Generals realized that they had tocompletely cut Petersburg off from any outside Confederate support, and therailroad was one of those lines of support. During that action the rebels underGeneral Beauregard put up a fierce fight. In the two day running battle unionforces lost 212 men killed, 1149 wounded and 2879 missing. Most of thosemissing men were captured by Confederate troops and spent the rest of the warin a prisoner of war camp – Dory was one of those unlucky men captured by theenemy… Theodore was always “sickly and weak” after the war. He married and hadone child but died early at age 34.TRANSCRIPTIONIn Camp [near Kelly’s Ford, Virginia]
December 23, 1863Dear Pa & Ma, I have just received your letter of the 17th and it was of great interest to me for I was anxious to know how you were. So I am satisfied that far. But you have made one request that I have but 5 minutes to make up my mind for we have just got orders to be ready to march. So I will have to be brief with this letter. Where we are to go, I can’t tell. We may stay yet though we have everything all packed ready to go.You spoke about selling out. I hardly know whether to say yes or no, but as the conditions seem good, I would hate to say don’t sell for you may do better by selling for if my whole interest ever was for your good, it is now, for I want you to get rid of them cursed neighbors that are everlastingly doing something to harm someone. I believe that I could shoot such men. I will have to write only a short letter this time so I will try and make you understand what I mean.If you can sell for $3500 dollars & 25.00 hundred down, you had better take it. Can you find any place to go to until you could buy? And how soon do you have to give him possession? Where do you think of going? I would be glad to hear of you going from that place for I know you are not satisfied there. I would hate to be the cause of you being unhappy when you might have done better. I am perfectly satisfied for you to use your pleasure. I think if you could sell and live with less care, you would do better. Then, if we are spared to come home, we will find you a home of comfort if there is any to be had. Now just please yourself and you will please us. Dory is out on picket [but] I know he will be satisfied with whatever you see fit to do.I am sorry to hear of Aunt Mary’s sickness. I would be glad to hear of her being restored to health. I have nothing of interest to write you of our affairs—only that I have wrote. You will see that we are well. It is very cold here now. There is great many of the boys going in for three years longer. They will get to come home for one month. If you should want me there for anything, just write and I will try to come after our men come back—that is, home on a furlough. The mail goes out soon. Excuse this. In haste. Write soon. Yours as ever, — M. S. LongwoodTERMS$3.00 postage in the United States. We accept Paypal. Postage combined for multiple purchases. Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise will pay a much higher postage rate!For International buyers: We are now using eBay's Global Shipping Program. We had too many packages sent via the post office go missing. So we believe this program will be safer for us - and for you.We're members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions). Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog. We've been selling on eBay since 2001. BID WITH CONFIDENCE.
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December 23, 1863Dear Pa & Ma, I have just received your letter of the 17th and it was of great interest to me for I was anxious to know how you were. So I am satisfied that far. But you have made one request that I have but 5 minutes to make up my mind for we have just got orders to be ready to march. So I will have to be brief with this letter. Where we are to go, I can’t tell. We may stay yet though we have everything all packed ready to go.You spoke about selling out. I hardly know whether to say yes or no, but as the conditions seem good, I would hate to say don’t sell for you may do better by selling for if my whole interest ever was for your good, it is now, for I want you to get rid of them cursed neighbors that are everlastingly doing something to harm someone. I believe that I could shoot such men. I will have to write only a short letter this time so I will try and make you understand what I mean.If you can sell for $3500 dollars & 25.00 hundred down, you had better take it. Can you find any place to go to until you could buy? And how soon do you have to give him possession? Where do you think of going? I would be glad to hear of you going from that place for I know you are not satisfied there. I would hate to be the cause of you being unhappy when you might have done better. I am perfectly satisfied for you to use your pleasure. I think if you could sell and live with less care, you would do better. Then, if we are spared to come home, we will find you a home of comfort if there is any to be had. Now just please yourself and you will please us. Dory is out on picket [but] I know he will be satisfied with whatever you see fit to do.I am sorry to hear of Aunt Mary’s sickness. I would be glad to hear of her being restored to health. I have nothing of interest to write you of our affairs—only that I have wrote. You will see that we are well. It is very cold here now. There is great many of the boys going in for three years longer. They will get to come home for one month. If you should want me there for anything, just write and I will try to come after our men come back—that is, home on a furlough. The mail goes out soon. Excuse this. In haste. Write soon. Yours as ever, — M. S. LongwoodTERMS$3.00 postage in the United States. We accept Paypal. Postage combined for multiple purchases. Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise will pay a much higher postage rate!For International buyers: We are now using eBay's Global Shipping Program. We had too many packages sent via the post office go missing. So we believe this program will be safer for us - and for you.We're members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions). Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog. We've been selling on eBay since 2001. BID WITH CONFIDENCE.
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