Beschreibung:

Lot of 32 war-date letters, including 26 written by Private Montgomery Hickman, Co. I, 97th Illinois Volunteers. Private James Montgomery Hickman was an unassuming, but very humorous 44-year-old man. The same day he enlisted in the army, he signed another very important document; a marriage license with Cynthia A Luster. In one of his first letters to his bride he wrote: It is just one month today since were married…I cannot help thinking that if I had not turned soldier I might have been with you on this beautiful morning…it would make me very unhappy to think you regretted your hasty match…there are about ten thousand in this camp…there are quite a variety of characters here too-good, bad and indifferent=moral and immoral. We have preaching, speaking, dancing, gambling, drinking & swearing…all at the same time…I do sometimes…swear a little when I get provoked. Our regiment received their arms this morning…we will leave soon for Dixie or some other port…we will likely go to Kentucky (Camp Butler, [Springfield, IL] September 21, 1862). The regiment traveled to Kentucky, and the long marches were tiresome. He wrote his wife, I wouldn't mind a bit to stand up all day and shoot at rebels but I don't want to do any more marching than I can help (Falmouth, KY, October 21, 1862). The men tried to remain optimistic, while some regretted their decision to enlist, The camp is full of wild rumors…about peace going to be made which of course is only believed by those homesick persons who haven't the heart or courage to stand up for their country like men, wrote Hickman. I would like to see you very much…but if I wanted to leave the service of my country when she needs my help, as bad as a great many here do, I would deserve to be shot. I never want to see your face against unless I can do so with honor, and I know my little wife is not the one who will encourage her husband to desert (Nicholasville, KY, November 9, 1862). Hickman and his regiment moved further south and traveled down the Mississippi River. He finally met the enemy at Vicksburg and described the encounter to his wife: [We] have "seen the elephant.” Two weeks ago today our fleet left Memphis with colors flying and went down the river to take Vicksburgh…today they are on their way back in a style that looks very much like a retreat…The fight had been begun before we landed and we could hear cannonading going on all day Sunday. Our regiment was not called on to do anything until Tuesday…we did not do much except to drive in the rebel pickets…we were treated to a shower of bullets and a few shells…close enough to convince us that we came to Mississippi at an unhealthy season…the battles on the left wing of the army was very severe and we have lost some valuable officers and I fear many good men…We were kept in that wet, muddy bottom, on about half rations until Thursday night when the whole army retreated back to the boats…we were glad to "get out of the wilderness…If all or even half the rumors…are true this war is just now commenced and it will not surprise me a bit if I have to serve out my three years. I will do so cheerfully, if necessary, and then go again if they need me though at the same time I do not like soldiering. It is the most abominable dog's life a man ever led (Going Up the Mississippi River, January 4, 1863). Hickman was right again. The war was not close to being over and he would have to serve his full term of service. While he equated living as a soldier to life as a dog, his wife questioned the quality of his food and if he was eating healthy. He responded, We have any quantity of 'greens' here and I wish you were here to eat some as I believe women all like such trash. I am sorry to say I care but little about them (Milliken's Bend, LA, March 14, 1863). Also like dogs, he felt soldiering was more about digging than shelling. He wrote to his wife, I have done so much spading on the canal and levee since I have been down in this country that I think I wo