1865 page 3

Theo_for_web

Theodore Drake
about 1920


Theodore Drake to Sophia Drake
Camp near Washington to Oak Grove Wisconsin
dated: May 26, 1865

Dear Mother,
Your kind & welcome letter of April 30 I received the 20 of May. I was very glad to
hear from home once more. I received one from Martha & Lina the same day. we arrived
at -------- the 19th of May camped there until the 24 when this army was received in
Wash. we are now camped about 4 miles from the city on the Maryland side of the
Potomac. I saw all of the boys from the Heavy Artillery they was all well. we had a hard
march from Raleigh to this place, we passed the famous Libby Prison & Castle [Thunder]
they was both full of prisoners. the city was in poor condition some parts being burnt
down. we also passed over the battlefields of Spottsylvania & Chancellorsville. Oh it was
an awful sight to see. I will tell you more about it if I am spared till I reach home. you
want me to write to Uncle John I shall do so as soon as I can. you want to know what I
have to eat well on the march our food was poor since we have been here we have had
good & plenty. the last time we drawed rations we got hard & soft bread pork & beef,
sugar, coffee, Potatoes, Onions, Pickles & dried apples. we only get such once in a good
while. I think I shall be home in 30 days. I am sorry to hear father is so tired out. I hope
he will sell the down 80, build him a comfortable house & live easy. most of us can
support ourselves & give him some to, all that I have drawn since I left home. is a blouse
& pair of shoes. I shall draw some more if I can. tell Martha she can make me a couple of
fine shirts as soon as she can ----- narrow pleats 3/4 inch & 1/2 d--. collars like the one I
got from Ed Fuller. I have had NO pay yet. I shall write soon again. when you rec. it
send me some money I need some bad. don’t send any more papers, I never get them. tell
Ed to write tell Em she can make them good pies for me soon she spoke of for I have had
none since I left. lay in a good supply of potatoes. how does my steers look. do they
grow any. Martha thinks I had better draw me a nice blue coat for nice. she thinks it
would be nice well I think she is rather foolish. she has got about as much taste as an old
shoe. she said something about my writing to Mary A. well I have written her 6 different
letters but have never recd. one from her. Charley Mc. recd. one from her a few days ago
for the first one. I feel mad when I think about the easy times they have & the hard times I
have. if Uncle John had not of been to the Grove perhaps I could of went with them but
Father must see him first Mc. wanted him to start right away for Watertown. well it is
done now never to be done again I hope. I shall close for this time, my health is middling,
I weigh 120, 20 pounds less than when I started. write as soon as you rec. this. don’t do
as you do & wait to see if I got your letter before you write. -----I am in my Regt. now. I
told you before to send on your letters direct Co., B. 3rd Wis. Inft 1st Div 2nd Brig. 20
A.C. & they will come safe enough. you tell me in your next letter how the garden looks.
how Joe’s folks are Jones, Mc’s, Hurfford-----------my love to all from your son.

Theodore Drake
P.S. I will enclose this in an envelope to Martha. tell them all to write I will ans. their
letters soon.
Dora Drake

Theodore Drake to Lina Drake
Camp near Wash. to Oak Grove Wis.
dated: June 7 1865

Dear Sister Lina,
Your kind letter of April 30th & recd the 20th of May. I also recd. the one written by
Mother the same day. The weather today is damp & looks like rain. for a few days past it
has been very warm here. I feel first rate at present have all that I can possibly eat. but
am as poor as old Ball used to be. my arms are about as bif as broomsticks. my strength
is all gone. but never mind as if nothing happens I shall soon be home. I have strength
enough to work in the garden. what all has mother got planted. has she got a good
garden this year. you say you hope I have got where I can get my mail. I told you when I
joined my Regt. to send on your letters but instead of that you have waited to see if I have
recd. your letters. consequently I rec. a letter from home about once every two or three
months. I hope you will not do so any more. don’t wait for my letters they will come to
the 20C where ever it is. I have been to see Charley & Tim since I came here. They look
& feel first rate. Charley recd. a letter from Mary* for the first one. I wrote her a letter
three or four days ago. is strawberries ripe yet, cherries or currants. I have seen General
Sherman & a great many other generals also. how does Em’s wee one prosper, does he
help Ed take care of the horses yet or does he play the Gent. You say you have never
been to Joe’s. wait till I come home & I will go up with you. does he live on the same
farm as he used to or has he moved to Ho---- Tavern. tell Father to send me some
money. tell him to send it to Charley McQ & he can give it to me. we may not stay here
long but then again we may & if it is sent to him & I am not here he can send it back again
so it will not be lost as the other one was. 3 or 4 dollars will be enough. tell him not to
wait. if he sends it to send it as soon as you rec. this. I have been to see the U.S. Capital
since I came here. I went all through it. it is very a fine & costly piece of work. when I
come home I will tell you all about it. I’ll tell you more than you ever dreampt of. What
is the reason that Em & Ed never write any more. There is quite a number that I ought to
write to but I can’t find time. I must write to Uncle John just as soon as possible. tell
father to sell his lower 80. how does my steers look. has he got old Ball* yet. is Charley*
going to raise any tobacco this year. what has been done with the old crop. have they
sold it. how does the crops look is they good or bad. how much corn is father going to
plant. who worked Mosleys sugar bush last spring. does Henry live on Woods place yet.
Has Mr. Northrup sold out yet. you wrote me he -athed of it. I guess there is questions
enough for once. Oh, what in the world has become of Em Fuller. where is she what is
her husbands name. I will close for now. this time write just as soon as you rec. this. I
will send this in a fancy directed envelope some of my ----. now don’t wait for to see if I
get your letter. tell them all to write soon.


From your Brother
Theodore Drake

Theo to *
Camp near Louiseville Ky
dated: June 19, 1865

Dear Sister,
As it has been a long time since I have written to you I thought I would do so today. I recd.
Lina’s letter of June 10 & the money father sent me. it will be of great use to me just at the
present time. In regard to my health which is anything but good, I am troubled by the diarhea &
have been for some time. yesterday I was quite unwell but feel better today. there is nothing left
of me but skin & bone. I am able for duty where I am situated just now I am very weak though
you can tell my writing is very poor. I belong now to the Provost Guards Head Qrts. Temporary
Div 14 army A.C. my duty is light I was detailed from the Regt for this place, the 20 Corps is all
broken up. all western Regts. which belonged to it were transferred to the 14 C. & all eastern
Regt. were sent to their states. our Div. is still commanded by Maj. Gen. Williams. I can’t say
how soon our Regt. will go home just now. perhaps not before my time is out. I mean all of the
one years men that their time is out after the first of Oct. I believe they will have to stay their time
out. we left Wash. the 9 of this month for this place. we took the Bal. & Ohio R.R. from Wash
to Parksburgh there we took transports for Louis. we may stay here some time & may not can’t
say as to that. I would like to have Father send me a little more money not because I have spent
the \\$2 he sent me for I have spent only 20cts of it yet but because I require a different diet than
army rations & he may not have another good chance like this. I want you to ans this as soon as
you rec. it & send me a receipt for to cure the diarhae or if you can send me a box of pills or some
kind of medicine. also what I must eat & what I must not eat now. be particular about all of this
consult Dr. Barber if you can’t find out no other way. the medicine that our Regt Dr. gives won’t
cure me unless I can change my diet now I don’t want any of you to think that I am used up
entirely. for I am not. I want to check the disease in time it is had enough now with out letting it
run longer. I suppose I can get any kind of medicine in the city. perhaps you had better tell me
what kind to get & I will get it here. there is talk of our getting 8 months pay before long
& if we do here would be the safest place to send mine home. has ----- parted with the Tobacco
yet, I hope he can sell it. how much is Charley going to raise this summer what does father say
about selling the lower 80 do you think he will do it I hope he will. or if he won’t rent it to some
honest man give him a fair chance there can as much again money be made off that farm as there
is I think. You speak of making me some shirts & collars. I would like to have you make them
very well you might make me 3 or 4 standing collars & 2 or 3 turn overs. how does the crops
look how is the garden -- how does father get along with his work. I suppose he works very hard
this summer. has he got anyone to help him. how much was his road tax this year & has he got it
all worked out. has he got a mate to the 1 eyed red steer yet. how does the horses look & stand
it, as good as ever. well now, how is all of the folks are they all well the neighbors also. I must
close for this time Please write as soon as you rec. this My love to you all

Theodore Drake
P.S. Direct
Provost Guards
Williams Division
Louiseville K.Y.
Theodore Drake
send me 3 or 4 stamps

*Letter is addressed only to “Sister”


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