“Pursuing the Rebels” Henry C. Douglas, Civil War Letter
“Pursuing the Rebels”
Name: Henry C. Douglas
In the Field South of Columbia
Date: December 23rd 1864
Unit: 31st Indiana Infantry Regiment
In the field
South of Columbia
Dec. 23rd/64
Mr Jones we are still pursuing the rebels and we get a shot at them once in a while, we will reach Pulaski by tomorrow or next day. Since I penceilled the first note I had no chance to send our mail nor has received none. I send in this $50 to Mrs Hoops her son in my company was seriously wounded. I have not herd (heard) from him since the first days battle. He is a brave and Gallant (Galiant) soldier. I hope his wound will not prove fatal. The money will be of service to his mother and sister, her name is Catherine Hoops she lives about 2 ½ miles west of Jene Heute on the Paris road. You will oblige a soldier by giving the money to her.
My sister has sent to me for money and as I have not cash to spare to send her I am anxious Mr Scotts & Hager would pay you that you might send her 20 dollars. I have letter careful and if the (they) dont pay you soon I must send her some of what I have. I paid these to oblige, expecting it to be forth coming to me to meet the demand requested of me. The weather is extremely cold it is very hard on the men company in so cold weather but as victory has been the results of our efforts we can endure much more. Our tent is a mere screen for the winter. It is freezing hard at this time quite a number of the men are taking sick. I sent 2 to the hospitals this morning. Now is the time for the sanitary to make themselves useful.
I would like to hear from you at your earliest convenience & when Capt. Hager pays you, you will please pay it to Harbach & Bonnister in addition to what I stated before as I need clothes very much & have sent to Tina for them. I will write you a long letter and give you all the particulars. Secure Haste
Yours Truly,
H. C. Douglas
_______________________________________
Biography:
Henry C. Douglas was born in Ohio around 1839. It is not entirely clear, but he either grew up in Ohio or his family moved to Terre Haute, Indiana when he was young. Either way, when the great Civil War broke out, Henry enlisted and must have had some previous education or experience because he enlisted as a sergeant in Co. K of the 31st Indiana Infantry. During his time, he would move up the ranks being promoted twice and would be discharged as a Captain by the end of the war.
The 31st Indiana was involved in all sorts of battles in Tennessee, such as: Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Stones River, Chickamauga, and even the Battle of Franklin in which this letter was written shortly thereafter. After the battle of Franklin, the men of the Capt. Douglas and the men of the 31st would have pursued the Confederates near Columbia, TN after the brutal fighting at Franklin. It was nearing the end of the war and during this pursuit of the rebels, it seems like there was a lot of skirmishing going on; they were most likely trying to slow down the Union on their tails.
He also talks of sickness among the boys in the company and about how he sent some to the hospital. These guys were right in the elements and had to do the best they could to survive. Even through this cold winter and all these battles that Capt. Douglas had been in, he did survive and married his wife in 1868. They would settle down in Terre Haute, Indiana and have 4 sons and 1 daughter. In the 1890s, they would move to Los Angeles, California where he would later die in the year 1900.
“Pursuing the Rebels”
Name: Henry C. Douglas
In the Field South of Columbia
Date: December 23rd 1864
Unit: 31st Indiana Infantry Regiment
In the field
South of Columbia
Dec. 23rd/64
Mr Jones we are still pursuing the rebels and we get a shot at them once in a while, we will reach Pulaski by tomorrow or next day. Since I penceilled the first note I had no chance to send our mail nor has received none. I send in this $50 to Mrs Hoops her son in my company was seriously wounded. I have not herd (heard) from him since the first days battle. He is a brave and Gallant (Galiant) soldier. I hope his wound will not prove fatal. The money will be of service to his mother and sister, her name is Catherine Hoops she lives about 2 ½ miles west of Jene Heute on the Paris road. You will oblige a soldier by giving the money to her.
My sister has sent to me for money and as I have not cash to spare to send her I am anxious Mr Scotts & Hager would pay you that you might send her 20 dollars. I have letter careful and if the (they) dont pay you soon I must send her some of what I have. I paid these to oblige, expecting it to be forth coming to me to meet the demand requested of me. The weather is extremely cold it is very hard on the men company in so cold weather but as victory has been the results of our efforts we can endure much more. Our tent is a mere screen for the winter. It is freezing hard at this time quite a number of the men are taking sick. I sent 2 to the hospitals this morning. Now is the time for the sanitary to make themselves useful.
I would like to hear from you at your earliest convenience & when Capt. Hager pays you, you will please pay it to Harbach & Bonnister in addition to what I stated before as I need clothes very much & have sent to Tina for them. I will write you a long letter and give you all the particulars. Secure Haste
Yours Truly,
H. C. Douglas
_______________________________________
Biography:
Henry C. Douglas was born in Ohio around 1839. It is not entirely clear, but he either grew up in Ohio or his family moved to Terre Haute, Indiana when he was young. Either way, when the great Civil War broke out, Henry enlisted and must have had some previous education or experience because he enlisted as a sergeant in Co. K of the 31st Indiana Infantry. During his time, he would move up the ranks being promoted twice and would be discharged as a Captain by the end of the war.
The 31st Indiana was involved in all sorts of battles in Tennessee, such as: Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Stones River, Chickamauga, and even the Battle of Franklin in which this letter was written shortly thereafter. After the battle of Franklin, the men of the Capt. Douglas and the men of the 31st would have pursued the Confederates near Columbia, TN after the brutal fighting at Franklin. It was nearing the end of the war and during this pursuit of the rebels, it seems like there was a lot of skirmishing going on; they were most likely trying to slow down the Union on their tails.
He also talks of sickness among the boys in the company and about how he sent some to the hospital. These guys were right in the elements and had to do the best they could to survive. Even through this cold winter and all these battles that Capt. Douglas had been in, he did survive and married his wife in 1868. They would settle down in Terre Haute, Indiana and have 4 sons and 1 daughter. In the 1890s, they would move to Los Angeles, California where he would later die in the year 1900.