39th Ohio Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER From " Camp In The Field " In Mississippi
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:95913 |
CIVIL WAR LETTER
Thomas Hine (1838-1897) was the son of Joseph Hine (1809-1878) and Rebecca Ann Hill (1812-1890). Joseph was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and came to Mount Washington, Hamilton county, Ohio in 1832, where he married and took up farming. His farm can be located on the 1869 Map of Anderson township. See below:Joseph and Rebecca Hine may have had other children but there were only two enumerated in their household in both the 1850 and 1860 US Census Records—Lizzie..., born in 1836, and Thomas, born in 1838. From one of Thomas’ letters, we know his birthday was 5 December 1838. From his handwriting, we can conclude that Thomas had a limited education. He often misspelled common words and his letters were a bit of a challenge to decipher. But there was clarity of thought and a touch of humor in most of what he wrote that make them quite enjoyable to read.Tintype of Thomas Hine, Ca. 1875Thomas Hine’s Headstone in NebraskaFrom service records we know that Thomas enlisted on 20 July 1861 in Co. D, 39th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He enlisted with many other of the young men from Mount Washington whose names can be found on the adjacent farms in his neighborhood—Mears, Stoms, and Whetstone, for example. The regiment was first sent into Missouri, then to Mississippi, and Tennessee. But their mettle was largely untested until they joined Sherman’s Army and marched on Atlanta where they played a pivotal role in several battles. It took part in the battle of Resaca, the action at Dallas, then moved to Acworth, thence to Big Shanty, pushing the Confederate army to the base of Kennesaw mountain, where the regiment remained under constant fire until the enemy abandoned his line and took position near the Chattahoochee river. Then the regiment engaged in a successful assault on the enemy’s works at Nickajack creek and on July 22 assisted in repelling the attack of Hardee’s corps on the left flank of the Army of the Tennessee. This was the most severe engagement in which the regiment participated during its term of service, losing one-third of its number in killed and wounded.Though he promised his sister and mother he would not reenlist as a veteran after his first term of service, he did so and continued to serve until July 1865 when he mustered out at Louisville. After leaving the service, Thomas wrote that, “I have resided in Melrose Hills (Kentucky), Hamilton County (Ohio); and Dawson and Custer Counties (Nebraska) and my occupation has been that of a farmer. Prior to my entry into the service, …I was a man of good, sound physical health, being when enrolled a farmer. That I am now entirely disabled from obtaining my subsistence by manual labor by reason of my disabilities [rheumatism and chronic diarrhea] above described and received in the service of the United States, I therefore make this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States.” This was in 1891.After Thomas’ death in 1897, his widow, Mary E. Hine (formerly a widow of William Aker), filed for a Widow’s Pension in the state of Nebraska. In the application she wrote: “I am the widow of Thomas Hine. I was married before—married my first husband William Aker on 3rd day of May 1858, witness Anna Talbot and Frank Fiester. William Aker died 15th day of September 1861, persons present at his death were our neighbors. My two aunts have tried the neighbors to find but can’t get no clue of them. My two aunts are Dean. No public record of my first marriage and my marriage certificate was lost by fire and two witnesses of my first marriage are gone, I don’t know where. I have done all I could to find the witness of my first marriage and the proof of his death.”NOTE - The tintype image of Hine does not come with this lot.
TRANSCRIPTIONCamp in the Field, Mississippi
December 5th, 1862Dear Sister, I have out of pure neglect deferred writing until the present time [and] also to acknowledge the receipt of the box of sundries which was sent me but I am sorry after waiting so long I cannot do so from the fact that said box has not come to hand yet and I am afraid now that someone else has reaped the rich contents therein, though it may reach me yet.You of course are all reminded that today is my birthday and could I dedicate it in a better way than to write home as I am deprived of the roast turkey, plum pudding, and society of near and dear ones at home.We are now camped some 8 miles south of Holly Springs. How long we will stay here, I do not know. The most of the army, all except our division, has advanced from this place. There is some talk of our division being cut up to garrison the different points near here but I do not credit it much as yet I am afraid there is no such good luck. The good weather which has prevailed for some days seems to have been broken up as it has been raining for 3 or 4 days turning into a snow storm this morning. But let it snow. I am not on guard and have a good fire in the tent which makes it very comfortable. In this you see how much sympathy I have for a fellow soldier.You will see by this that I am in the company once more doing duty, having cooked 5 months lacking a few days. I suppose I could have continued longer but the Capt.’s brother was reduced to ranks and he could not give him any other position but to cook and I being tired of it, the change was made. I have enjoyed myself much better since in the company than while with the officers. The less I have to do with them, the better it suits me.I can again picture in my own fancy the speedy end of this war and have commenced wondering what I shall go at and where I shall settle and build my wondrous castles. Perhaps you can assist me in this. I hope so for really I am at a loss myself.But I must close. Write soon. Excuse this sheet of paper and short letter. All well & doing well. — Tommy HindTERMS$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.
00086
Thomas Hine (1838-1897) was the son of Joseph Hine (1809-1878) and Rebecca Ann Hill (1812-1890). Joseph was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and came to Mount Washington, Hamilton county, Ohio in 1832, where he married and took up farming. His farm can be located on the 1869 Map of Anderson township. See below:Joseph and Rebecca Hine may have had other children but there were only two enumerated in their household in both the 1850 and 1860 US Census Records—Lizzie..., born in 1836, and Thomas, born in 1838. From one of Thomas’ letters, we know his birthday was 5 December 1838. From his handwriting, we can conclude that Thomas had a limited education. He often misspelled common words and his letters were a bit of a challenge to decipher. But there was clarity of thought and a touch of humor in most of what he wrote that make them quite enjoyable to read.Tintype of Thomas Hine, Ca. 1875Thomas Hine’s Headstone in NebraskaFrom service records we know that Thomas enlisted on 20 July 1861 in Co. D, 39th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He enlisted with many other of the young men from Mount Washington whose names can be found on the adjacent farms in his neighborhood—Mears, Stoms, and Whetstone, for example. The regiment was first sent into Missouri, then to Mississippi, and Tennessee. But their mettle was largely untested until they joined Sherman’s Army and marched on Atlanta where they played a pivotal role in several battles. It took part in the battle of Resaca, the action at Dallas, then moved to Acworth, thence to Big Shanty, pushing the Confederate army to the base of Kennesaw mountain, where the regiment remained under constant fire until the enemy abandoned his line and took position near the Chattahoochee river. Then the regiment engaged in a successful assault on the enemy’s works at Nickajack creek and on July 22 assisted in repelling the attack of Hardee’s corps on the left flank of the Army of the Tennessee. This was the most severe engagement in which the regiment participated during its term of service, losing one-third of its number in killed and wounded.Though he promised his sister and mother he would not reenlist as a veteran after his first term of service, he did so and continued to serve until July 1865 when he mustered out at Louisville. After leaving the service, Thomas wrote that, “I have resided in Melrose Hills (Kentucky), Hamilton County (Ohio); and Dawson and Custer Counties (Nebraska) and my occupation has been that of a farmer. Prior to my entry into the service, …I was a man of good, sound physical health, being when enrolled a farmer. That I am now entirely disabled from obtaining my subsistence by manual labor by reason of my disabilities [rheumatism and chronic diarrhea] above described and received in the service of the United States, I therefore make this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the invalid pension roll of the United States.” This was in 1891.After Thomas’ death in 1897, his widow, Mary E. Hine (formerly a widow of William Aker), filed for a Widow’s Pension in the state of Nebraska. In the application she wrote: “I am the widow of Thomas Hine. I was married before—married my first husband William Aker on 3rd day of May 1858, witness Anna Talbot and Frank Fiester. William Aker died 15th day of September 1861, persons present at his death were our neighbors. My two aunts have tried the neighbors to find but can’t get no clue of them. My two aunts are Dean. No public record of my first marriage and my marriage certificate was lost by fire and two witnesses of my first marriage are gone, I don’t know where. I have done all I could to find the witness of my first marriage and the proof of his death.”NOTE - The tintype image of Hine does not come with this lot.
TRANSCRIPTIONCamp in the Field, Mississippi
December 5th, 1862Dear Sister, I have out of pure neglect deferred writing until the present time [and] also to acknowledge the receipt of the box of sundries which was sent me but I am sorry after waiting so long I cannot do so from the fact that said box has not come to hand yet and I am afraid now that someone else has reaped the rich contents therein, though it may reach me yet.You of course are all reminded that today is my birthday and could I dedicate it in a better way than to write home as I am deprived of the roast turkey, plum pudding, and society of near and dear ones at home.We are now camped some 8 miles south of Holly Springs. How long we will stay here, I do not know. The most of the army, all except our division, has advanced from this place. There is some talk of our division being cut up to garrison the different points near here but I do not credit it much as yet I am afraid there is no such good luck. The good weather which has prevailed for some days seems to have been broken up as it has been raining for 3 or 4 days turning into a snow storm this morning. But let it snow. I am not on guard and have a good fire in the tent which makes it very comfortable. In this you see how much sympathy I have for a fellow soldier.You will see by this that I am in the company once more doing duty, having cooked 5 months lacking a few days. I suppose I could have continued longer but the Capt.’s brother was reduced to ranks and he could not give him any other position but to cook and I being tired of it, the change was made. I have enjoyed myself much better since in the company than while with the officers. The less I have to do with them, the better it suits me.I can again picture in my own fancy the speedy end of this war and have commenced wondering what I shall go at and where I shall settle and build my wondrous castles. Perhaps you can assist me in this. I hope so for really I am at a loss myself.But I must close. Write soon. Excuse this sheet of paper and short letter. All well & doing well. — Tommy HindTERMS$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.
00086
