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Theodore Drake to Martin Drake
Chattanooga, TN, to Oak Grove, WI
dated: March 10, 1865
envelope marked received, March 16
Dear Father,
The Detatchment of the 20th Corps is still camped in the above named place awaiting
orders of some kind. the cause of our delay is on act. of the R.R. Bridge between here &
Nash. ------ have been somewhat damaged by the heavy rain storm or rather the vast
amount of water that fell last week. the Chatt. Gazette says the river has not been as high
here since the federals ocupied this place as it was last week. there has been no ---- from
Nash. in several days. consequently we have recd no mail, I have not recd. my box yet
you sent me & am afraid I shall not. I wrote to Mother a few days ago. she stated that
the box was expressed the 22nd of last month. it has had plenty of time to come through.
I should think it should come as quick as her letter did. the weather took a sudden change
last night from warm to cold. this morning it was quite cold but it moderated as the sun
rose. how is the weather in Wis. is there any --- ---- of spring. have you got your
summer wood yet. What has become of J. Robinson is he with his Regt or not. how did
all of the stock stand it through the winter. have you sold any. how much ploughing have
you got done. is it your intention to hire anyone this summer. I should think that you
should need some one for there is too much work for you & Charley to do. how is Jones
---- he make much fuss about the draft. do you think the war is near its end or do you
think it will hold out another year. for my part I don’t see how it can Sherman is giving it
such hard knocka. I think the end is not far off. we get no news here of any account. I
would advise you not to send me any more papers for I have not recd one yet. my clothes
are quite good yet I got some nails put in my Boots yesterday. I also bought a bottle of
pain killer I have not got much money left & when we get settled I should like to have you
send me some. I shall have to close this for now. I will write as soon as I have an
opportunity.
Very Respectfully yours
T. Drake.
Direct
Co. A. 1st battalionDetatchment A.C. Chatt. Tenn. via Nash. T
Theodore Drake to Caroline Drake (sister)
Wilmington, N.C. to Oak Grove, Dodge Co., Wis.
dated April 2, 1865
Dear Sister Lina,
I recd. yours & Tammies letters of Feb. 26th on the 17th of March. I was then at
Chatt. Tenn. but since then have been on the water & cars with the exception of today. I
am as well as can be expected after so long a journey. I will give you a history of our
journey as well as I can. On the 12th of March we left Chatt on the cars for Nash. arrived
there on the 13th. embarked on Transport Phantom for Louisville we ran down the
Cumberland river as far as the Ohio. we then ran up that stream to Louiseville Ky from
there to Cincinnati we layed on the boats there for 1 day then started to Parkersburg
Virginia. a great many of the Inhabitants were busy in putting in there crops along the
shore of the Ohio. the trees were quite green. Well, we landed at Parkers burg & took
the cars for Wash. on the Baltimore & Ohio R.R. we was on the cars three days. on the
phantom 11 days. We arrived at Wash. the 27th of March. I had the chance to see the
Capitol from a dis. it is a fine building. we changed cars at the Cap. & went to Alexandria
one half hours ride & then we went on board the Steamer Matanzas des. Newburn N.C.
While we lay on the boat getting ready to start one of the boys on the H.A. came down
here and he was acquainded with C. Mc. and (T). D., I sent them my name by him. They
were only one half mile distant from shore & if I had the time I certainly should of seen
them. Well to tell you more we started from Alx. on the 27th of March on the above
named boat for New burn after we got out of the Potomac we went in the ocean. I got
sea sick. The waves were running quite high & it made our boat heave & pitch
considerable. I have had enough of the ocean for a while. It seems as though the ground
was the boat yet. we arrived off New burn March 30th & as we all hoped for. was going
to land but we recd. orders to proceed to this place. I shall have to close this letter for
now. I will write as soon as I can we are going from here to Sherman perhaps tomorrow.
there is no use of your writing to me wait til you hear from me again. I will Ans. Tammas
soon I am in hopes this will reach you in safety for I think you want to hear from me I
know I do from you all, tell Mother I will write often. I did not recd my box. I am sorry I
had to leave Chatt. too soon.
No More from your Brother,
Theodore Drake
Theodore Drake to Tamson Drake (sister)
Goldsbough, N.C. to Oak Grove, Wis.
Dated April 9, 1865
Sister Tammie,
You have not heard from me perhaps in a long time & sort of thought I would answer
your letter of Feb. 26 & inform you of my wheree-abouts. I am well at present with the
exception of being a little foot sore after having marched so far. I wrote to Lina 1 week
ago from Wilmington. perhaps you have not recd. it yet. I gave you an act. of my journey
from Chatt. to Wilmington in hers & so will not repeat it here. we started from Wil. last
Monday & arrived here today. I joined my regiment. I belong to Co. B 3rd Wis. infantry.
every thing is out in bloom here. I saw peas at Wil. the 2nd of the month 6 or 8 inches
high. ---- & ----- about the same. this is a very nice place but I don’t like the soil.
nothing but sand. the timber is all pitch pine. well for something of more ---. Richmond
they say is ours. the spoil that were captured I have not learned much about. when you
write any of you tell me all about it. we are ordered to march tomorrow morning at six
o’clock. destination unknown. I did not receive the box you sent me. I am sorry for it is
quite a loss to us all. perhaps you can get pay for it. you say you are glad I am treated the
same as the rest of the soldiers. I am sure they have no right to treat me otherwise. you
must write as soon as you read this & tell me all of the news. all of you must write. tell
Father & Mother to write & tell me all about the crops --. where did you get your
summer wood. have they drafted yet. has father got anyone to help him. has he got the
cultivater repaired. has he sold the tobacco yet. is Martha at Watertown yet. I threw my
overcoat away. gave my vest to a negro. one pair of drawers to a sol. & will have to
throw away some more. could not carry them. the shirts I brought with me from home
are good yet but are the poorest kind for the army. my boots are good not a hole in them
only where they are ripped in the legs. stockings good, blouse & pants very good yet also.
tell Father to write & give me all of the news as soon as you rec. this. you can all share
the letters now for I don’t think there is much danger of my not getting them. my love to
you all & be sure & write all of you. I can’t say when I can write again.
From your brother,
T. Drake
Theodore Drake to Martin Drake
Raleigh, N.C. to Clyman, Wisconsin
dated: April 29, 1865
Dear Father,
I thought I would write to you while I had an opportunity. the mail leaves this Corps
at one O’Clock for the last time. tommorrow or Monday our Corps. starts for the north in
what direction we are going I am not able to say. the prevailing opinion is that we will
just go to Richmond thence to Washington. we have 20 days to do it in we carry five days
rations in our haversacks & 15 days in the wagons. the 20 C left here tuesday morning.
& started to persue Johnson we moved out about 14 miles & camped for two days. I
returned to our old camp ground yesterday about noon. Johnson’s surrender is the cause
of our return I suppose we have had no official news yet of his surrender but it is pretty
certain that it is so, or we would not have returned. we will probably learn the truth of the
story today or tomorrow. my candid opinion is that the fighting is over with. perhaps we
will have to serve our time out but I doubt it very much. I think we will be discharged just
as soon as they can get around to it. by the 1st of July if not sooner. I would like to know
how you are getting along with your spring work & what kind of spring you had. the
wheat here is heading out. green peas & peaches are about 1/3 grown corn is pretty fair
potatoes also. how many acres of corn do you think of planting this summer. did you get
your plowing done last fall. the rest of them never wrote anything about farm affairs & I
have not recd but one letter from you since I left. how did all of the stock winter, how is
the horses, dick, Jack & the rest of the animal tribe. what have you done with the
tobacco. when you write enumerate the prices of produce. such things I never learn from
the rest & would like to have you write & give full particulars as soon as you recd this. I
have not heard from home in most two months. I like the Regt. first rate. our Co.
Commander name is Oscar Hegg 1st liut. orderly sergeant, Henry A Isabel. our Col. is in
command of the Regt. his name is Hauley Stephens Lieut. Col commands the Regt. how
is all of the folks. has mother made any garden yet tell her to plant an extra bed of onions
for me for I shall want some when I come home. I haven’t had scarcly any vgatables since
I left home. how is Uncle Stewart’s folks Joe’s & the neighbors getting along. how does
[Driscoll] get along without Tim. not very well I guess. you must send me an extra sheet
of paper when you write mine is all gone bit 2 sheets. I would like to have you send me a
little money say 1.50 or 2 Dol. as I need a little now & then. I don’t expect pay till I go
home to my state. I shall close for this time hoping to hear from you all soon.
Respectfully Yours
Theodore Drake
P.B. Directions
Co. B. 3rd Wis. Inft
1st Div. 2nd Brig.
20 A.C.