Marion County, West Virginia - Thomas N. SWISHER Letters - Eight Letters ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any 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. ********************************************************************** Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by Floa Swisher Thomas N. Swisher Letter One Rowlsburg West Virginia March the 13th 1864 Dear Sarah Anne I seat myself to acknowledge the receipt of your letter which came to hand on last evening. The news contained in your letter (however sad and melancholy to me) was nothing more than I expected to hear and while I take up the lamentation that I have no mother now in this world I console myself with the thoughts of having a devoted mother "in Heaven". Though we are deprived of her prayers in this life I feel assured that she will be a ministering Angel to to those left behind encouraging them to follow in her footsteps, which will evidently lead to that place which is prepared for those that live the life of the righteous. I was verry sorrow that I could not attend the funeral of my Mother, yet such is the fate of those acting in the military capacity. Respecting my new position I am tolerably well satisfied so far. I arrived here at 6 oclock p.m. the same day I left home and reported to the commanding officer (Capt. Hall). The next morning I took charge of the two guns at this post. We have only had one drill, there being considerable of work to do before there could level ground enough be found to dwell on where guns are situated. The boys appear verry anxious to learn. I don't think I will have much trouble in learning them what little I know. The boys that have the guns in charge belongs to co. F. They are generally pretty gay fellows. I think I will like them tolerable well when I get acquainted with them. There is no news of much importance afloat here except that some scouts report a force of rebels numbering about four hundred in Tucker county on the north fork of Cheat River. I suppose about 50 miles from here. The officers here is verry easily frightened in my way of thinking. Please excuse this letter which is not at all interesting being to the melancholy state of my mind. Let me hear from you when ever you have an opportunity. Give my compliments to Elmore tell him to write to me if he has not left VA as any think will be interesting to me while here. Manage affairs the best you can. Your affectionate husband Thomas N. Swisher ______________________________________________________ Thomas N. Swisher Letter Two Camp Near Clarksburg W Va November the 29th 1863 Dear Sarah Anne In reply to yours which I rceived by alph. I have the honour to inform you that if no preventing providence I will try to come home next Friday if I can possibly get off. I have consulted Lieut. Graham about going home but he would not give me any possible assurance that I could go but I think when the time comes that he will let me go. I have been in camp for several days but have not done any duty from the fort. I am verry weak but I am still getting better and I think I will be entirely well in the course of two or three weeks. We was all verry agreeably surprised last knight after we had nearly all gone to bed we was called up to go over in town to get our pay so if I come home I will come on the cars as I will have money to pay my fair. I will do my best to get to come next Friday which will be the 4th of the month if you come to town to meet me and I should not get to come you must not think hard for I will use every exertion in my power to be there acording to promise. So hoping I will see you all soon I will will close× Excuse mistakes and bad writing. Your husband affectionately till Death Thomas N. Swisher Maulsby Indpt Virginia Battery ______________________________________________________ Thomas N. Swisher Letter Three Clarksburg W Va February 25th 1864 My Dear and loveing wife The reception of your kind letter which has only been in my possession for a few hours has troubled me more than all the letters received during my absence. I am truely sorrow that any act of unfaithfulness or unkindness on the part of an absent yet kind and dutiful husband has been the cause of one moments unhappiness around the domestic fireside. And while I shame facedly acknowledge the truth of a part of the report which has been the cause of your trouble. My indignation kindles at the individual who would dare carry news to you for the purpose of disturbing your peace of mind and creating dissatisfaction between us. As to my associates being the worst men in the company is abase falsehood. As to the dancing matter that I deny also turn over But I acknowledge to have tried to dance on three different occasions. But it was more through mischief as to pass away the lonely and dreary evenings of a camp life that I did it than anything else not having the least idea that I had done myself or anyone else any harm. And had I the least idea that such news would be carried to you and the truth been misrepresented as much as it has been (according to your letter), I would have shuned even the attempt to such actions as I would have shuned the deadly Poison. I feel no condemnation or remorse of conscience for any of my actions since I have been a U.S. Soldier yet while I acknowledge myself in a small degree guilty of the charges preferred. I trust that your kindness will pardon the first offence of inconstancy and in future I will endeavor to live more in accordance with the laws of God and man and should I in any degree violate or break the promises here made to you I will consider you perfectly justifiable in denouncing me hereafter as your lawful huband and further I would not consider myself entitled to any act of justice or kindness should I fail to do as I have promised you. Had I the priviledge of conversing with you face to face I would soon straighten this dancing matter but as it is I will defer saying anything further as language fails to do my feelings justice in conveying the many confused ideas which rush upon my mind. But, if there is any information desired concerning my late conduct I would refer you to Lieut. Graham or Carter or any of the men that are acquainted with my bad habits But enough of this. If we remain here very long and I can't get home to see you I want you to come and see me. Have you weaned Ellsworth yet if you have not I advise you to do so as you will be able to stand the many hardships which summer will bring upon you and besides he will not be so much trouble to you if he was weaned and if you pay me a visit you would not have so much trouble in comeing. Don't think because I write this that I don't want you to bring the children, if you should come to see me for God, know I want to see them as bad as any of you but I know that is out of the question to bring them provided you should get in the notion to come. Let me know in answer to this whether you think you can come to see me provided nothing takes place more than we know of this leaves me in the best of health. Kiss the children for me. My compliments to you all. Good knight Dear Sarah. your loving and affectionate husband faithfully till Death Thomas N.Swisher To Mrs Sarah Anne Swisher _______________________________________________________ Thomas N. Swisher Letter Four Camp of artillery Instruction Near Washington City July 19th 1863 My Dear Wife I take my seat this pleasant sabbath morning to acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter bearing the date of July 12th which was receaved yesterday and read with exquisite Joy haveing not heard from you since the fight at Martinsburg but as communication is being thoroughly opened up I trust that we will have the pleasure of hearing from each other oftener× Your letter brings me good news I am glad to hear that you are getting along so well and hope that prosterity will crown all your efforts in the pursuits of life. My health is not as good as it has been this spring past but when I take everything into consideration I feel thankful that I am 2 alive and well as I am haveing passed throgh the flint mill in the last six weeks and endured more of the real hardships of a soldiers life in that short period than I have in all the time since I enlisted× But as the news is verry encouraging from all most every quarter it revives me up× I think the tide of war is ebing away and that our national difficulties will soon be brought to an issue× If I survive the present campaign and get home I think that I can enjoy myself better than ever I have before. I have heard nothing from William except that he is a Prisoner. Some of our boys are at camp Parole anapolis, M. D. I learn from our boys that arrived here day before 3 yesterday from West Virginia that some of those that were at anapolis had sent a list of the prisoners to western va. If they have you have more correct news concerning the Prisoners than I have× Lieutenant Graham arrived here a week ago today with 30 men× There is 84 of us here with three commissioned officers. We had 3 men killed in action the names of which are as follows: Corporal Almarine Doak, James H. Mariner and Elias M. Summers× It is with feelings of deep regret that I recind the death of those noble comrads× Yet I know not how soon some of my comrads may be called to the painful task of recording my Death as my Determinations are to stand by the flag of our noble country as long as I have an existence of strength to raise an arm for its protection× Putting my trust in him who has preserved my life 4 in the midst of Danger seen + unseen Well Sarah I can't tell you anything about how long we will stay here we still organazeing and fixing up our deficiencies we will draw new guns which will make a four gun Battery (with Kill ? that is my piece (a name that Rufus Fast my gunner give the piece). I have not time nor chance to make mention of the brave and noble conduct of Rufus and my canoners and drivers that stand by my piece for sometime after we had orders to leave the field and brought the piece off while shot and shell were flying thick as hail all around us. As it nearly time for role call I will have to close promising to write you a more interesting letter next time Tell your mother and Mary not to be discouraged that William will be all wright again in the course of a month or six weeks I fell pretty certain our boys will be exchanged before long I will close I still remain your husband in the bonds of matrimony love and affection __________________________________________________ Thomas N. Swisher To Mrs. Sarah Ann Swisher write soon Direct as before Tell Robert to write and let me know how the sunday school prospers. ____________________________________________________________ Thomas N. Swisher Letter Five Camp Berry DC August 6th 1863 Dear Sarie, I seat myself to answer your welcome letter which came to hand on the 2nd informing me that you was all well this was glad news to know that you and the children had such good health× My health at present is much better than when I last wrote though I am not well yet by right smart some days I fell tolerable well other days I fell sick and have no appetite to eat× I still take a little medicine to keep my system in as good condition as possible until the sickley part of the season is over I never have been yet so that I could not do my duty but it is not so hard as sometime ago. There is a number of the boys in our 2 Battery that are sick though. I think none of the casses are dangerous× those that are in the hospital are all on the mend. I informed you in my letter previous to this of the death of Josephus Hawkins. I also stated in my letter to father of the death of Elza Jacobs (which was a noble soldier)× This will bring you the sad intelligence of the death of Rufus N. Fast. He went to the hospital the 27th of July and died on the 1st of August of Typhoid fever× He was sick a few days before he went to the hospital + remained there but a few days. He bore his sickness with as much fortitude as any man could without amurmer or asking for anything that the physician did not allow him. This noble soldier passed off the stage of action apparently with strong constitution. This was allmost a death stroke to me as he was my gunner and endeared himself to me verry much by his bravery on the field at Martinsburg and as our duties were so closely connected it makes 3 me appreciate his loss more than if it had been some one else nevertheless I fell resigned to the will of him who chastiseth I whom he loveth trusting that my life will be precious in his right and that I will yet live to see the flag that my comrad so nobly defended float in peace from the capital of every state in the union. We had his body embalmed and sent home it left here on the fourth of the month. I wrote to Allen Fast concerning the cost of embalment coffin and express charges all of which was sixty dollars. As you said something concerning my severing after my return of enlistment had expired I will Just say for your satisfaction there I don't intend to serve any longer unless compelled to. I only meant by what I said that I never intended to bring any disgrace upon you or my posterity by my cowardly conduct if I loose my life and if the war don't close thank God one more year will put me out then they can 4 do their own fighting I was glad to hear that you had heard from William and that he was well. I still hear from the boys by letters reseaved in camp from them. I saw a letter from Elias Ferrell a day or two since he was well and at Camp Parole with the balance of the boys. As I don't know anything about your Domestic affairs I will omit saying anything about them trusting to your judgement for the management of your affairs. Write and give me the news both Private and public I must close as the bugle has allready sounded for roll call direct as before. I still remain your affectionate husband till Death (Tommy) Tell Sammy he must be a good boy and help mother hoe corn Pappy would like to see him and murions white heads flying around these hot days I give my compliments all the folks generally none accepted and tell them all to write to Tommy _____________________________________________________ Thomas N. Swisher Letter Six Camp Barry D.C. Aug 25/63 My Dear Sarah Anne for fear of you thinking me (ditalory?) about answering your letters I will srite you a few lines as there is no doubt but you want to hear from me× I am glad that I can inform you that I am well at this time my health has been improveing for some time and I now feel like I could stand as many hardships as ever I could× The health of the boys generally I think is improveing× The surgeon in charge of the Post Hospital has recommended a ration P 2 of Whiskey to be given to the men every day. The doctors prepares it at the hospital with medicine necessary to the healoth of the men and we all march to the hospital once every day and it is issued out to us for the purpose ofkeeping off fever and (?). You desired me to tell you the reason why we have not been moved from here my dear woman you will have to ask someone who is wiser that I am I wish that I could satisfy your curiosities by answering your question. The latest news that I had from the captain was that he was recovering fast and would soon be with P 3 me again× If this news be correct and he joins us soon we will get out of here× Lieutenant Herr is about to effect his resignation which I think is the best thing he can do he has never been of any account since the fight. Sergt Swearingen and him bothe left the field as soon as the rebel batteries opened on us and I did not see either of them until the fight was all over. You can keep this to yourself until someone else tells it as it would not look well to talk this way about my superior officers The boys that are in the Hospital I think is all getting better Alph & Sergt Swearingen has had a tolerable serious P4 spell of sickness. Alph is getting better fast the Seargt does not seem to mend as fast as the others the diarhea has been hiis principal disease I think he will get a furlough and go home for a while. I am glad to hear that William has got home I do not begrudge him his happiness at all but I would like to enjoy the same privilidge. I want you to write to me as soon as this comes to hand and let me know whether you are all agoing to starve to death or not I understand that you are not going to raise anything in western Va on account of the drought If you can't raise anything to live on use your money as economical as possible provide for yourself and the children if it takes every cent of my wages There is nothing would trouble me more than news of this kind **Here in the side margin it states "look on next sheet"......there was no next sheet with this set of letters _____________________________________________________________ Letters Seven and Eight Written by Charles N. Swisher to his brother, Thomas N. Swisher Thomas N. Swisher Letter Seven Dear Brother, I have now Seated myself beneath the leafy boughs of a beautiful spreading sugar near out encampment to acknowledge the recipt of your letter bearing date of May the 17th. all nature around me presents a beautiful and Romantic appearance. the forest is again being clothed with her (?) on the mayflowers unfolding their beauty but not withstanding all this my mind is enshrouded with a gloom and I often seek a lonely retreat when I can reflect upon past events and try to cipher out in my own imagination what will come to pass in the future. This sad evil which has befell our nation is a matter of much lately with me tis not only my duty P2 by day but even at knight after all the phisical powers are wraped up in sleep and the mind is still contemplating this subject that rests with such weight upon me× War with all it's horrors is now beginning to open to our vision the people of west Va is begining to realize the wages of the dread monster and the Rebel is reaping the fruit of two years faithful labor× I was in town a few days ago and astonished to see such a throng× some countenances wore a smile while on others were depicted a look of sorrow that told all was not right× an order had just been issued for all rebel sympathizers to be passed out of our line and they were preparing to obey the order When I looked upon the pair (?) and the little children and seen the tears chassing down their chests my humanity was touched and P3 while I would consult this feeling and would say let them alone let them enjoy their home comforts but justice comes up and says take them from our midst they are our enemy and are jeopardizing the lives and for tune of thousands× I might say Weston is also entirely dreamed of the aristocracy Samuel Closson was sent away with the balance of the possey× he was the worst Rebel I ever seen× there is 3 kept here the 28 Ohio 1st U.S. & 3rd Va we I understand have marching orders for sutton and will repair tither eve many days if the order is not countermanded 'tis all quiet here and I do not think there is any enemy close as the Gen. rides out occasionally accompanied by his staff× I shall say nothing about his actions during recent raid as I do not feel myself at liberty to speak but I will venture the assertion that if the 2nd and 3rd Va. had just been (?). P4 at liberty during the time these desperadoes wer pilaging our county there would not have been enough left of them to grease a sore ass, the fault was not in the men they wer over anxious to fight but did not get an opportunity× I received a letter from home yesterday giving a full account of the fight at Fairmont (?) the folks at home are all well I received a few days ago a letter from Enoch he was unwell× I read this morning the sentences of W. B. Compton of Fairmont overtaken with justice at last. We have performed some hard marches during the recent raid our retreat from sutton perhaps has not a parallel in the history of modern warfare× We marched 43 miles from one morning to the next an carried our knapsacks and after reaching Buckhanan we wer marched on to Clarksburg without having any rest or sleep, I enjoy good health and all the balance of the marion boys are well Morgan and Brown are at camp (?) Ohio× I could write more butmy time will not permit this will have to suffice for the present Hope you are well with all the balance of the boys my respects to all Charles N. Swisher Weston Louis Co. Va May the 22nd 1863 (Across the bottom left corner of the end of this note a line is drawn and the words "give an answer soon.") ____________________________________________________________ Thomas N. Swisher Letter Eight Camp Franklin Penalton County West Va May the 16th 62 Mr Thomas N Swisher< >Dear sir according to promise I take up my pen in order to drop you a few lines to let you know how I florish at the present time I enjoy tolerable good health) I had quite a pleasant trip I got along very well I had the good luck to get to ride nearly all the way (?) I fell in with a train of wagons at (Louisville?) that was going to Petersburg and when arrived there they was ordered on to our boys I regained my (?) about 4 o'clock last tuesday evening× I found the boys all well but there was considderable excitement and confusion prevailing in camp owing to the late battle in which they met with bad luck though our boys say they wer not shiped but still they had to fall back some 25 miles and I Suppose it was a military necssity for the Rebels outnumber us 3 to 1× P2 but if they will just try us now we will show how the boar eat the cabbaage our force here is 30 thousand strong or a little more and likely we will advance soon our boys burnt all thir tents in the retreat as they could not bring them away with them when got back to them they had the able tents there New kind composed of (4 or 9) square rail pen and covered with the same article and as it has been very wet for a day or two and they did not turn rain very well (?) (?) quarters and occupy a house in franklin× Well Nelt we are seeing a harder time in regard to eatables than ever we have since we have been in the service we have had to bake our own bread and now and then get a little beef but I tell you the sour belly is played out I must now close excuse my short letter an write soon Direct to Franklin Pendleton Co Va Co B 3rd regt in Capt. Shuttleworth Charles N Swisher we have 30 Rebel soldiers under guard Regular