Civil War Letter

This letter was written by James Wilson Hanna (1843-1910), the son of Andrew Finley Hanna (1813-1847) and Susannah Craig (1817-1892) of Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio. After his father died in 1847, his mother married Alexander Moore (1822-18xx) -- a grocer in Cadiz. James graduated from Oberlin College with a law degree and took up the practice at an unknown location -- possibly Pittsburg. For some reason, James Hanna enlisted withCo. G of the 10th Pennsylvania Reserves (39th Pennsylvania Infantry). They were organized at Camp Wilkins near Pittsburg in the summer of 1861 and were camped at Camp Tennally (near Tennallytown, Maryland) from 1 August to 10 October. They then moved across the Potomac River to Camp Pierpont until March 1862 when they moved deeper into Virginia and then participated in the Seven Days Battles on the Peninsula. Hanna was promoted to corporal in October 1862 but was discharged from the regiment on 26 January 1863.

In the summer of 1863, Hanna was back in Cadiz, Ohio, working as a bookkeeper. Perhaps Hanna was inspired by the heroics of the boy general, George Armstrong Custer, who grew up in nearby New Rumley, for it seems that late in 1863, he sought and received a commission as a Lieutenant in Company L of the 11th Ohio Cavalry commanded by Colonel William O. Collins (Bio. CO, p. 410; MCHS, Vol. I, p. 18; Riverside Cemetery, Denver CO). This regiment was sent to Colorado late in 1863 to fight Indians. Collins sent two companies from the 11th Ohio Volunteers Cavalry under the command of Captain William H. Evans to be stationed at Camp Collins [later the site of Fort Collins]. The camp was flooded shortly after the troops arrived. The camp was moved to the Joseph Mason claim on high ground above the Cache la Poudre River. Hanna served there until honorably discharged (Bio. CO, p. 410).

1899 \"Colonel\" James W. Hanna was Montezuma\'s first representative to the legislature (Cortez Sentinel, October 17, 1983; Freeman, p. 66; Hall, Vol. 4, p. 230; Montezuma County Historical Society, Vol. I, pp. 68. 136).After he sold his Montezuma county interests, James W. Hanna moved to Denver and went into mining (Montezuma County Historical Society, Vol. I, p. 18).

James W. Hanna died on 1 December 1910, survived by his wife Anna E. Hanna, two daughters Jessie I. and Alice C. Hanna, and two sons Howard W. and Louis E. Hanna (\"The Denver Times\", Saturday evening, July 23, 1910, p.4; Montezuma County Historical Society, Vol. I, p. 18).

Hannawrote the letter to his friend, Richard (“Dick”) Lyons (1840-1902) of Cadiz, Ohio. Dick was the son of Robert Lyons (1803-1887) and Anna W. Bowland (1810-1844).

TRANSCRIPTION

Camp Pierpont
October 17th 1861

Mr. Richard Lyons
Friend Dick,

I have been waiting ever since I left home to hear from you but I find that you are determined not to write until you hear from me, so this morning after breakfast I concluded to write.

Since I wrote home, our regiment has moved on this side of the Potomac [River] near a small village called Langley situated in FairfaxCounty, Va. We removed from our former camp at Tennally near Washington on last Wednesday. I was on the rear guard, however, & did not get here until Friday night as we had to remain & strike the tents.

We are now closer than ever to the rebels -- they being only three miles off. It has been but a week or two since they were where we now are, but as soon as our boys advanced, they retreated.

Since we have been here, we have had several alarms caused by the enemy driving in our pickets, but we never went further than to load our guns & go out a mile or two as the rebels always run and never give us a chance to fight them. To a person that is not used to a soldier\'s life, they would be surprised to see how careless & unconcerned we are when called out to fight. As soon as the boys hear the long roll beat, they begin to yell & are perfectly frantic with joy at the prospect of having a skirmish with the bloody secessionists. We can often hear the drums beat in the rebel camps, and our Capt. was out a short distance from camp the other day and saw a large body of them a good distance off.

Dick, you may talk as you please about camp life being a hard one, but as far as I am concerned, I can say that I never had better times than since I have been in the army. It is true we have some rough times, but we must expect too. But as a general thing, we have splendid times. Nothing to do but drill a little, then lay around & sleep or do as you have a mind to. Yesterday one of my mess mates went out & stole a haversack full of turnips and this morning we had them for breakfast. Today he & I intend to go to the same place and get some cabbage.

Our mess was busy all day yesterday in fixing our tent. We put a bottom in it with rails. These we covered with hay and made a bed that I would not exchange for a feather one. I wish some of you Cadiz boys were here & we could have a gay time.

While in Washington the other day, I saw Ward Patterson. He is Sec. for Gen. Sickles. Has Alb. George ¹returned yet from war? What sort of a time had you at the time of the fair? Write & tell me all the news. I received a letter from Parker the other day. Will answer soon. Write soon.

I remain yours &c., -- Jas. W. Hanna

Address: J. W. Hanna, Co. G, 10th P. R. C., Washington D.C.

¹ Albert George of Cadiz, Ohio was a member of the 30th Ohio Infantry.

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