LETTERS: Simeon W. Hifner, Jr., 1863: Some Twp, Jessamine Co, Ky -------------------------------------------- Contributed for use in USGENWEB Archives by: Susan McCauley DeGroote Date: August 6, 2000 -------------------------------------------- **************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net. ***************************************************************************** Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan McCauley DeGroote Sdegroote1@aol.com Copyright 2000 Susan McCauley DeGroote Sdegroote1@aol.com Letters of Simeon W. Hifner, Jr. who was born 1838 in Troy, Woodford Co., Kentucky to the parents of Simeon Hifner and Louisa Jo Johnston. In his letters to home he mentions other young men who I believe were from Jessamine Co. Simeon Hifner, Jr enlisted in the Confederate Army on September 10, 1862, in Fayette Co. Kentucky. He was in Company B 8th Regiment Calvary under Kentucky Volunteers. He was stationed at McMinnville, Tennessee December 31, 1862. His Company Commander was William R. Lewis. Simeon was at Camp Chase until Aug. 10, 1863. At that time he was transferred to Camp Douglas Prison until his death on September 8, 1864. His cousin, John W. Hifner, son of James Hifner and Mary A. Johnston was also at Camp Douglas with him. Simeon W. Hifner, Jr. wrote to his brother George from prison at Camp Douglas, Illinois. "Camp douglas Il. Aug 13, 1863 Dear brother, I received your letter while I was at camp Chase you don't know how glad I was to here from you all these few lines leave me well and hope they will find you all well. we left Camp Chase the 20th came here to Cicago and you know it is on the lake and is very cold this morning. If we have to Stay here this winter I think we will freze unless they give us more blankets than we now have. All of the boy that were at Camp morton are here John Hifner is here and Penington they are well there was only 600 of the men sent here from Camp Chase. G. Woods N. Guyn E. Yeagle was left there I suppose they will be here in a fiew days as they say they are agoing to send all of our command here to gether. I guess we will have to stay here some time as we here no talk of exchange of morgansmen. George I suppose you had started letters to me before I left Camp chase if you did they will be sent on here to me I wrote to tom to send me some money if he did it will come on here we cant by anything here not even tobacco without the green backs. George you wanted to know what you was a loud to write to me you can write any thing you wish about the neighborhood and family I would like to her how you and Pap are a getting a long on the farm how your crops look Uncle James wrote to me that you had some of the finest tobacco that he ever saw. I will clos by saying to you to write to me often and give me all the news tell Thom and the girls to write. As I am glad to here from home any time. I remain your friend Simeon W. Hifner" This letter is from Simeon to his sister Mary " Camp Douglas Ill Oc 31/63 Sister Mary yours Of the 22 inst came to hand last evening & one from george which was 4 days later though they were both acceptible they found me in usual healt which is not very good at best the rest of the boys are well as common it Snowed all day yesterday & night So the Snow is tollarable deep this morning. You wanted to know if we had fires to keep us warm & plenty to eat we have one Stove in our hous & there is 160 men to Sit by it we have tollarable plenty of meet and bread. Corn bread so you see we have a hard time of it at best. I have had to quit writing to go & issue our rashing to the company but I am through now & my hands are so cold that I can hardly write. I don't know what we will do this winter to keep from freezing James McKee & James Sallee are some better this morning Ham Boone I think is mending I believe have told you all the news worth relating so I will come to a close. I want you to write to me often and let me know how you all get a long at home and what is going on in the neighborhood. Write soon give my love to all inquiring friends & receive aportion your Self, Simeon Hifner" The following letter is from a friend and neighbor of Simeon informing his father of his death in prison. "Hospital Department Ward C Camp Douglas Ill. Sept 9th yr1864 Mr Hifner I have seated myself this evening for the purpose of informing you of your sons death he died Sept 8th his re-mains were ordered to be sent home which I have no doubt will be done. He was in the hospital only a short time he was very sick and I do not think he was conscious of his suffering his disease I do not remember. I am sick in the same Ward have been very sick but think I am better. Siem had good attention Paid him both by Surg. & nurses But his sickness was very great - write Soon so no more at present I remain yours as ever Samuel Lowery" Simeon's remains were returned to his family and he was buried in Woodford Co., in the Johnston/Hifner Cemetary 9401 Troy Pike. This property was an original land grant farms in Woodford Co., Ky.