This letter was written by 21 year-old Morris Baxter (1840-1863), a member of the Sprague Zouave Cadets who were mustered into the 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) as Co. B. This regiment served for just three months and when the men were encouraged to reenlist as a three year regiment, Morris signed on again as a corporal and rose in rank to 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 7th OVI, known by man as the “Rooster Regiment.”
Morris was mortally wounded in the fighting on Taylor’s Ridge some 12 miles south of Chattanooga during the Battle of Ringgold Gap (Ga.) on 27 November 1863. A regimental history states that, “In the death of Adjt. Morris Baxter we lose a noble man, brave to rashness in battle, energetic and efficient in camp.” [See: “Its Glory Seemed to Have Parted: the 7th Ohio at Ringgold” by my friend Dan Masters]
Morris wrote this letter to his parents, William Baxter (1800-1865) and Elizabeth Chambers (1804-1896) of Carrollton, Carroll county, Ohio.
[My thanks to Ann Melichar for preparing a draft of this transcription.]
Transcription
“Death to Traitors” Patriotic envelope postmarked Cleveland, OH
Head Quarters Sprague Zouave Cadets
Camp Taylor, Cleveland Ohio
April 30, 1861
Dear Father & Mother,
I have but a few minutes to write you a very short letter. I did not receive yours until Saturday evening. We are very busy drilling all the time in daylight and after night we have no lights so that my chances for writing are small but I shall write you as often as I can. Our company was sworn in and mustered into the 7th Regiment yesterday [as Co. B]. We will leave here sometime this week—I think about tomorrow or next day—for either Marietta, Cincinnati, or Cairo, Illinois. We don’t know which yet until we receive orders from HeadQuarters at Columbus.
If I had time, I would write you a description of our camp and camp life, how we eat and sleep, &c., our uniforms, and a lot of other things that I know would interest you. We have in camp now 4,386 men and to see them all sit down to breakfast is a sight worth seeing.
I am called and must go. I will write again soon and give you a longer letter. Until then, good bye and God bless you all.
Your affectionate son, —Morris
Spared & Shared 22 