|
![[ornament]](vertorn2.gif)
|
A digital collection donated by Anne Stinehart Tjaden to the Electronic
Text Center at the University of Virginia.
Transcribed from the
original manuscripts by Esther Senior Stinehart, Charles Senior's daughter.
Typed from Esther Stinehart's handwriting by James Senior Stinehart, her son.
|
Charles Berry Senior was born in England in 1845, and moved to the United States, near Rock Falls, Iowa, when he was 12 years old.
At the age of 19, he enlisted in the Seventh Iowa Infantry, at Plymouth, Iowa, in February of 1864. Charles remained in service for a year and a half, participating in General Sherman's four month campaign against Atlanta in the summer of 1864. As part of the Western Army, Charles fought in a total of twelve battles, including engagements at Reseca, Lays Ferry, Rome Crossroads, Kenesaw Mountain, Dallas, Knick Jack Gap, one battle near Atlanta, plus a five week siege of
Atlanta, Jonesboro, Allatoona, Marietta, Savannah, Columbia and Bentonville.
In the summer of 1865, Charles was discharged and mustered
out on July 14, near Louisville, Kentucky. From there he was sent to Davenport, Iowa, and then returned home to a farm near Rock Falls, Iowa.
|
February 21, 1864
Letter: Transcription
Images: 1|
2
| Charles writes about his travels with the Seventh Iowa
Infantry through Cedar Falls towards Davenport. He mentions the
soldiers' celebration of Washington's birthday and promises to write
again from Davenport.
|
March 6, 1864
Letter: Transcription
Images: 1|
2|
3|
4
|
In a letter from Nashville, Charles explains that he waited
to write until such time as he could provide his father with his own
mailing address. In addition to describing the weather and the condition
of the Cumberland river, he writes of seeing a performance of "Macbeth."
|
April 13, 1864
Letter: Transcription
Images: 1|
2|
3|
4
|
Troop preparations continue in Tennessee. Charles
thinks that once fortifications have been built, his regiment will move
on "for more active service." He feels that his worst enemy is sickness,
though in general camp life has not been that bad. He mentions also a
number of confederate deserters who have entered their camp. |
April 14, 1864
Letter: Transcription
Images: 1|
2|
3|
4
|
Charles is very pleased to have received a letter from home. After
sharing news of some common acquaintances, he describes his company
mates as being studious and quiet. They study math, grammar and have
been reading about photography. |
May 17, 1864
Letter: Transcription
Images: 1|
2|
3|
4
|
Writing now from Georgia, Charles explains that at last
he has seen some action, but has himself been mercifully spared the
"horrors of war." He describes in details several skirmishes with
Confederate forces, and is moved by fields of wounded and dead rebels.
"Though they had been fighting against us I thought it was enough to
soften the heart of the hardest man to see even a rebel in such a
condition."
|
July 31, 1864
Letter: Transcription
Images: 1|
2|
3|
4
|
Charles's regiment is just outside of Atlanta, preparing to occupy the
city. He writes that the troops are anxious to bring the war to a close.
"It is time for this thing to come to an end & now is the time." He
hopes that more Union men will enlist to assist the cause.
|
September 9, 1864
Letter: Transcription
Images: 1|
2|
3|
4
|
With Sherman's Atlanta campaign finished, the Iowa Seventh camps outside
the city to prepare for the winter campaign. Charles describes his
company's role in the occupation: destroying roads and lines of
communication and supporting the cavalry. He once again hopes that the
war will soon be over, and that Lincoln will be reelected.
|
October 22, 1864
Letter: Transcription
Images: 1|
2|
3|
4
|
Settled in quarters in Rome, Georgia, Charles now
writes about the battle of Allatoona Pass (October 5, 1864)
that his brigade missed participating in due to a railroad accident.
However, Charles does witness the aftermath, describing the battlefield
and the wounded in gruesome detail. He also complains of no pay and lack
of paper and stamps.
|
October 26, 1864
Images: 1|
2
|
Transcription in progress |
March 29, 1865
Letter: Transcription
Images: 1|
2|
3|
4
|
Now relocated to Goldsboro, North Carolina, Charles is happy to be able
to correspond again "After having been cut off from the civilized world
for nearly 2 months." He mentions skirmishes with the
Confederates and includes a diagram of a recent battle. At the end, he
reminds his father of his request for newspapers.
|
June 27, 1865
Letter: Transcription
Images: 1|
2|
3|
4
|
About two months after the surrender at Appomattox, Charles writes that
his regiment is camped in Louisville, Kentucky. He hopes to be mustered
out soon, but is cautious. Remembering his last 4th of July, spent
on the Chattahoochie River, Charles is glad not to be throwing up
breastworks and dodging shells and bullets.
|
![[ornament]](/images/horzorn1.gif){kind=small}
![[Civil War Letters]](cwl.gif)
![[Electronic Text Center Home]](/images/t.gif)
![[UVA Library]](/images/liblogsm.gif)
