This letter was sold as a Confederate letter but clearly it is not. Bridgeport, Alabama, was under Union control by February 1864 and was serving as a Federal supply depot 22 miles from Chattanooga. The author signed his name by his initials only, which are either, “I. N. R.” or J. N. R.” and he writes of his wife in “Columbus” which I presume to be in Indiana, Illinois, or Ohio. I have not yet found any article describing the consolidation of regiments—infantry or cavalry—that he speaks of.
An acquaintance of mine and an expert on Ohio Civil War history tells me that “in early 1864, a large number of Ohio regiments returned home to veteranize, and the men who chose not to enlist would be left behind in theater where they would be placed in temporary consolidated units. Very likely what happened in this case. That the letter dates from Bridgeport leads me to think an 11th or 12th Army Corps regiment, but detachments from any of the troops then at Chattanooga could have been on duty at Bridgeport.”
Transcription
Bridgeport, Alabama
February 10th 1864
Dear Wife,
We got here last night and I am not sorry of that for I am most played out. The weather is very nice. It is as warm as summer except at night—then it is very cold. I caught a hell of a cold last night but feel some better today. The boys are all well and feel well. They are fighting at Knoxville today. I hardly think that they will send us home but can’t tell. I hope not. There is some talk that the regiment will consolidate. If they do, I think I will be all right. They talk of putting 24 hundred men in one regiment. That will take 6 or 7 old regiments to make the complement. There will be 75 or 100 officers to be mustered out of the service so I think I will stand a good sight. I expect to get my commission for Capt. tomorrow or next day. Then I will be mustered so I will be the junior captain in the regiment. They take them according to rank but this may be all a mistake. I hope not.
There is some talk of pay. Won’t I be glad of that for I am strapped. I have not got any word from you. I don’t know what to think of that. Some of the boys have got them. I hope for one today. Hope I will not be disappointed. I want to go to Chattanooga this week to see Lt. B. Johnson. He sent me word that he wanted me to come and see him as soon as possible. It seems to me that there is a little girl in Columbus that I would like to see very well. What do you think of that? Well the time may come when I can stay with you. I hope not long. Write soon.
— I. N. R.
I think we will stay here for some time. Direct to Bridgeport, Alabama.
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