OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - The James Perry Fyffe Letters (Civil War)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any
format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons.
Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain
the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative
of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof
of this consent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Darrold Crites     
DCrites642@aol.com
July 16, 1997
------------------------------------------------------------------------

TO:	(No Envelope was shown)

Head Quarter 59th Rgt O.V.  U.S.A.
Camp Fyffe near Columbia KY
 Dec 9th  1861

Willa Dear

	After leaving you at Louisville we ran out 67 miles to Lebanon where 
we arrived at 9 o'clock P.M., unloaded our baggage from the cars, and they 
started back same night, after the 19th Ohio Col. Beatty.  The men slept 
(all of them) the night we got on in the Car House, around on the platform. 
Next morning we gathered up 12 waggons and after a great deal of fussing 
about and cutting down baggage of Officers, we finally got it all on the 12 
waggons.  The mules, to which were only partially broke and over worn, we 
took up the line of march towards the foe, our destination being Columbia 
where we arrived this evening about 2 o'clock.  We marched through the town 
in columns, with the colors flying and the band playing, passing over a hill 
and down a gentle declesity to the brink of a small brook and pitched our 
tents in an open cove of small Jack Oaks.  It look a little like an old 
Peach Orchard, and is a beautiful camp which the officers have called after 
me.  We have been highly favoured in the matter of roads and weather, the 
latter being delightful, which combined with good roads, clear sky, soft and 
spring like breezes and variajatel seenery has made our journey here more 
like a pleasure trip than a hard march.

	We are now however at a point where the Turnpike ends, and we look 
over towards the Cumberland 18 miles off and view a rough rugged looking 
region.  We begin to get into the region of excitement and for two days we 
have been meeting exiles from their homes.  nervous people flying north for 
safety, and succour.  We are the first Ohio troops that have marched this 
road.  The refugees have been coming here in numbers from Tennessee (as they 
are drafting over there) until today.  I talked to two worn down men this 
evening who have escaped.  They say the reason there was but few came today 
was that the Disunionists had a force 18 miles from here on the road to 
catch them.  If you look on the map of KY and find Columbia you will see 
there is only one county between the one we are in and Tennessee, and we are 
only 18 miles from Cumberland River and thirty (30) from the Tennessee line. 
I could hardly keep from crying today to hear the poor exiles thanking god, 
that we had come to help them, and when I told them how the Steamboats, and 
cars, were all being loaded with troops that were coming from regions of 
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and away north west even 
from Minnesota the tears would run down their faces, and they said "now we 
will get to see home and our wives, & children again".  I could but think 
how sad it would be if a foe seperates us, and you were subject to their 
mercies, and how grateful I would feel towards them who would restore us 
and to realize that if I could be instrumental in giving those people back 
again to their homes and families I would not have lived in vain.  I do not 
know how long we will remain here.  4 or 5 days I expect, or if no advances 
made further on this line we may be here sometimes.  There is some cases of 
the measles in camp, 6 or 8.  Capts Egbert & Higgins are well, Homer Huggins 
is not very well, not able for duty but nothing serious.  Wm McColgin, 
Lelkare, Lidy, Emery Sells are well.  W. Kiny complained some today but 
marched nearly all day.

	Sam Walker is well.  Thomas is not very well the last two days but 
does duty.

	I have been uneasy about Lt. Jeniy.  If he gets able to come on tell 
Uncle to say to him to arrest Lucas and bring him on and any others that may 
be there without leave.

	Remember me to the friends and write soon.

Yours affectionately
Perry Fyffe