This letter was written by Cincinnatus (“Nat”) Benjamin Blake (1830-1918) who enlisted on 28 July 1861 as a 2nd Lieutenant in Co. G, 4th Virginia [West Virginia] Infantry. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant before resigning his commission on 3 April 1863 at Young’s Point, Louisiana, on account of disability.
Blake was born in 1830 at Blake’s Landing, near Swan Creek, Ohio, the son of Anselm Tupper Blake (180101896) and Hannah Pamelia Trowbridge (1802-1895). In 1856 he married Miss Gratia Turnbull Fuller (1835-1915), daughter of Major General Alphonso T. F. Fuller, of Quaker Battalion, Lawrence county, Ohio.
As a riverman Mr. Blake was well known. He piloted a flat boat from Pittsburg to New Orleans in the early days and operated the Daniel Boone in the Gallipolis and Huntington trade. Later he went to Louisville and ran the Daniel Boone and other boats in the New Orleans trade. He was sheriff of his home county, Gallia, O., for two terms from 1880 to 1884. In addition to his many other ventures he operated a silver mine in Colorado, being owner of the Last Chance Mining and Smelting company in that district.
Transcription
Sandy River, Louisa, Kentucky
15th February 1862
Dear Visha (that is, if your hubby will allow it without offense),
I learned from you that I was indebted to you a line or two. If so (and I ‘spect it is), I can occupy a few leisure moments in paying my small debt. We are Gentleman Loafers at this place—Co.’s G & H of the 4th Regt. Va. Volunteers—only stirring enough to jog our stomachs for the next meal. However, I manage to get a shot at the rebels occasionally and call one mine. We hear of their whereabouts and first they know of mine, I just pounce on them like a hawk on a chicken. I have got them to know and fear me so that those that I can’t find or catch will come in and give up. They have come to the conclusion that it is dangerous to live even in a rockhouse. Some come in that are so guilty in the way of stealing & shooting that we can’t let them go again. Others we try and make them give bonds to the amount of their worth to stay at home and provide for their families give assistance to the Federal army and information to our scouts of the rebels when they can. Some go away changed men at heart, no doubt, and will make glad hearts at home. Some perhaps there will be no improvement in, but there is many that have been quelled, and pulled and scared and coaxed and drove. Such men are glad to get home and will stay there peaceably.
We caught one man in particular that it was proven that he held one man (of 18 or 19 years) down whilst two others loaded guns and shot him and many other as horrible deeds. One man ran him a half a mile and caught him with an empty gun to such a man would never have been brought in. The other two were shot. One of them shot one of our men through the arm after he had two balls through his body. I went in search of four the other day—some that had been in the Guyandotte fight—and had an Enfield Musket. I had six men with me. We came down on them. Two of them was at the house and two was on the hillside and the old woman swung her hand that way so I took a hint and started that way with two men. We got sight of them and had ten shots at them but failed to hit them but got the two at the house. They say I shall have the Enfield. Maybe they will. When Orderly Sergeant [Davis S.] Trowbridge went to Ceredo with the prisoners—5 in number (they were [V. A.] Witcher’s men1 )—he told that I had a hand in taking theme and they said yes, he will shoot. He’ll shoot, that’s so. So you can see where I as others get credit for what was neither bravery or skill.
Well, I must give some account of Louisa, Kentucky. It is a nice little town lying on Sandy River where the river divides and a part comes from Kentucky and the other from Virginia. Our town is partly deserted by the rebel part and the houses have been occupied by soldiery and pretty well torn down, fences torn away, &c. Then there is a class of aristocracy left and good Union [people] too. They are all that I have made the acquaintance of. I have told some good stories to them & got Orderly set up. If he wasn’t so slow, he might have a nice time. I don’t know if I will make anything of him. If I had not claimed the honor of leaving a wife that was better looking and better than any of them, I might have sparked some of them in the absence of some of their friends and companies but it is too late now. In fact, one had a notion to spark me anyhow & I had to prove by William More that I was married. He saw Gratia when he was at your ma’s for cider. In regard to him, I think him a very nice and generous man. I have called on him several times by his regiment and taken dinner with him. Had a nice time generally.
Next time in line is my boarding house at one Squire Savages. His wife is—or was—a Miss More—a very, very nice & kind old lady. They have things. clean and neat. In regard to rations, we have a baked turkey daily and everything that is nice. I had Orderly go to Ceredeo on purpose to bring Gratia and Hannah up and the girls generally but they passed Ceredo & he never knew it. They could have had a nice time here if they had come. I sent money by Dave to bring them up. It would have cost nothing if he had got on a government boat as they could have done. I am almost sick to Gratia and the boys. It seems that love is gone for all else but them all others are only friends, even to my mother. I like her best next to Gratia and the boys. I never thought that anyone could crowd her out but tisn’t so. Gratia is first.
The only consolation is that I can send her plenty money. I shall draw $400 the first of March if the pay man doesn’t come before. Then I have traded into about $300 more. I am making more than I could cutting hoop poles or grubbing and can ge a gentleman too. Hard times come no more.
I do not think of anything now unless I mention that some of the Bloody Co. G stole some geese and a few fowls and eat them and Capt. [Henry] Grayum put them in jail for it and made them pay for it besides (that is the birds). I think I will beg a furlough when I get my pay and go to see my Grasha.
Our first lieutenant (so the Col. says) is worth as much as an old mill that wasn’t worth attaching a dam to. I expect I’ll get his place. Shan’t be too anxious though. Write soon. Tell me if you and your hubby love a good sight and excuse my writing a friendly letter to his better half. Direct to Ceredo. As ever a friend to both you and hubby, — C. B. Blake
1nd Lt. C. B. Blake, Co. G, 4th V. V. M.
1 Lt. Col. Witcher’s men served in Co. A, 34th Va. Battn. Cavalry.
Spared & Shared 22 
This is my great great-grandfather, he was a very interesting man. My father was named after him and Everette was my great grandfather and Harry was my grandfather
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