This letter was written by 20 year-old Samuel Watenbe (1843-1903) who enlisted as a corporal on 4 August 1863 in Co. F, 129th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI). He mustered out with the rest of his regiment on 5 March 1864, the unit intended for only six months service. During their limited time, the regiment was attached to DeCourcy’s Brigade, Wilcox’s Left Wing Forces of the Department of the Ohio. They participated in the capture of the Cumberland Gap in September and then were placed on picketing and foraging duty in the Gap for most of the remainder of their time.
Samuel was the son of William Baker Wartenbe (1804-1883) and Elvira Westbrook (1810-1875) of Lick township, Jackson county, Ohio—an area in southeastern Ohio with deep political divisions. In the hotly contested gubernatorial election of 1863, Peace Democrats supported Vallandigham while pro-Administration supporters backed John Brough.
[Transcribed by Stacy Cookenour/edited & researched by Griff]
Transcription
Cumberland Gap
October 17th, 1863
Dear Sir,
I received your welcome letter on the 14th of October. I was glad to hear from you and that you was well. Your kind letter found me in poor health. Joseph is fatter than ever I saw him. We have good times here. We get plenty to eat since we took the Gap. The most of the boys are well.
Ratio [Horatio C.] Hanna shot himself through the left hand. He was on picket with me at the time. I had to lay in the rain 4 ½ days and this made me sick.
They beat the long roll night before last. I tell you the boys did jump. It was a false alarm. You don’t have any idea what times we have had since I left home. I have been run down, starved, choked for want of water, and everything else. We have had all the fun we wanted.
This is rebel paper and I send it in a rebel envelope. I thought you would like to have one. I have not much news to write. I have written so many letters I can’t think of much to write. Tell Miss Nally and Miss Nancy Grider I send my best respect to them both. I want you to tell me where Jasper Nally is and tell me what Leonard is doing. Tell him I send my best respects to him. I would write to you all in Kansas but I can’t get paper. Can’t hardly get paper to write home. I can’t get any postage stamps. I hate to have to make you pay for my letter. If you don’t like to pay the postage, I won’t write. I can’t write to any of the girls on this account.
I would fill this sheet but I don’t feel well this morning. This damned poor paper and bad pen. This paper is like the damned Rebs—damned rough.
I would give you a full history [of] my camp life if I knew you would like [to] know what times we have had, but I don’t feel like writing. You must write. Give me all the news in Kansas. I told William West [Co. F, musician] about Mr. McClung. You say Miss Ford is well. She has played out with me is a fact. That is so.
Mr. Wm. Robertson, write soon. These few lines leaves me gaining a little. I will soon be well again if I don’t get backset. So I hope this may find you well. Tell Mary Hull I send my love to her. We had 124 votes for Vallandigham here in the bloody 129th. So, no more at present. Yours respectfully –Mr. Samuel Wartenbe
to Mr. Wm. Robertson
Excuse my scribbling for I have a bad place to write and 1 bad pen. Keep this letter for it is all reb paper.
Samuel, your old friend.
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