47th Illinois Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER - Lincoln Calls For 300, 000 More Troops
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:95876 |
CIVIL WAR LETTER
This Civil War soldier letter was written by Orderly Sergeant David Fisher McGowan(1838-1924) of Company I, 47th Illinois Infantry. David was the son of Col. James McGowan (1795-1879) and Eliza Conn (1807-1898). In 1871, at the age of 33, David married Ida Annette Miller (1850-1927), the daughter of Washington D. C. Lawyer, Lemuel Bissell Stoughton Miller (1817-1889) and Sarah Norton Evans (1820-1903). David’...s connection to Ida Miller is confirmed by his pension record.McGowan’s Pension ReordDavid F. McGowan’s enlistment records indicate that his residence was Bennington, Illinois, when he mustered into the 47th Illinois at age 23. Though he was born in Pennsylvania, his family moved to the Baltimore, Maryland suburbs when he was a young man where he no doubt bettered himself by attending higher caliber schools than the average union soldier. How or why he came to reside in Bennington, Illinois in the early 1860s remains a mystery, however. And with no surviving envelope, it is not possible to confirm who Ellen and Fannie were and to what location the letter was directed. McGowan ancestry records for this family do not show siblings by these names but these records may not be complete. After the war, David found employments as an auditor in the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington D. C.The 47th IL had its baptism of fire, at Farmington, Mississippi on May 9, 1862, and on May 28 it participated in an engagement near Corinth. It participated in the battle of Iuka in September, where the army under Gen. Rosecrans defeated the enemy’s forces under Gen. Sterling Price and it also took part in the battle of Corinth, Oct. 3 & 4. The regiment lost in that engagement 30 killed and over 100 wounded. On May 2, 1863, it marched with the army down the west side of the Mississippi river, crossing it at Grand Gulf, and with the 15th Army Corps marched to Jackson, Mississippi, where it participated in the engagement which resulted in the capture of that city.The 47th participated in the first charge on the enemy’s works at Vicksburg, losing 12 men killed and quite a number wounded, and on June 4, 1863 it participated with the brigade in the defeat of a Confederate force at Mechanicsville, Mississippi, 30 miles from Vicksburg, near the Yazoo river. It was present at the capture of Fort De Russy, LA in March, 1864, and participated in the Battle of Pleasant Hill in April. On June 5th it moved up the river to Lake Chicot, moved inland and came in contact with a force of Confederates under Gen. Marmaduke, which they completely routed.TRANSCRIPTIONEllicott’s Mills, Maryland
December 22, 1864Dear Sister Fannie, Will you forgive me for not answering your letter sooner? You know how hard it is to write letters when you don’t feel right. Somehow I feel completely lost about half the time. If I was away from home I would think I had an attack of homesickness. Maybe i am homesick for my western home. At any rate, I long to see you all once more. Maybe I will get used to this kind of life after awhile but at present, it nearly kills me. Have half a notion to re-enlist and make one of the “300, 000 more” that Uncle Abe has called for. Don’t you think I had better? I ought to be perfectly satisfied at home as I have the best of parents and the sweetest of sisters and all that makes home pleasant. Still there is a something wanting. Can you explain it? If you can, I wish you would.Yes! my thoughts did wander back to Thanksgiving day of 1863 and to many other days of 1863 and 1864 when I used to form one of a happy circle in Mrs. Fowler’s sitting room. How I did enjoy those happy moments. I have been over a good part of the country but have never found such friends as you have all proven to be, and i never expect to find as good. Pure friendship is very rare. But I feel satisfied that I have some true friends in Minonk. And I can assure you it is a pleasure for me to think so. It seems cruel that we should be so widely separated. Well, there is very little pleasure in this world without a large amount of alloy. We must try to draw near to each other by the only medium at our command (letter writing). Still that seems to be a cold way of communicating our thoughts. And yet we ought not to complain for how many persons there are who cannot even use that medium. Well, if I keep on, I will make this an interesting letter, won’t I?Well there! Don’t you think I must be absent minded? I made a mistake and wrote on the wrong page. Well it is not quite as bad as I did the other night. I started to write a letter and had all written but the last page when I made the discovery that it was already written on by some other person. Of course, I wasn’t mad—oh no. I never get in that happy frame of mind. You know I am very amiable.So you weigh 102 by the time this reaches you. I think I have gained some also. Weigh about 155 now. Roast beef, oysters, &c. agrees with me. I suppose you were weighed just after eating your Thanksgiving dinner which might account of your increased weight—not that I think you ate seven pounds, oh no! Think I have an idea of how the “United Choir” would make out. Present my best wishes [to] Mrs. Powell (as was) and Orville. Hope the firm (Ferrin Wellson) may prosper. Wouldn’t mind eating a few peanuts myself just now, though not very fond of them.There is an exhibition at “Rock Hill Seminary” tonight. Expect it is a pretty grand affair. Quite a number of the students’ parents are stopping here, so I had not time to go. Our folks are laying in a good supply of turkeys for Christmas. Wish you could be here to help eat them. Would willingly give you my share. Isn’t that an inducement?The weather has been execrable for the last two or three weeks. There is very good sleighing just now, and it is very cold. Have not had a sleigh ride yet. Haven’t heard from Sarah from nearly two weeks. She was well when I last heard from her. Will’s health is good. Military news glorious. Thomas has given the Rebs a taste of “Yankee Thunder.” Sherman is all right and I think will soon have Savannah.Well the Exhibition has ended and people are beginning to flock in so I will have to stop. Remember me to all my friends in general. Mr. Cleggs, Mr. Grays, Mr. Burns, and Mr. Work’s family in particular, not forgetting St. Robinson & Lady and Hervey.” (the happy family)My love and a kiss to each member of your family “except the cat.” Write soon and often. Accept love and a kiss from — DaveTERMS$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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This Civil War soldier letter was written by Orderly Sergeant David Fisher McGowan(1838-1924) of Company I, 47th Illinois Infantry. David was the son of Col. James McGowan (1795-1879) and Eliza Conn (1807-1898). In 1871, at the age of 33, David married Ida Annette Miller (1850-1927), the daughter of Washington D. C. Lawyer, Lemuel Bissell Stoughton Miller (1817-1889) and Sarah Norton Evans (1820-1903). David’...s connection to Ida Miller is confirmed by his pension record.McGowan’s Pension ReordDavid F. McGowan’s enlistment records indicate that his residence was Bennington, Illinois, when he mustered into the 47th Illinois at age 23. Though he was born in Pennsylvania, his family moved to the Baltimore, Maryland suburbs when he was a young man where he no doubt bettered himself by attending higher caliber schools than the average union soldier. How or why he came to reside in Bennington, Illinois in the early 1860s remains a mystery, however. And with no surviving envelope, it is not possible to confirm who Ellen and Fannie were and to what location the letter was directed. McGowan ancestry records for this family do not show siblings by these names but these records may not be complete. After the war, David found employments as an auditor in the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington D. C.The 47th IL had its baptism of fire, at Farmington, Mississippi on May 9, 1862, and on May 28 it participated in an engagement near Corinth. It participated in the battle of Iuka in September, where the army under Gen. Rosecrans defeated the enemy’s forces under Gen. Sterling Price and it also took part in the battle of Corinth, Oct. 3 & 4. The regiment lost in that engagement 30 killed and over 100 wounded. On May 2, 1863, it marched with the army down the west side of the Mississippi river, crossing it at Grand Gulf, and with the 15th Army Corps marched to Jackson, Mississippi, where it participated in the engagement which resulted in the capture of that city.The 47th participated in the first charge on the enemy’s works at Vicksburg, losing 12 men killed and quite a number wounded, and on June 4, 1863 it participated with the brigade in the defeat of a Confederate force at Mechanicsville, Mississippi, 30 miles from Vicksburg, near the Yazoo river. It was present at the capture of Fort De Russy, LA in March, 1864, and participated in the Battle of Pleasant Hill in April. On June 5th it moved up the river to Lake Chicot, moved inland and came in contact with a force of Confederates under Gen. Marmaduke, which they completely routed.TRANSCRIPTIONEllicott’s Mills, Maryland
December 22, 1864Dear Sister Fannie, Will you forgive me for not answering your letter sooner? You know how hard it is to write letters when you don’t feel right. Somehow I feel completely lost about half the time. If I was away from home I would think I had an attack of homesickness. Maybe i am homesick for my western home. At any rate, I long to see you all once more. Maybe I will get used to this kind of life after awhile but at present, it nearly kills me. Have half a notion to re-enlist and make one of the “300, 000 more” that Uncle Abe has called for. Don’t you think I had better? I ought to be perfectly satisfied at home as I have the best of parents and the sweetest of sisters and all that makes home pleasant. Still there is a something wanting. Can you explain it? If you can, I wish you would.Yes! my thoughts did wander back to Thanksgiving day of 1863 and to many other days of 1863 and 1864 when I used to form one of a happy circle in Mrs. Fowler’s sitting room. How I did enjoy those happy moments. I have been over a good part of the country but have never found such friends as you have all proven to be, and i never expect to find as good. Pure friendship is very rare. But I feel satisfied that I have some true friends in Minonk. And I can assure you it is a pleasure for me to think so. It seems cruel that we should be so widely separated. Well, there is very little pleasure in this world without a large amount of alloy. We must try to draw near to each other by the only medium at our command (letter writing). Still that seems to be a cold way of communicating our thoughts. And yet we ought not to complain for how many persons there are who cannot even use that medium. Well, if I keep on, I will make this an interesting letter, won’t I?Well there! Don’t you think I must be absent minded? I made a mistake and wrote on the wrong page. Well it is not quite as bad as I did the other night. I started to write a letter and had all written but the last page when I made the discovery that it was already written on by some other person. Of course, I wasn’t mad—oh no. I never get in that happy frame of mind. You know I am very amiable.So you weigh 102 by the time this reaches you. I think I have gained some also. Weigh about 155 now. Roast beef, oysters, &c. agrees with me. I suppose you were weighed just after eating your Thanksgiving dinner which might account of your increased weight—not that I think you ate seven pounds, oh no! Think I have an idea of how the “United Choir” would make out. Present my best wishes [to] Mrs. Powell (as was) and Orville. Hope the firm (Ferrin Wellson) may prosper. Wouldn’t mind eating a few peanuts myself just now, though not very fond of them.There is an exhibition at “Rock Hill Seminary” tonight. Expect it is a pretty grand affair. Quite a number of the students’ parents are stopping here, so I had not time to go. Our folks are laying in a good supply of turkeys for Christmas. Wish you could be here to help eat them. Would willingly give you my share. Isn’t that an inducement?The weather has been execrable for the last two or three weeks. There is very good sleighing just now, and it is very cold. Have not had a sleigh ride yet. Haven’t heard from Sarah from nearly two weeks. She was well when I last heard from her. Will’s health is good. Military news glorious. Thomas has given the Rebs a taste of “Yankee Thunder.” Sherman is all right and I think will soon have Savannah.Well the Exhibition has ended and people are beginning to flock in so I will have to stop. Remember me to all my friends in general. Mr. Cleggs, Mr. Grays, Mr. Burns, and Mr. Work’s family in particular, not forgetting St. Robinson & Lady and Hervey.” (the happy family)My love and a kiss to each member of your family “except the cat.” Write soon and often. Accept love and a kiss from — DaveTERMS$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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