Jeremiah Oxley and the Civil War

A transcription of letter from Jeremiah Oxley to parents, Ohio Oxley and Hester Stewart Oxley:

AFeb 3rd 186_ [probably 1863]

In lousina in Camp near vicksburg

Dear Father & Mother

I take the present optnity of answering your of the 3 that duly came to hand and was much pleas to hear from home once more and that you was all well but I was mtch disappointed to hear that you have not been geting mi leters for I have been writing every week I have had plenty of paper all the time that I could get of the [?Sutler, or could it be, battle]. I just writ you the other day a full acount of the fight that i have been in and so I wont say any ting a bout it this time until I hear from you and whether you get it or not but it is and offul sight to be on a battle field and see the dead scatre all a round and the wounded with their arms or legs or head shot of.

Well mi health has not been as good as usual. I have had a slight tuch with the flicks but I have got that a bout soft but i have a slight could now but I guess that it will soon [?well] that well. Father we have not receive any pay yet but I guess that we will get our pay this month but would like four you to send me som money in your next letter if you get this one for we want to buy some lite bread or some tee or some dried fruit somthing of that kind when we are not very well and cannot eat hard crackers. But as soon as we get our pay I will send mi money to you. John Slaymey is well and send his best wiches to you folks.

So I guess that I will hlf to qit. So no more at present but write soon for I would write more but I have to go on picket to night. Joseph Oxley, and Ohio Oxley

direct to Memphis. tenn@

[He had an older brother named Joseph and his father was Ohio]

Notes from Civil War Record in National Archives, Washington, DC:

Jeremiah Oxley of Capt. Leonard=s Co. B, 96th Regiment, Ohio Infantry. The company muster-in-roll showed that he Ajoined for duty and enrolled August 12, 1862" in Mt. Vernon, Knox Co [Ohio] for 3 years with the bounty paid of $25.00 and a premium paid of [?2.00]. He was mustered in August 19, 1862 in Delaware Ohio. The muster rolls show him present October 31, 1862; Nov. & Dec. 1862; Jan & Feb 1863; Mar & Apr 1863; May & June 1863.

The company muster role of July & Aug 1863 shows him as Corp. and records that he Adied at Division Hospital in rear of Vicksburg, Miss, July 9, 1863.@ The muster roll regarding payment dated Nov 18, 1864 at AMo. White River, Ark@ shows that he was last paid Apr 30, 1863 a bounty of $25.00 and was due $75.00 with remarks: APrivate to March 1, >63 died of disease July 9, >63 rear of Vicksburg, Miss. In battle of Chickasaw Bluffs, Fort [?Wriedman or Hindmann], Siege Vicksburg. The Regimental Descriptive Book gives his age as 19 years; height 5 feet 4 inches; complexion sandy; eyes blue; hair sandy; born in Coshocton, Ohio; occupation Shoe m; enlisted August 12, 1862 in Mt. Vernon by Wm S. Wing for a term of 3 years; appl=d Corp=l Mar 1/63; died at Vicksburg, Miss, July 9/63 of congestive chills. The record said that Jeremiah Oxley was last paid by paymaster Major Jordan to include the 29th day of April 1863 and has pay due him from that time to date of death. He had Arec=d clothing amt. to $39.00 since date of enlistment.@ He had received from U.S. $25.00 advanced bounty and was due $75.00. This report was given in duplicate at Mouth of White River, Arkansas, 12th of Dec., 1864 and was signed by Geo. McClurg, lst Lieut. with remarks that his Aeffects delivered to his friends.@

Denise Booth writes: I noticed in your transcription that you had a [?Sutler] and I thought I might be able to help a little. A "sutler" according to Webster: One who follows an army and sells to the troops provisions, liquors, and the like. It is perfectly logical that Jeremiah procured his paper from the sutler. I can even remember in old John Wayne movies some of the army post characters would often refer to "the sutler's store"....so I suppose this is an old term gone out of style today. (And our parents thought those old movies would never do us any good.....surprise! ha!)