USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > The story of Camp Chase; a history of the prison and its cemetery, together with other cemeteries where Confederate prisoners are buried, etc > Part 16
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I see your ma often : she is quite well and cheerful ; gave me a very valuable part of your property, "Rip." He was so firm in his affections for his home I could not get him home with me. jimmy Johnson died of consumption a few days since. William WVitral's remains were brought home. Mr. Lee is married to Miss Branch, of Nashville. No one from this place was kille.I
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AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS.
in the battle at Shiloh, but one man in the First Tennessee Regi- ment was killed-F. Cox, the paroled prisoner from this place, who returned. Eddy Saunders is well and safe. I understand your Uncle Gis's place has not been disturbed. It is a pity his family did not remain at home. I saw a young lady in an open carriage ; she was so completely veiled I could not see her cou .- tenance, therefore could not judge if her heart was imprisoned. Major Price is walking the streets, looking, as usual, quite consequential, taking many things on himself which would be much more becoming to leave undone. Mr. J. H. Thomas has returned home with permission from Governor Johnson to remain unmolested.
I am sorry I have not more to write that will interest you. Let me hear from you soon. Mother joins me in much love to you. Yours affectionately, M. R. LYKE.
This letter was without envelope or further address than what . appears in the communication.
WEST POINT, Ky., May 26, 1862.
Brother Rogers.
DEAR SIR: I arrived in Louisville yesterday morning just one hour after you left, with an order from General Duffield for your release. When I first heard of your arrest and learned of the cause, I had no doubt but what you would have a trial and be acquitted, and thought but little of it until Saturday night about nine o'clock, when I heard of your sentence to Camp Chase.
Sunday morning I went to work to get up evidence to secure your release, and started to Louisville about ten o'clock Monday morning with the testimony. I found General Duffield at Dr. George Syms's, and when he read it promptly made out an order for your release ; but, as before stated, I was one hour too late in getting to Louisville.
General Duffield told me last night he would have you brought back to Louisville, which I think he will do. I learn since, how- ever, that there is some doubt as to his jurisdiction. Yet he stated to me, as well as in the order for your release, that you had been wrongfully imprisoned. You may expect to hear from me again soon. All your Union friends responded readily with me in the effort to secure your release. We are all well.
Yours truly.
D. C. FUSEY.
OWENTON, May 30. 1862.
MY DEAR HUSBAND: I received your kind letter ; and knowing you are as anxious to hear from home as I was from you, I
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
hasten to answer it. I should have written before, only I ex- pected you home every day, being assured by the Union men of Owenton that you would be released, and not dreaming that you had gone farther from me. When, O when ! will I see you ? It appears like two months, instead of two weeks, had gone. I was so glad to hear you were well. The children are all well. Minnie says tell her papa she wants him to come home. Frank was asleep when you left, and slept until next morning. When he awoke and found you had gone, the tears rolled down his cheeks, which made me feel more than ever I had lost my best friend on earth-but only for a little while, I hope. It will surely be the happiest day of my life when we meet again. God grant it may not be long! You were uneasy when you left for fear the children would catch the sore throat from Mrs. Foster, but they have had no sign of it as yet. Mollie Foster died the same evening you left, and they carried her to Grenup on Sun- day, and none of the family have as yet returned, owing to several of the other children having taken the same disease. Minnie and Willie have been to school every day. Minnie is delighted. I had to make her go the first day, but she is up and ready long before Willie. Mr. Snale has been here and looked over your executions, and says he will see them returned and all fixed up right. I have not seen Mr. Murdoff but once-a few minutes. Your notes and papers of all kinds I will take good care of. Daisy was here yesterday, and I sent your horse to father's by her. Father has been here once and stayed all night. He wanted me to go home with him, but I thought I had better stay at home and keep the children in school every day and attend to my garden, which looks very well. My cabbage plants that I set out before the first rain are looking very well, and I will have peas in a few days. If you were only here, every- thing would look bright and beautiful. Everybody around me has been as kind and good to me since you left as they could be. Baby is here now, laughing and trying his best to talk. Ben, you must send a name for him, and write me what to do and how to manage to get along, for I don't know where to begin. I will do the best I can for the children, and still hope it will not be long before I see you. If you need money or any- thing else, let me know, and I will find a way to get it to you. It is not necessary for me to write anything of your friends' families, as I believe they are all writing by this mail. Your friends all send their kind regards to you. Ben, I wish I could find a way to get you out of that dangerous place. Your friends say they have done everything they could for you, for which I thank them from my heart, but if they could only have brought you back with them! Ben, take good care of yourself and don't forget your MATTIE.
.
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AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS.
May 30, 1862.
MY DEAR FATHER: I have just returned from Owenton, and left ma and all the family as well as you could expect under the circumstances. Ma suffers more in mind about you than if you were already dead, as she would know that you were beyond suffering ; but now she doesn't know how much you will suffer, and she can't do anything for you. This is the time to try men's souls. We have found many friends good and kind in places where we least expected them. There is not a man in who will not do all in his power to have you all re- leased. Some of the Union men will go to Washington if they cannot accomplish it without it. You must try to be cheerful and hopeful; and don't give up, for it operates against your health.
The women dread your getting sick. Tell your fellow-prison- ers their families are hoping for the best. Trust in God, and he will never forsake you.
Willie will stay with ma, which necessity, I hope, will not be long. Ma will write you soon, but she feels that she cannot do so for a few days, and that is why I have written first, feeling that that is my privilege, as I am your eldest, your firstborn.
Your loving
JANE.
[Address not given.]
LIMESTONE COUNTY, ALA., June 10, 1862.
MY DEAR HUSBAND: I take the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that we are all well and doing very well, and I hope that when this reaches you you will be en- joying the same blessing.
Dear Jim, I am anxious to hear from you. I heard that you were wounded and taken prisoner at Corinth, Miss. Please write to me and let me know whether I can come and see you, for I do want to do so. When you write let me know whether you know anything about my brother Andrew and Hart Manley or not.
Direct your letter to Athens, Limestone County, Ala. Pa's family are all well. I bring my letter to a close by sending my love to you and saying, Write soon to your wife. The little chil- dren grow very fast and want to see you.
Martha L. Chapman to James H. Chapman, Breckinridge's Brigade, Colonel Hale's Regiment, Captain Gard's Company.
If any person who reads this letter knows of Mr. Chapman, I will be thankful for information.
The cemetery records show that J. L. Chapman (not J. H.) died in August, 1865, and was buried in Grave 1332.
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
A portion of a long letter written by Mrs. Elizabeth A. Harris is given because of its homelike gossip and news. The letter was without envelope or address and no town is mentioned that gives a clue to where it was from. The mention of Louisville indicates that it is not far from there. The hemp mentioned sug- gests the vicinity of Lexington, Ky. The husband was not at Camp Chase at the time, or the message would doubtless have found him.
SUNDAY MORNING, June 29, 1862.
MY DEAR HUSBAND: We received yours of the 20th and were glad to hear from you, and so gratified to learn that you had been in good health and that you had received the box we sent. The old Bourbon was sent by your old friend, William Guiton, and the wine by B. Patterson, except one bottle, which was Susan's nice grape wine. We did not know it was contrary to the rules of your prison, or we would not have sent it. I thought you would need it if you got sick. No one put anything in the box but Jennie and myself to eat, except Mr. Patterson, who put in a few things. Mrs. Cardwell sent Jimmie a box the first of last nonth, which he has probably received before this.
Your friends think there is a prospect for you to get out and. come home. If not, we will send you another box. Mr. Cook has just returned from Louisville, and says he had a long talk with J. Bogle, who felt certain you would be released very soon.
Fred told me to say that the crops are looking very well. His hemp is first-rate and the corn growing finely. He has plowed the big field three times. A part of the corn at Theodore Davis's is waist-high. The corn in the big field on the far side of the branch does not look so well. He has been cutting the small grain for three or four days, and has most of Davis's wheat cut. He cuts it with a cradle ; he could not get a machine.
Sunday Night .- I did not finish my letter this morning. I have had company all day. Mr. Levi Walters came out to see me to-day. Mr. Cook, Mr. Sam Miller, Mrs. Grant, and Nannie Cook came up this evening and stayed until after supper. George Tomkins and wife and Mrs. A. Warden were here awhile to-day : also Mrs. Taylor. Saw Jimmie yesterday. He thought he would get home certain this week. If you do not, I shall be sadly dis- appointed. Do not hesitate a moment in taking the oath; or do anything they request that would not be dishonorable. You do not know how bad I want you here. The anxiety and uneasiness about you have nearly worn me out. We have a fine crop of rasp- berries and have a great many vegetables of every kind. The children wish every day that papa was here to eat raspberries. I do hope you will be home this week.
Your affectionate wife. -
ELIZABETH HARRIS.
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AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS.
On April 21, 1862, Lieutenant Menefee wrote to Mrs. John F. Allen (address not given) that her husband, Lieutenant Allen, had been ill with typhoid fever, but was recovering. "Your next letter will be from him," the Lieutenant wrote, "as he is now getting along nicely."
The letter was a brief one; and had it gone upon its way, it would have cheered a lonely, aching heart in far-off Alabama. The cheering letter was written on the 21st of April, and the record shows that he was buried on May 24.
The foregoing letters were loaned by Mr. Galbraith, that copies might be made, in the latter part of July, 1904. From that time until October diligent effort was made to locate the Mrs. Clark mentioned.
Through the kind assistance of Mrs. M. V. Randolph, of Rich- mond, Va., Miss Virginia Moon, a sister of Mrs. Clark, of Mem- phis, was found, who related so much of the history of her sister in those days as she recalled, and gave the address of Rev. Frank Pinckney Clark, of Front Royal, Va., son of Mrs. Charlotte Moon Clark; and this letter given below tells as nearly as ever will be known, perhaps, the story of the letters never delivered :
I was only a child of eight years when the Civil War began, 50 mny recollections are vague, as are often the remembrances of boyhood. But I was afterwards told of many of the events of those days and the effect they had upon our after life.
At that time my father, Judge James Clark, lived at Hamilton, Ohio, where he began the practice of his profession after his graduation from the law school at Cincinnati. He soon became prominent in the legal world and was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas by the Governor of Ohio about the year 1852.
He was afterwards elected judge by the people of his judicial district at least twice, and then retired from the bench to prac- tice law.
In politics he was a friend of Judge Thurman and Messrs. Vallandigham and Voorhees and others, and took an active part in the campaign of Stephen A. Douglas.
My mother's father, Robert S. Moon, went from Virginia to Oxford, Butler County, Ohio, back in the thirties. He was a firm believer in the teachings of Thomas Jefferson, both belonging to the same county-Albemarle-in Virginia. Among other of his political ideas was that of the ultimate emancipation of slaves by their owners. He took his own to Ohio and then to Indiana and freed them, going security for their future good behavior ;
அரிசிகுமதிழினிற் தெரியும்
MRS. CHARLOTTE MOON CLARK.
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AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS. 177
and I have been told that he had to pay quite a large sum for the misconduct of some of them.
It was at Oxford my father met my mother. He was a student at Miami University, and she was attending a young ladies' school taught by Dr. Scott, whose daughter. the late Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, was one of my mother's schoolmates.
My parents were married in 1849, and the interval until 1860 was passed quietly in Hamilton. My mother's three brothers were in the Confederate Army, two of them being Virginians by birth.
After the fall of Fort Donelson my mother heard that one of her brothers was at Camp Chase. She at once went to Columbus, and Governor Tod gave her permission to go through the Camp to find her brother, although there was no record of his being there. He was not there; but she found many friends and ac- quaintances who were in the prison camp. At once my mother began a crusade to make these prisoners as comfortable as possi- ble; even succeeded in getting Governor Tod to parole some of them in the city of Columbus, where they were able to secure comfortable quarters. In this connection, I have been told of a reception given the paroled prisoners at Judge Thurman's house, and that when the Judge got home he found his house full of men in Confederate uniforms, with only one bluecoated gentle- man present. an officer named Hunter, who had been exceed- ingly kind to the prisoners and was very popular with them.
My mother undertook to inform the relatives of some of the prisoners of their health, condition, needs, etc., and both wrote herself and carried some of their letters to friends in Kentucky. This brought about a sudden catastrophe for two clergymen who were at our house when my mother returned from one of these trips to Kentucky, where she had given letters to one of General Morgan's brothers, and where she came near being caught and arrested by one Colonel Metcalf. These ministers wrote home to their wives how Mrs. Clark had evaded every attempt to stop her and made her way into the forbidden neighborhood of the Morgans. Unfortunately, these ministers were arrested in Cin- cinnati and searched.
The same night a telegram from Mr. John Bond, of Cincinnati, warned my mother, and she left on the midnight Northern express for Niagara, taking me with her. We crossed the suspension bridge only a short time before a telegram to arrest my mother arrived on the New York side.
This will probably account for the package of letters being delayed so many years in Columbus. If they were written while my mother was getting ready for that Kentucky trip, and kept for her return to Columbus, she never heard anything of them,
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
for soon afterwards she returned to Ohio to make some final ar- rangements to go South. She was threatened with arrest by General Rosecrans; but General Burnside, then in Cincinnati, arrested my mother, aunt, and grandmother, and after detaining them a short time, sent them South. I understand that General Burnside, who was an old friend, took them thus under his pro- tection to save them from prison.
My mother remained in the South until after the war was over, when my father settled in New York to practice law and my mother began a literary career, which brought increased luster upon her name both in this country and abroad. In the autumn of 1895 she left this life for the greater, at my home, the rectory of St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, West Philadel- phia, Pa.
In "The Modern Hagar" my mother gave a graphic account of the 1856 convention held in Cincinnati, which Mr. Charles Anderson, brother of Gen. Robert Anderson, esteemed one of the best pieces of writing with which he was acquainted. My mother's full name was Mrs. Charlotte Moon Clark, and her nom de plume was Charles M. Clay, she being a descendant of the Clays on her mother's side, and of the Moons and one of the first colonial governors of Virginia, Thomas Digges, on her father's side.
Besides corresponding for Southern and Philadelphia journals when abroad in the seventies, she did much journalistic work at home, after her return to New York, and wrote the following novels: "Baby Rue," published by Roberts Brothers, Boston, "The Modern Hagar," published by the same house, and "How She Came into Her Kingdom," published by Jansen, McClurg & Company, Chicago. By such critics as George Cary Eggleston "The Modern Hagar" was esteemed as a great book.
Very respectfully yours,
FRANK PINCKNEY CLARK.
Front Royal, V'a.
Mr. Clark's letter has been used, believing the story of his mother's work for the South more interesting, as related by him- self, than any story that might be written with the letter as foundation.
The letters and the story of how they were so long hidden from sight we have given so far as it can be learned.
The following is a list of letters not previously mentioned :
8. April 21, from John S. Stewart, Camp Chase, to wife, Sarah Stewart. No address.
25. April 20, from James A. Cox, 14th Miss., to Mrs. Addie Cox, Siloam, Miss.
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AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS.
43. April 21, from Lieut. Keyes, 20th Miss. Vols., to Hon. O. R. Single- ton, House of Representatives, Richmond, Va.
88. April 21, from Lieut. John R. Farrabee, Camp Chase, to Joseph . Maples, Memphis, Tenn.
89. April 20, from Lieut. W. Osbourne, to Mr. M. Osbourne, Little Rock, Ark.
117. April 14, from Aunt C. C. H. to her nephew. No envelope or address. 118. April 20, from W. A. H. Shackelford, Camp Chase, to F. Shackelford. No address.
119. April 20, from R. M. Walker, to Mrs. S. S. Walker, Palestine, Ark.
120. April 30, from H. M. Hallan, Camp Chase, to Jerry Hallan, Banks- ton, Miss.
121. April 30, from Henry .H. Hart, Colesborough, to William Harned or Adkin Harned, Camp Chase.
123. March 24, from Nathan D. Cross, Nashville, to Connolly T. Figg. No address.
124. April 20, from Charlotte Norman, Hopewell, Ohio, to A. Norman, supposed to be in Camp Chase.
125. April 20, from C. C. Knowls, Camp Chase, to William Nunn, Auburn, Ala.
126. April 21, from A. S. Levy, Camp Chase, to Miss Ella Levy, 196 Main Street, Memphis.
127. April 20, from Lieut. J. H. Sanford, Camp Chase, to Asa Sanford, Dadeville, Va.
128. April 20, from Lieut. Theodore Smith, Camp Chase, to Miss Theo- dore Smith, Frenchville, Va.
129. April 19, from J. S. Carruthers, Camp Chase, to T. W. Carruthers, Mason's Depot, Tenn.
130. April 30, from M. S. Neely, Camp Chase, to Mrs. Julia Neely, Den- inark, West Tenn.
132. April 19, from Clabourne Watkins, Camp Chase, to George W. Watkins, Little Rock, Ark.
133. April 21, from T. H. Shackelford, Camp Chase, to Miss Virginia Shackelford, Okolona, Miss.
134. April 21, from W. T. Rogers, Camp Chase, to Mrs. L. W. Malone. No address.
135. April 29, from T. T. Cagar, Danville, Ky., to "Dear Doctor," Camp Chase.
137. April 21, from G. D. Cross, Mount Gilead, Ohio, to A. H. Cross, Camp Chase.
139. April 20, from James H. Wilkins and Bettie Wilkins, of Bowling Green, to David Rhea, Camp Chase.
140. June 8, from Thomas York, Tennessee, to A. York, Camp Chase.
141. March I, from W. H. Hanlon, Loachapoka. Ala., to his father (no name), supposed to be in Camp Chase.
142. April 17, from F. M. Smith, Cincinnati, Ohio, to his brother, Camp Chase.
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
143. April 20, from A. D. Black, Camp Chase, to Mrs. C. M. Black, Dor- cheat, Ark.
145. April 19, from R. M. Clark, to James Clark, Moulton, Ala.
146. April 22, from J. C. Durham, Camp Chase, to Iscia Durham, Mill- town, Ala.
147. April 20, from John Hudson, Camp Chase, to Noah Hudson, West- ville, Ala.
148. April 21, from James F. Cook, Camp Chase, to Capt. Ridley, Corinth, Miss.
149. April 20, from Lieut. Furney Clark to Mr. Austin Clark, Han Ridge, Coffee County, Ala.
150. April 21, from Sam P. Jukes to Mrs. Susan Hagood, Van Buren, Ark.
151. April 21, from W. M. Smith, Camp Chase, to Kate. No address.
152. May 20, from E. A. Britz, Utica, to his brother, Camp Chase.
153. April 20, from G. A. Owings, Camp Chase, to J. R. Owings, Pond Springs, Ga.
154. April 9, from B. H. Bridgefortt, Camp Chase, to his brother. No address.
155. April 20, from George Cox, Camp Chase, to his father. No address. 156. April 20, from R. J. Moore, Camp Chase, to S. R. Moore, Bay Springs, Miss.
157. April 20, from P. J. Yates, Camp Chase, to his sister. No address. 158. June 13, from Sam D. Crockett, Bridgeport, to J. R. Middleton, Camp Chase.
15). April 20, from J. Woodhall, Camp Chase, to I. H. Woodhall and wife, father and mother, Chattanooga, Tenn.
160. June 29, from J. W. Cardwell, Harrodsburg, Ky., to Nim, Camp Chase.
161. July 1, from J. T. Harris, Harrodsburg, Ky., to his father, Camp Chase.
162. May 8, from G. W. Hart, Johnson's Island, to Lieut. G. P. Chilcutt, Camp Chase.
162. May 8, from P. A. Morgan, Johnson's Island, to G. P. Chilcutt, Camp Chase.
163. July 8, from E. Paschal, Johnson's Island, to Lieut. G. P. Chilcutt. Camp Chase.
163. April, from A. G. Hammach, Camp Chase, to his brother. No ad- dress.
164. April 19, from W. S. Pardue, Camp Chase, to L. J. Pardue. No address.
165. June 10, from Owen Breckennah, Payne's Depot, Ky., to Dear Billy. Camp Chase.
166. April 21, from M. S. Miller, Camp Chase, to Mrs. Nana Miller. No address.
167. April 19, from J. S. Thomas, Camp Chase, to his father. No address. 168. April 20, from Lient. W. P. P. Wrem, Camp Chase, to his father. No address.
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AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS.
169. April 20, from Harden Long, Camp Chase, to C. M. Long, Bridge- port, Ala.
170. April 21, from R. H. Woolen, Camp Chase, to C. H. Adkins, Polers- ville, Tenn.
171. April 20, from A. Moffin, Camp Chase, to Miss M. J. Maffin, Cov- ington, West Tenn.
---. April 20, from M. G. Gallaway, Camp Chase, to his brother. No address.
173. April 19, from J. B. Hall, Camp Chase, to Allison G. Hall. No ad- dress.
174. April 19, from J. M. Reese, Camp Chase, to his mother. No address. 175. August 24, from M. L. Stockton, Camp Butler, to G. W. Stockton, Camp Chase.
176. April 21, from Capt. Thomas M. Atkins, Camp Chase, to Hon. C. A. Henny, Confederate States Senator, Richmond, Va.
177. May 31, from J. F. Gray, Fort Warren, Boston, to Valentine Wise, Camp Chase.
178. April 20, from G. T. Willis, Camp Chase, to Miss G. A. Willis, Chattanooga, Tenn.
179. April 21, from W. D. Leay, Camp Chase, to William P. Leay, Rich- mond, Va.
180. April 20, from J. K. Whitfield, Camp Chase, to Mrs. J. K. Whitfield, Camden, Ark.
181. April 19, from Capt. W. D. Twitley, Camp Chase, to his wife, Athens, Ala.
182. April 20, from R. A. Silvidge, Camp Chase, to his wife, Falcon, Ark. 183. April 21, from C. C. Knowles, Camp Chase, to his wife, Loachapoka, Ala.
184. April 21, from Lieut. J. T. Durham, Camp Chase, to Mrs. Anna J. Durham, West Point, Ga.
185. April 21, from Lieut. F. T. Scott, Camp Chase, to his mother, Mrs. E. T. Scott, Gainesville, Ala.
186. April 21, from L. H. Kemp, Camp Chase, to A. H. Kinchelor and others of Co. D, 5th Ky. Regt., C. S. A., First Kentucky Brigade.
187. April 20, from Lieut. C. Tuttle, Camp Chase, to F. B. Officer, Esq., Mobile, Ala.
188. April 20, from John Lilly, Camp Chase, to Mr. John Woodman, Red Sulphur Springs, Va.
189. April 21, from Capt. W. B. Locke, Camp Chase, to Mr. Jessie Locke, Perote, Pike County, Ala.
190. April 20, from D. A. Mckenzie. Camp Chase, to Mr. William John- son, Morton, Miss.
191. April 20. from Lieut. L. J. Laird, Camp Chase, to his uncle, E. M. Kulds, Eufaula. Ala.
192. April 21. from F. A. Ragsdale, Camp Chase, to W. J. Brooks or J. W. Markham, No. 10 Shelby, Memphis, Tern.
- 193. April 20. from J. H. Christian, to Mr. J. T. Christian, Tanngville, Tallapoosa County. Ala.
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THE STORY OF CAMP CHASE.
194. April 22, from William Lauirs, 12th Ga. Regt., Camp Chase, to 'Mrs. Mary Lauirs, Buena Vista, Ga.
195. April 21, from Samuel M. Moses, Camp Chase, to Charles Moses, Black Creek, Augusta County, Va.
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