These two letters were written by Jacob Robbins Steinmetz (1842-1897), a native of Norristown, Pennsylvania, who enlisted as a private in Co. C & L, 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry (160th Penn. Vols) on 22 August 1862. He was mustered out of the regiment on 21 June 1865. His unit saw service in the Western theater, and participated in the Battle of Stones’ River, Missionary Ridge and Gen. Stoneman’s huge cavalry raid near the end of the war.
Jacob wrote the letters to Julia Edey St. Clair (1842-1865), the daughter of James St. Clair (1805-1841) and Julia Edey (1808-1882) of Norristown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Her great-grandfather was General Arthur St. Clair of Revolutionary War fame. Clearly Jacob considered himself an intimate friend and regular correspondent of Julia’s, but his last few letters to her are ones in which he asks why she hasn’t written to him. A family history reveals that Julia married Rev. John Wesley Ledenham on 14 June 1864 which accounts for the abrupt termination of her return correspondence. Rev. Leadenham was an 1859 graduate of the Divinity School at Harvard University. Julia died the following year—on 9 June 1865; her death notice was published in the Public Ledger newspaper (Philadelphia) on 13 June 1865.
After returning from the war, Jacob became a collector for Howell Brothers of Philadelphia for several years. He then returned to farming but later formed a partnership with James Daniels for the purpose of constructing freight cars. He did not marry his wife, Martha Jane Bickings (1856-1951), until 1893. He died four years later, enabling his wife to receive a widow’s pension for over 50 years.
[Note: These are part of a collection of letters owned by Andrew Garton who has authorized me to transcribe and publish them on Spared & Shared.]
Letter 1
Nashville [Tennessee]
February 3d 1863
Dear Julia,
I received your letter on Christmas night after returning from a foraging expedition during which we had a small skirmish with the Rebs. Thus you see we had not a dance under the mistletoe bough but a fight under it (for it abounds here). I would have answered it sooner for it had been on the road a good while, we having left Louisville before its arrival there. It was then forwarded to Nashville where it lay till we came.
The next day we were ordered to the front. I in company with about 270 others went. The remainder refused because they were not to be a body guard as we were promised when enlisted. However I went and participated in the Battle of Murfreesboro and on Wednesday evening (New Years eve) I was unfortunate enough to be hit by some bungling Rebel so I spent New Years day in a hospital. Now you know how I spent the holidays. I trust you spent yours in a manner more agreeable.
I lay about the hospital at the front near a week [and] was then transferred to Nashville. I have been in 3 hospitals and am now clear of them all. I am not at present with the regiment but at the camp of the 60th Illinois staying with a friend of mine—Captain Robert Stinson, formerly of Norristown, but of late years of Illinois. I have nearly recovered from the wound and am now enjoying myself finely.
Our regiment is in a terrible state—completely disorganized and of no avail whatever to the service. This is the effect of deceiving men when enlisting them. I was at camp yesterday. Found the boys there in pretty good spirits but a great many are sick and in the hospitals of the city. Some are in the workhouse for disobedience or orders. Others are quartered in a large house in the city & do just as they please. Everything is in confusion & disorder.
I trust your visit to the city was an agreeable one & that your time was pleasantly and profitably spent.
May this find you in as good health as it leaves me is the wish of your true & sincere friend, — J. R. Steinmetz, Co. C, Anderson Cavalry, Nashville, Tennessee
Letter 2
Nashville [Tennessee]
June 25, 1864
Dear Julia,
What have I done that you refuse to answer my letter. Can it be possible that it contained anything offensive or did it not reach its destination? I wrote last from Rossville, Georgia, on April 15th. Should it be your wish to discontinue the correspondence, you need not answer this.
Since last writing to you we have moved to the rear fro horses but as yet have no prospect of securing them though we have been here some 7 weeks. Time glides rapidly by & now we have not quite 14 months to serve. Soon we shall be in Old Pennsylvania again. We look forward to the time when we shall visit our homes with pleasure, it being now nearly two years since we seen our friends & relatives & I suppose when we arrive we shall have some pretty gay times.
Oh! but it is hot here. One nearly melts. I was in Huntsville, Alabama, on Thursday last & I do not think I ever knew it to be so hot, but it is hot enough at Nashville, Tennessee, for all practical purposes, though it is 160 miles north of Huntsville.
I enjoy good health & do duty about 5 days out of a week which is pretty hard work.
With many kind regards for yourself, I remain as ever your old friend—Jacob R. Steinmetz, Co. L, 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Nashville, Tennessee
Spared & Shared 22 