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This is the ninth day that we have been on the steamer Jacob Strader. It is snowing here at present. The weather is pretty cold. No more this time. Good bye.

 

On the ohio river, February 2^nd 1863

 

                                                                        My Dear Brother, Sister and family,—

                                                                                                                                    It is with desired pleasure that I embrace the present opportunity to inform you how we are getting along, and where we are. I am thankful to state that we are well and hope when this little sheet reaches you it will find you all enjoying the same Heavenly blessing. We are now floating down the ohio river at the rate of ten miles an hour. We left Louisville yesterday morning and are now beyound Evensville Indiana and are still going on. I think we will go on till we get to Nashvill or Vicksburg. I do not know where we are going but I think to one of them places. We have had some pretty good times since we have been on the steam-boat and some crowded times also. This is the sixth day that we have been on the boat. We lay four days at Louisville before we started and have been on the way two days. Last night we lay over at Penelton on the Indiana side. Lots of our boys deserted and many more will if they get the opportunity. I have made up my mind to stand it as long as I can and once they do not give us enough to eat I will come home too. I think there is no danger of that if they can get it to us. Brother and Sister your kind and welcome letter reached me when at New Haven and since that I have been so buisy that I had not time to answer it. I thought this would be a fine opportunity only the boat shakes some and it makes the writing look as if a chicken had jumped into the ink pot and run over the paper. Well if it does look so I will still write. We will soon get to where the Wabash river empties into the ohio. /

 

We are going at a pretty good rate. The steamer we are on is 368 feet long; it is a beautiful structure, the largest and best built that ever I saw.

 

            I suppose you heard of the chase we had after old rebel Morgan about Newyears. We had a fine time after him but it was all in vain as we did not succeed in catching him. I think if our Colonel would of had command we would of stood a better chance but the colonel of the 16^th Kentucky has command and he was to much of a secesh to catch him. The last evening of the old year we left Lebanon to follow him and we marched till about two o'clock and then we were halted and lay over that night. Our old Colonel (Reid) he asked permission to go on with his brigade and the other colonel would not permit him so we had to stop. If we would not of stoped we would of caught him in camp and that quite unexpectedly as he thought we were back at Lebanon yet. We could of played havoc among his troops if we would of went on. The next morning we started about seven o'clock and marched all day and in the evening we got to green river where he had burnt about 2500 bushels of corn and the bridge that crossed the river. We had to lay over that night and they made a new road and the next morning at two o'clock they took us across in mule teams. We then went after him in good grace but we found that he was to far ahead for us infantry to catch him. He had pretty much all cavalry and what infantry he had were hauled in wagons. He had some artilliary but it did not amount to any thing. When he was burning the bridge our artiliary shelled him and wounded five of his men. They threw the shells about one mile and a half. He parolled a great many of our sick men at different places. He parolled six out of our company— /

 

We followed him to Campbellsville Columbia which is 42 miles from Lebanon and from there we marched back to Campbellsville which is 20 miles and from there to New Haven which is 45 miles. At first we were called or ordered from Columbia to Lebanon as they expected a fight there and when we got there the rebels were afraid to attact us. We then had to march back to Columbia which would make 84 miles and the 45 miles to New Haven would make 129 miles that we marched in about eight days. From New Haven to Louisville (the distance) is 65 miles; we were taken to Louisville in grain cars and that in the night time. We had good times when we were at Louisville as we got light bread all the time we were there. We most thought of staying there as we were treated so well. Brother M and I were not very well when at New Haven but we have been restored to our usual health again. I thought once we could not go along with the regiment when they left but we had good luck and we are now with it. George, I wish you were here to see the large corn fields along the river. Some we think have a couple of thousand acres of ground in them. For five or ten miles we saw nothing but corn stalks, on the Indianna side. I love to set and look at the country as we glide along. Indianna seems to be a level country towards Kentucky as Ky seems hilly to my sight. I was just thinking if I could see the gals so well as I can see the country it would put me in mind of old times. I have got to be a different boy since I left my good old home. I have almost forgotten the Ladies, since I am in the army but I hope they will not forget me. I must say that some have been kind to me and hope they will remain so. Ky girls are pretty good looking but they are to much of secesh's for me as I am a Union child. (Enough of that) /

 

            Kind friends;—I think I have done pretty well the short time I have been at it; I think I will soon close untill tomorrow. The river is pretty high at present and the weather is clear and cold. It appears colder here then at Louisville but it is on account of the water I suppose. We have got along fine so far without any accident and hope we will get through safe.

 

Feb 3^rd

            Good morning;—I have just seated myself to inform you that we are now at Smithland at the mouth of Cumberland river. We hardly know what way we are going yet as the boat has stoped here. I think we will go up the Cumberland river by all accounts. We lay over part of last night and part of the time we were gliding along at a rapid rate. The boat is now starting again and is going up the Cumberland river. I think we will go to Nashville or fort Donaldson by what they say on the boat. The Cumberland river is not as large as the ohio river is at Pittsburg, it may be as deep but not as wide. We have had good luck so far but we are getting into an enemies country and we might be fired into. I hope we will get safe through and through all other dangers.

 

Dear Brother & family;—Your letter told the truth I think about the President. I think if he would of left the negro question alone he would of had enough to do, and then their would not of been so much of a tear up in our army. I am afraid we are gone up as the soldiers are getting tired of such work as has been done for some time. I suppose the darkey will be above or equal to the white man before long if he is not now. I see in the papers that Congress has concluded that a Negro should have command of a white man as well as a white man of a Negro. Now if that is not going into extrems I do not know what is. If they get H. W. to fight under a Nigger they will be sharper then he is I know. /

 

No more about the nigger as I think they are not worth scribling paper for. Brother you thought it would discourage me to hear such news as you gave me. O, no I am not fighting for the nigger but I am fighting for the Union and Constitution as it was and as it ever must be, and I hope and trust that it will be so before long and that hereafter all will be for God and his institutions. I hope that God will bless us as a nation and let the bright star of peace again shine over our beloved land and country.

 

            The battle of Fredericksburg must have been a terable one by all accounts. I was sorry when I heard that John Fetzer was killed and the many others that were killed and wounded. Burnside must of thought that the rebels could not fight but I suppose he knows now what they can do. McClellan knew what they could do or he would of went into Richmond long before Burnside tried to go in. The rumor is here that they are evacuating Richmond and falling back to Vicksburg. I hope our men will burn their Capital to the ground, so that they will never get into it again. Mr. Brindle and Will Wolf like soldiering pretty well. I like it also but when we look at things it seems as if though we were soldiering for nothing for but the men that want to make money. I have thought so at anyrate.

 

Newyearsday was was pleasant in Kentucky and I spent it different from any other Newyear. We marched all day and part of that night, and you were at preaching I suppose. We have preaching pretty near every sunday. We had preaching last Sunday evening on the boat. I wish I was at the Carlisle Springs come sunday to hear Rev. Adams preach a sermon. It would make me think of old times. I suppose Christmas was enjoyed by some of them young married couples. I suppose Mr and Mrs. Rider enjoyed it. Buly for them Ha. ha. ha.                 H. W.

 

Rev. John Zeigler is all right now. /

 

Brother;—You wish to know what has become of our captain. Well he has resigned and gone home as most of the men have. He took sick at Perryville and when we were at Columbia he come up and resigned. We thought he was able to go with us but he thought not. We said no more about it and left him go. When we were at Lebanon our Second Lieut resigned also. He had a pain in his back he told us, and so he is gone too. We said little about him as he could of staid with us we thought. But most of all and our best man had to leave us on account of bad health, and that was Lieut Barlow, our first Lieutenant. He took sick very sick at Columbia and was not able to go with us when we went back to Lebanon and after we got there we thought he would be taken prisoner by Morgan but he heard of him being about and he felt able to come to Lebanon in a buss and so he come. We were glad to see him but he was not able for deauty and would never be able. He asked us boys one evening with tears in his eyes whether we would think it hard of him if he would resign. or not We told him not but we would of liked if he could go with us. All of the boys thought much of him. I got up a kind of a resignation for him and all the boys signed it and the sergeant gave it to him. It was quite unexpected to him. The sergeant told me that the tears rolled down his cheeks when he read it. He was a man that prayed with us any where and every where. We loved him as a Lieutenant and as a man of good character. He has now resigned and gone home, he was very poorly but is now getting better. We hope he will get well again and that soon. We have no Capt now but have two Lieuts They amount to very little. The first Lieuts name is Spalding and the second Lieuts Van Houtin. /

 

Good, I see I have written on the wrong side but that makes no difference to me I will scrible on as before. Our Company has seen some trying times and still the boys have stuck pretty well. Four have deserted since we have been in service, and if they do not soon treat them better there will more desert.

 

I suppose I have written enough to day I think I will close for to-day and give you the news of tomorrow if I keep my health.       Near fort Donaldson Feb 4^th 1863

Good morning, friends,—We have got through safe so far but thought last night by the way that some acted that we would have a fight. Some of the men were awfully scared but it was them that have not been with us for some time. The rebels come very near taking the fort yesterday by all accounts. They would of took it but as luck would have it our gun boats came up and made them skedadle. The rebels had five thousand cavalry and we had not men enough to hold the fort but we had five gun boats a head of us and they were just in time for them. The secesh wont stand the gun boats. I have not heard what the loss is on either side so I cannot inform you of that. The number of steamers that are bringing or carrying us down here are 63. I do not know the number of troops exactly but I heard 25000 strong. There is a nice lot of them at anyrate. The steamer that we are on is named Jacob Strader. I do not know whether it will venture up the river farther or not. We are have stoped about one mile above Fort Donaldson and I do not know whether we will go farther or not. One of our boys just came in a told me that he was told that rebel Forest was the man that attacted the fort. He had cavalry and light artiliary. He told me that 30 of our men were killed and more of the rebels. He saw two of the dead rebels. They must of had a pretty good knock down, by all accounts. /

 

A mistake

I do not know the true account yet but I will try and find out before I close this letter. I would of closed it long ago but I wanted to give you the whole account of my ride. Brother and I are in good health this morning. I will now go and see how it looks out of doors, and try to find out the true account. I was out on the dock of the boat taking a view of the country and part of the battlefield. I saw several dead rebels and one or two of our men that were killed yesterday. Our second Lieutenant ws over to see the men. He told us that he saw 19 of our men that were killed & 72 rebels; he told us that they had not found them all yet, they thought. I heard since that they found some 30 more rebels and a few of our men. I saw lots of dead and wounded horses. The rebels lost one Gen. we lost no officers that I heard off. We are still at the or near the fort yet on the boats. I do not know whether we are to stop here or not but I think not. I believe I will close for to-day and try and give you some news tomorrow if health permits it.        Good afternoon. Feb 5^th 1863

We are still on the boat yet near fort Donaldson. We have been very successful so far. We heard that the enemy pitched into fort McHenry last evening but were repulsed by our men. I have not heard the detales yet, or I would give it to you. Our men must of fought like wild cats here at fort Donaldson as the enemy was very strong and rushed in on them in all directions. We had but one regt in the fort & that was the 83 Illinoise if I am not mistaken. They were brave boys or they would of surrendered before the gun boats would of came up. Brother Moses & one of our other boys were over on the battlefield yesterday. Some of them found a sword. They cut of a piece of the Generals coat and gave me a small piece. I will place it in this letter for you, and then you can see how they are dressed. They wear all kinds of clothes; but mostly butter-nutt. I suppose I will have to close as it will weary you to read what I have scribled. I think the mail will go out this evening so I will close and try to start this.

 

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Brother spoke like as if he would write a few lines I do not know whether he will or not. Please write soon and direct Via Louisville Ky. 121 regt Comp B. O.V.I. In care of Lieut Van-Houtin.

This was scribled by your Brother and friend Henry Wetzel.

 

Please pardon all mistakes as I was in a hurry and with all the noise. The scribling I care nothing about.

 

My love and best wishes to you and all inquiring friends and folks. Brother M sends his best wishes to you also. If you see Mother tell her we are getting along fine and expect to see Mississipia. We are now in Tennesee, or rather Dixey.

 

I could write much more but I think I have done pretty well. I hope you will write me another good long letter when you write. I will have to close hoping that God will bless and protect you and us from all danger. Farewell. Write soon

 

I do not know what way we will go from here but I am willing to go any way and if it is home I do not care about going home intill this rebelion is closed unless I should get an honorable furlough or discharge. We are in good health yet and hope this will find you all enjoying the same blessing.

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