Tag Archives: Hiram H. Young

Letter – Noah Hill, 26 June 1864

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Letter written by Private Noah G. Hill of Company K, 123rd NY Volunteer Infantry, to his father. Hill writes about the fight at Kolb’s Farm, GA, on June 22nd. Hill’s regiment was put on the skirmish line. At one time when the Confederate forces drove forward, Hill writes that they were “so close. . . we could hear them talk.” After several attempts at charging the Union troops, the Confederates “gave it up as a bad job.” Hill writes that he and his friends are doing well. He is unsure of when he will be able to write again, as paper is scarce. He hopes that the campaign will soon be over. He describes hearing heavy cannonading, and remarks on the casualties suffered by his regiment. Hill concludes by writing that he is in Hooker’s 20th Corps, Williams’ Division, and Knipe’s Brigade, and mentioning the arrival of Hiram Young.

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Campt In the Brest Works June 26 1864

Dear, Father I thought I would write a few lines to you this morning it is the first chance that I have had well I geuss I will tell you about our fight our Regt was put on the skirmish line & we drove the rebbles aboute 3 miles & then we runn into their line of battle & they charged on us & drove us back & then wee drove them back wee held our ground for 1 [h]our & then they formed again & came on us with such a force that wee had to fall back wee was clost to them wee could here them talk they was in the busheys & wee was in front of them aboute 6 rods when they give the order to forward

wee all jumped up & fired & then wee fell back wee layed some of them cold you can bet they charged on our Batery & got driven back with great slaughter they tryed it 3 or 4 times & then they give it up as a bad job well I geuss I told you all aboute that so I geuss I will tell you that I am well & so is bub & W.R.H. is well bub is writeing & so is William R the Granville boys is all well I have not had any letter from in a long time I dont knowwhen I will write to you again for this is the last scrap of paper any of us has but I am in hopes that this campaign will bee over before long it has been a hard one well I have just had my hair cut Ed Rasey cut it Ed &

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the rest of the boys has gon to meeting it is sunday & a lonesome sunday two I have thinking of home to day I would like to know why John dont write I should think he could write more if he wanted to very bad well I dont know of much news to write to day they is heavy cannonading in hereing to day our Regt Lost in killed & wounded (27) & 17 missing Lieut Martin Co 4 was taken prisoner & wee suppose the rest was taken they come so near getting me they want no funn in it you may bet well I geuss I will stop for this time so give my best respects to all so good bye

Noah G. Hill

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wee are in Hookers 20th Corps & Williams Division & Nipes Brigade

Hiram Youngs has just arrived to the Regt for duty he is in good helgth so you can tell the folks that he is here safe & sound

this is all

Letter – Hiram Young, 15 August 1864

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Letter written by Private Hiram H. Young of Company B, 88th IN Volunteer Infantry. Young writes that Confederate troops unsuccessfully tried to drive in the Union skirmishers the day before, near Atlanta. He mentions that the Potomac Army calls the Confederates Johnny Rebs, while the Cumberland Army calls them Peter Butternuts. He comments on the hot weather, and mentions how the troops are in good spirits and participating in leisure activities. He ends by apologizing for the dirty letter, as “sow belly is plenty and soap is scarce.”

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August 15th 1864

The mail did not go out yester day and this morning Thought to tell you what took Place yester after I Quit Writing Just Before sundown the Rebs tried to Drive in Our skirmishers This Raised Considerable of a mess But nary Drive way there to our skirmishers they held them Ground and was Determined To fight – Like a fierce Bull Pug Rather than fall Back there was 4 Johnny come in Yester day I dont no as you will under stand By the name of Johnnys the Potomac Boys calls them Johnny Rebs and the Cumberland Boys calls them Peter Butter nut It is very warm

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It is hot Enough to Bake ahoe cake in the sand at any Time The Boys are all in good spirits this morning some are Playing Cards others are singing some Playing marbel others are Reading there Bibels some cussing some swearing there is Enough going on to make it Interesting all around I will close Henry Winebrenner Come to The Reg This morning he is about well I expect I have written more than you care about Reading

as Ever Yours

Hiram

PS Excuse all mistakes Dirt and Greese as Sow Belly is Plenty and soap is scarce

Hiram H. Young, from Wolf Lake, IN, enlisted with his friend, Henry C. Winebrenner (mentioned in the text) in Company B of the 88th IN Volunteer Infantry on July 26, 1862. Both survived the war and were mustered out at Washington, D.C. on June 7, 1865. Hiram was promoted to 1st lieutenant on June 1, 1865, but was not mustered.