General Robert E. Lee to Captain G. W. Custis Lee, September 3, 1861

VALLEY MT., 3d September, 1861.

MY DEAR SON:

I was very glad to receive your letter of the 27th ulto., and to learn something of your whereabouts. I did not know what had become of you, and was very anxious to learn. You say nothing of your health, and I will hope you are well and able to do good service to the cause so dear to us all. I trust you may be able to get a position and field agreeable to you; and know that wherever you may be placed you will do your duty. That is all the pleasure, all the comfort, all the glory we can enjoy in this world. I have been able to do but little here. Still I hope I have been of some service. Things are better organized. I feel stronger, we are stronger. The three routes leading east are guarded. The men have more confidence, our people a feeling of security. The enemy has been driven back, and made to haul in his horns, and to find he cannot have everything his own way. This has been done without a battle, but by a steady advance of positions. Now to drive him farther a battle must come off, and I am anxious to begin it. Circumstances beyond human control delay it, I know for good, but I hope the Great Ruler of the Universe will continue to aid and prosper us, and crown at last our feeble efforts with success. Rain, rain, rain, there has been nothing but rain. So it has appeared to my anxious mind since I approached these mountains. It commenced before, but since has come down with a will. The cold too has been greater than I could have conceived. In my winter clothing and buttoned up in my overcoat, I have still been cold. This state of weather has aggravated the sickness that has attacked the whole army, measles and typhoid fever. Some regiments have not over 250 for duty, some 300, 500, or about half, according to its strength. This makes a terrible hole in our effectives. Do not mention this, I pray you. It will be in the papers next. The rains and constant travel have cut these dirt turnpikes so deep, the soil being rich mould in most parts, that wagons can only travel with double teams. But there is a change in the weather. The glorious sun has been shining these four days. The drowned earth is warming. The sick are improving, and the spirits of all are rising. F. is anxious to get his buffalo robe. Did you ever get my letter concerning it? It was directed to be sent to the Spotswood to me. I asked you to put it up securely, and get Colonel Myers to send it to me at Huntersville. I have heard nothing of it. F. feels the want of it every night. He is very well, hearty, and sanguine. I am glad to hear of Gen. A. S. Johnston's approach and Captain Garnett's arrival. The disaster at Cape Hatteras was a hard blow to us, but we must expect them, struggle against them, prepare for them. We cannot be always successful and reverses must come. May God give us courage, endurance, and faith to strive to the end. Good-by, my dear son. F. has just come in. He sends his love and Colonel W. and Captain T. their regards. Give my kind remembrances to everybody.

Your fond father,

R. E. LEE.

CAPT. G. W. CUSTIS LEE.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 146-7

A Good Man Has Fallen

It is with sorrow we announce the death of the Rev. John S. Whittlesey, Chaplain of the 11th Iowa regiment.  He returned to his home in Durant a few weeks since, sick with typhoid fever and pneumonia, contracted by his exertions to aid the wounded soldiers at the battle of Pittsburg, while he himself was in feeble health.  He was a pure hearted Christian, and has fallen a martyr at his post, while faithfully discharging his duty.  Mr. Whittlesey, by his faithful correspondence, had made himself acquainted with the readers of the GAZETTE, who, with us, will regret that his pen is stilled forever.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 14, 1862, p. 1

Rev. J. S. Whittlesey

It is with sorry we learn, from a member of Mr. Whittlesey’s family, that that gentleman, chaplain of the 11th Iowa regiment, is now lying sick at his home in Durant, Cedar county, of typhoid fever and pneumonia, worn out by the care of so many wounded men.  We hope his recovery may be speedy.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 1

A Malignant Disease

GRINNELL, Iowa, April 30.

ED. GAZETTE – Dear Sir:  As you will have rumors various, as to recent and sudden deaths in this [village], I wish, in a few words, to give you the facts.  There have been five deaths in this village within four days.  The first person, Mrs. N. Whitney, a most estimable lady, was sick three days and delirious from the first.

The other four were not sick a day – three died to-day.  Dr. Pulsiver, a resident dentist, assisted in a post-mortem examination of Miss Sears, one of the deceased and received a cut on his finger.  His extreme illness was only a few hours.  Miss Schoonover, and her son of six years, died the same hour.

The most marked features in the progress of the disease are loss of pulse and a spotted appearance of the skin for a few hours previous to death.

Drs. Holyoke and Harris of this place, and Drs. Sears, Patten and Conley are in attendance and give no opinion as to the disease, but it is presumed that it is a malignant typhoid.

The worst, with think, is over: such is our hope.  Those with similar symptoms to the deceased, are improving.

There is naturally excitement in this usually healthy and quiet village, and I have given you all the facts, which I have no doubt are highly colored for the public mind ere this.

We are in deep mourning, but leave the events with the Almighty.

Yours,

J. B. GRINNELL.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 2, 1862, p. 1

Returned

Lieut. Benton, of Co. B., 8th regiment, arrived in town yesterday morning on the Jennie Whipple.  Lieut. B. had been sick two weeks before the battle of Shiloh, and at that time was unable to leave his bed.  During the first day’s fight, the enemy got so near to where he was confined, that some of his men insisted on removing him, notwithstanding his earnest remonstrance.  They took him to the landing, but were not permitted to take him on a steamboat, as he was not wounded, and was left on the landing, where he lay from Sunday till Tuesday morning, without anything to eat, and exposed to the storms at night during the battle.  He was wet through and in that condition was taken back to the hospital, suffering from typhoid fever.  He was subsequently brought to St. Louis and taken to a hospital whence Mrs. Doughterty, a benevolent lady of that city, had him removed to a private house, where he was kindly cared for. – Lieut. Benton’s sister went to St. Louis and brought him to this city, whence he started for his home, in Blue Grass, yesterday.  We hope for his early restoration to health under the genial skies of Iowa.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 2, 1862, p. 1

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, July 17, 1862

It rained all last night and everybody is thankful, as it has become so dry and dusty. There are a few cases of sickness in our regiment, due to the extremely hot weather — a few cases of typhoid fever and some are suffering from chronic diarrhea.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 57-8

Sanitary Condition of the 7th [sic] Iowa Regiment

Mr. G. L. T. Dille, of Co. C, 8th Iowa Regiment, who has recently returned discharged on account of ill health has handed us the following statement of the sanitary condition of the regiment was may be of interest to some of our readers.

SEDALIA, MO., Jan. 12, 1862.

The number of sick in the regimental Hospital from the 12th to the 31st of October averaged 12 per day.  For the month of November the average was 48 per day, and for December 22.  For January up to the 12th, 36.  This is besides the sick in the quarters which would average as many again as in the hospital, from 80 to 100 per day would be a fair average of those unfit for duty.

There has been 26 deaths in the regiment from various diseases, principally Billious Diarrhea, Typhoid and Lung fevers.

The prospect now bids fair for an improvement in the health.  Our physicians both becoming sick and absent has been a great drawback to us.

JAS. McCONNELL, Steward.

W. H. BARKER, Ward Master.

Washington Press

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 2

EDITOR’S NOTE:  The regiment in this article was mistakenly headlined 7th Iowa Infantry, but all persons named within it are members of the 8th Iowa Infantry.

Death Of Miss Sadie Curtis

We were deeply pained to learn, last evening, of the death of Miss Sadie Curtis, eldest daughter of Major-General Curtis.  She had been ill for some time, in St. Louis, of Typhoid fever.  The melancholy tidings of her death were telegraphed to Hosmer Curtis, Esq., of this city, last evening.  The dispatch says: “She died this (Wednesday) afternoon, at 3 o’clock.  Her death was calm and peaceful.  We will leave here for Keokuk with her remains Thursday afternoon.”

Miss Curtis was universally beloved by her acquaintances.  She took a deep interest in the welfare of the soldiers, and while remaining here was the efficient Secretary of the Ladies’ Soldiers’ Aid Society.  Her death is deeply regretted by all who knew her, and must be a terrible blow to her father and family.  In this their great affliction they have the sincere and unaffected sympathy of all their friends. – {Gate City.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 3

Arrival of the Karnack

New York, Feb. 20.

The steamer Karnack has arrived, with Havana dates of the 10th and Nassau of the 8th.  It is stated that several vessels had arrived at Havana, having run the blockade.  The steamer Rate sailed on the 30th, with a part of the Gladiator’s cargo, probably for New Orleans.  The steamer Miramon sailed for Metamora on the 7th.

The war in Venezuela Continues.

A frightful revolution is progressing in Honduras.

Gen. Suardioler had been assassinated at his door.  The troops had joined the insurgents and excesses were being committed in Truxillo.

St. Thomas dates to 2d state that the British commander had attempted to take a seaman from an American vessel by force, but a federal gunboat protected the man.  The governor of St. Thomas notified the Britisher that the guns of the fort would aid the Iroquois.  The British admiral subsequently arrived and reprimanded the commander, and apologized to Consul Edgar.

The bark W. G. Anderson arrived on the 20th.

Ship Island dates of the 1st state that five ships of Porter’s expedition had arrived and two more were spoken off Havana on the 11th.

Vera Cruz dates to the 8th state that no advance had yet been made.  Over 1,000 sick soldiers were there, besides hundreds at Tjera.  Yellow and typhoid fevers had broken out among them.

The Mexicans insist on the re-embarkation of the Spanish troops, but consent to 2,000 allied troops attending the negotiations at Arzaba.  The allies state they shall advance during February to Arzaba, and would give battle at Cerro Gordo if opposed.

Mexican papers express the greatest hatred of the Spaniards.

Four rebel schooners had arrived at Havana from New Orleans with cotton.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 21, 1862, p. 1

DEATH OF WM. W. DONALDSON

This young man was a member of Capt. [PARRILL’S] company, 53d Regiment. When we first saw him, he was in the hospital of that Regiment, and already delirious, though he had been sick but two or three days. Dr. L. FULTON * at once set about procuring him a furlough, which he succeeded in doing after considerable trouble. Young DONALDSON was taken on board the Superior, in a dying condition, in fact, and there received the very best attention it was possible to bestow upon him from the best medical men on board. But his disease was the worst type of typhoid fever in its last stages. He was all through the great battle of Shiloh, and fought like a true patriot and hero. He was taken sick immediately after the battle. His life was sacrificed upon the alter of his country, and though his loss is that of an only son to his afflicted parents, they have the consolation of thousands of parents who mourn as they do, that his life was given in the best cause in which one can die in this bright land of liberty. He was loved by all who knew him, and will be mourned by all.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862


* NOTE: Lorenzo Fulton was a captain in Company G of the 53rd Ohio Infantry, whose brother was Dr. Joseph Warren Fulton, who as at that time was the Surgeon of the 53rd Ohio Infantry. Dr. Fulton’s Brother, Robert A. Fulton, served as Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment and Dr. Fulton’s nephew, Joseph W. Fulton was 1st Lieutenant in Company B, and later Captain in Company G. Given so many members of this family served in this regiment it is no wonder why the article misidentified Dr. Fulton. – See: A History of Scioto County, Ohio, Vol. 1, Parts 1 & 2 (Published in 1903), p. 985-6 & The Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System