SOLDIER CORRESPONDENCE - CORPORAL JOHN P. ANDERSON, CO. “L”, 15TH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY

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Item Code: 945-345

Seven letters from Corporal Anderson to brother-in–law Elwood Harrar, No. 213 Market Street/Philadelphia, PA, dated 9/28/1862, 10/28/1862, 2/26/1863, 11/22/1863, 1/1/1864, 1/13/1864, 12/27/1864. Ranging from 2 to 7 pages, these letters are written primarily in pencil, generally in lined paper, though sometimes in ink. The letters are well preserved, in plastic sheaths, and are entirely legible. While Anderson’s syntax and spelling can be shaky, all letters are 90% intelligible.

Organized in late summer 1862, his regiment, the 15th PA Cavalry was known as the “Anderson Cavalry”, and, until the last three months of the war served as an independent unit reporting directly to the commander of the Army of the Cumberland--performing as command escort while engaging in various command scouting activities. Serving in this capacity it became the favorite unit of General Rosecrans and Thomas. During service it was engaged at the Battles of Antietam, Stones’ River and Chickamauga. In the interim, Anderson was promoted Corporal and served the duration of the war, mustering out with his unit, 6/21/1865. During service the 15th PA Cavalry lost 25 men killed and mortally wounded, and 103 by disease for a total 128.

Private Anderson’s correspondence to his brother in law (the brother of his wife Martha), begins in late September 1862, just as the regiment was being ordered to Kentucky to assume its duties as escort unit for the Cumberland Army commander.

In his letter of 9/28/1862, reveals his cunning by inveigling in his brother- in-law in to participate a sneaky ploy that will to enable Anderson to sneak home to see his wife (his brother-in-law’s sister) Martha before the regiment departs for Kentucky. Anderson’s appeal to brother-in-law reads as follows:

“The reason of my writing to you at present is to ask a favor of you. Hopeing it will not interfere with your conscience. We expect to leve this camp in about two weeks, and I would like to get a fourlough to go home to see Martha before we go out west. I do not know how to go about getting it without telling to big a lie, and I don’t care about doing that. There has an idea truck me which I think will work first rate. I think it will have the desired affect, is for you send me a telegraph dispatch in the manner which I will state below….

J. P. Anderson/ anderson Troop/ Camp Alabama…….Come home immediately, Mrs. J. P. Anderson

I will have no accasion to show the disspatch to the commanding officer. It is intended so that I can say that I received a dispatch to come home.

I hope you understand me. Just coppy the above off and send it to me by telegraph apon the reception of this letter. By so doing you will grately oblige me. J. P. Anderson….P.S. don’[t say anything to Martha about it until I get home”.

A few weeks later, 10/28/1862, following his “furlough” to see wife Martha, Corporal Anderson complains about the promotion he missed while away.

“During my absence on Last Furlough thare was a Reoganization of companys and permanent appointment of uncommissioned officers. And as I was not here to fish for sergensy as the rest did, I was appointed Corporal. However I consider my appointment more Honorable than thares. They fished for thares, mine was through merits, that’s whats the matter, I am better satisfied then if I had been appointed seargent SOUR GRAPES. I have more time to Write to Loved ones at home study tactics and perfect myself in drilling… “

In the same letter, Anderson goes on to tells of an incident in which some regimental mates took “French Leve” to trash a newspaper office in Carlisle, PA.

“I must tell you of a little incident that occurred in Carlisle the other night, one of our public journalist of that place, who is tainted with secessionist principables published a piece in his paper condemning our present Administration most shamefully. His paper made its appearance in camp and our boys held an indignation meeting over it. And swore vengeance over his establishment. In the evening about one hundred of the Anderson Troop took French Leve out of camp and went into town and made a clean sweep of his establishment, through his type into the street. Played a game of general smash-up and served him right...”

Two months later, following the regimental departure for Kentucky and Tennessee, Anderson writes of his acute distress in not hearing from his wife, a common soldier complaint in age when soldier mail was slow and uncertain:

“Doomed to bitter disappointment as I have been for the last two months I often thought why it was that I had gone for a military man to be supject to so mutch disappointment. I have written to Martha letters apon letters, but two long months have passed away without an answer. Yes, they seem to me like years since I had the pleasure of gazing apon the affectioned lines of one whom is as dear to me as life. Hoping that you will write to me immediately apon the reception of this, stating where Martha is and wether she is well truly, a few line from her would grately releve the enxiety of her husband.”

On November 22, 1863, Anderson writes of hearing cannonading toward Chattanooga while on the march, guarding a supply train headed for Bridgeport, TN, and goes on to say that, “Last accounts the Rebs still Held Lookout Mtn…I understand to day that Genl. Sherman has renforced Genl. Thomas. If so you make look for news soon. (Union victory at Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain occured , 11/25/1863)

In his note of 1/1/64, Anderson writes, defensively (and thankfully), that “I have not been in any of those two battles mentioned (presumably Chattanooga and Lookout Mtn) but service rendered equal to it. I am safe and among the living.

Two weeks later, 1/13/1864, from Sequahatchie Valley, TN, he writes of being in winter camp, a chilly existence in addition to being monotonous. Nonetheless, the surrounding forest is full of game, and he can report “living upon the fat of the land,” and even gaining twenty pounds, his weight having gone from 160 to 180 pounds.

Near the end of the 1864, western Union forces annihilated Hood’s Confederate Army of Tennessee at Nashville, TN. On 12/27/1864, from Wauhatchie, TN, Anderson writes of regimental disposition and movements, and of a scout recently taken in which he and 31 mates of Company “L” evaded a force of 250 Confederate guerrillas:

“[The regiment} is at present with Gen. Steadman whose Head Qrs are at Decatur, Alabama, operating on Hood’s flank.

It left here a week ago , but as yet have not been in eny engagement as Heard from preivious to Hoods attack upon Nashville. We where ordered to report somewhere but where I was not able to say, eny more than our line of march was in the direction of Nashville.

But on the third day of our march the orders were countermanded and ordered to return to Wauhatchie as there was danger apprehended in that Quarter and no forces there to resist. Two days after arriving here our company was sent out on a scout about fifty miles up Trenton Vally. With five days rations we started off. We marched twenty five miles that dayand encamp that neight in Deer Head Cave without eny interest of entry. The following morning we took up our line of march and ascented Sand Mountains which lays on the north side of the vally. Thinking if safer to travel on then the vally. We marched along ton the top of mountains until we came to, or near opposite the Vally Head. We disended the mountains with the intention of encamping in the the vally over neight on account of forage being plenty. It being nearly sun down.

But after traveling half the width of vally which is about a mile wide we encountered a small squad of Guerrillas. Four of us charged them captured two, the rest made good their escape. I noticed a great deal of uneaseyness in the part of our officers after the capture. That they had no inclination of going to encamp any time soon, but ordered forward the column. After getting across the vally to the foot of Lookout Mountain, which is on the south side of the vally we received information that a band of Gerrillas had followed us on Sand Mtn, and also that we were in the rear of a Band Guerrillas in the Vally. That they were massing there force which numbered about two hundred & fifty men to annihilate our little Squad of thirty-one men all told. But by receiving information in time, and a good guide that we had with us we made our escape by a trail up on Lookout Mtn. After planting foot on the top of Mt. we considered ourselves safe, as we could have keept a regiment at Bay there.


After resting our Horses as well as ourselves, it being nearly dark then, we mounted our horses and marched all that neight arriving in camp the following evening safe with our two prisoners. They must tell a strate storey if they don’t stretch hemp. We were going to take that trip over again but with a larger force and a different Scout…but the regiment was ordered into Alabama. My horse being lame I was left to remain behind. And sure I am not sorry.”

Corporal Anderson concludes with mention of hard conditions in winter camp, writing that “Old Hood cut off our crackerline (obviously referring to hardtack cracker ration). We are on half rations in consequence and no salt meat. Nothing but fresh beefs and nothing but fresh beefs and no fat to fry it. It is so poor that it takes two men to hold the beefs up while the third person nocks it down.

But old Hood is getting paid for it—he won’t soon cut our cracker lines again.”

An excellent set of letters from an entertainingly observant corporal of the 15th PA Cavalry.   [jp]

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