These two letters were written by Allen Joseph Clifton (1843-1931) of Co. B, 51st Pennsylvania Infantry. Allen mustered into the service in October 1861 and he mustered out in October 1864. Though he claimed to be 20 years old when he entered the service, he was actually just under 18.
Allen was the second son of Alexander James Clifton (1814-1868) and Sarah Ann Nagle (1820-1905) of Easton, Northhampton, Pennsylvania. The first son, Sgt. John L. Clifton (1841-1924), also served with Allen in Co. B, 51st Pennsylvania.
In 1870, Allen married Mary Alice Mettler (1850-1906); they lived the remainder of their lives in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. In 1870, Allen worked on the railroad at Easton.
See also—1862-63: Allen Joseph Clifton to Sarah Ann (Nagle) Clifton
[Note: These two letters are from the personal collection of Jim Doncaster and are published by express consent.]
Letter 1
Knoxville, Tennessee
October 21st 1863
Dear Mother,
I received your letter of September 29th. Today is the 21st day of October—my birthday—and here I must celebrate it away down in Tennessee. Awful ain’t it? If I could only celebrate it right, I would not say anything about it. As my messmate John Deihl says, we are in the land of Nod where people starve to death by God.
We have just completed a march of a 195 miles. We arrived here 2 days ago. we were 17 days on the road & they were roads so as some days we made 20 miles and others only 5—nothing but mountains, one after the other, and some so steep that we had to almost climb on our hands and feet. We forded also the Cumberland and Clinch rivers. We did not suffer much for meat. There were plenty of hogs in the mountains & we were not very bashful in appropriating them to our own use every night. We had fresh pork that was not issued but now we have to live on half rations of coffee and sugar but get full rations of fresh bread, meat. Owing to the difficulty of transportation, we have to haul it all the way from Crab Orchard in wagons.
Knoxville is a pretty little place. It is about the size of Bethlehem and looks about like it. Parson Brownlow is here. He arrived on Saturday. He passed us on the march at Cumberland Gap.
We have great news here. We hear that Gen. Meade has knocked spots out of Old Lee & drove him clean into Richmond & we also hear that Rosecrans is going to supersede Meade & that Thomas takes Rosy’s place but we don’t believe anything—nothing at all—only what we see and only half of that.
Where we go to next I don’t know. I should not wonder a bit if we did haul up in Pennsylvania sometime. There is 20 men in the company now commanded by Corp. [John W.] Meeker. We are all well and as lively as crickets. Don’t complain a bit but keep up a devil of a thinking. Them fellows instead of forming clubs had better come out and help settle this thing and save their $60.
How is business with Pap and how do you all come on and how is things in general all around town? What is John trying to do? Does the town look the same or is there any improvements.
All at present. More anon. Give love to all. Yours, — Allen J. Clifton
Letter 2
Mossy Creek, East Tennessee
March 11th 1864
Dear Mother,
I have not received your answer to the last letter I wrote you but that don’t prevent me from writing to you. I suppose they will be along after awhile. I heard all about the veterans. My messmate William Smith had an express some time ago & he received another one yesterday of the 22 of February.
I write this letter more on account [of] how I am situated & a little adventure I had a few days ago which came near sending my messmate & myself to Richmond. We are now at a place called Mossy Creek between the Holsten and French Broad Rivers about 15 miles from Strawberry Plains & 30 miles from Knoxville. We was up to Morristown some time ago about 15 miles from here but seen no enemy. Smith and I were detailed the other day for picket. When arriving at the regular post we were detailed again along with a corporal out of our company for vedette about a half mile from the post. We were stationed at an old barn—comfortable quarters for it looked like rain and rain it did that night. We remained that afternoon & half of the night on post when we were relieved with the understanding that we had to take the same post next morning bright and early which we did. It had cleared off.
I went to a house close by and engaged some corn cake which were to be baked till noon. Shortly after leaving the house we heard some pretty sharp firing about a mile to our left but paid no particular attention thinking it was other pickets firing off their guns but it proved afterwards to be a scouting party of the 3rd Tennessee that had come across a party of Rebel cavalry. This was very near noon. I was just thinking of going after my cakes when lo [and] behold, we spied some cavalry about a half mile on our left and a little in the rear. They had on blue overcoats & we first thought they were ours but still we were suspicious. The corporal dispatched me to report to the captain of the pickets & Smith proceeded to a little knoll to watch their maneuvers.
“I says to myself, now Clifton, wade in or you’ll go to Richmond & the way I went across that cornfield was a shame to bigger men.”
I had hardly got half way on my mission and Smith had just got on the knoll when I heard him say they was a coming. They was a coming down a ravine that I had to cross. I looked and seen them—they on horses and I on foot. I says to myself, now Clifton, wade in or you’ll go to Richmond & the way I went across that cornfield was a shame to bigger men.
I no sooner thought myself pretty safe when bang went my old blunderbuss. Smith and the corporal were not quite so fortunate for the rebels came right between them and the reserve pickets so they had to pitch for a piece of woods someways on our right. But before they reached it, the rebels rode almost onto them and demanded them to surrender. Smith was the hindmost man. He laid down behind a log & was going to surrender when the 3rd Tennessee opened fire on them & engaged their attention when they forgot Smith. I forgot to say that the squad of the 3rd Tennessee which the rebels drove came right over where we was. All this time the rebels were in no more that 3 yards from Smith and about 50 yards from me. While all this was going on, I was not idle. I spied a big rebel on a fine horse. I just got behind a big stump and put my sights to bear on him. Bang! went my gun. I think he dismounted rather quickly than he had a notion to for he turned a complete somersault—satisfaction for cheating me out of my corn cake & Fredericksburg.
Smith drawed on another one & shot him clean through the body so we both had satisfaction. The rebels soon got disgusted & left. They no sooner left when we was relieved. We are now in camp, well & hearty. Hope you are all the same.
Give my best respects to all. Yours son, Allen J. Clifton
Spared & Shared 22 