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Camp Chase Letter of Capt. W. A. H. Shackelford
The following transcript is provided through the courtesy of S.H.A.P.E. (Southern Heritage, Advancement, Preservation & Education). Thanks to Evelyn Rard who transcribed the letter and George Purvis who provided permission to use the text. S.H.A.P.E. has a scan of the original Camp Chase letter and will be happy to share this scan with any descendant of W. A. H. Shackelford free of charge. For more information, please visit the web site of S.H.A.P.E. at www.southernheritageadvancementpreservationeducation.org.
Camp Chase Columbus Ohio
April 20th 1862
Dear wife and children
I take the time and plesure to write to you to let
you know how I am doing we are doing tolerable well we are well treated hear
though it is verry unpleasant to be a prisoner. I was taken sick on the last
day of Febuary with the pnewmoney feaver and was confined to my room about
25 days. I got to go about a little and taken the yellow landerp an I was
verry bad off 12 or 15 days. I am now able to go about over the prisen. The
officers treat us kindly and give us aplenty to eat. I do not want you to be
uneasey about me if it the will of the lord for me to get home I will be
shore to do so. I have had nues from the boys. C. M. Priddle died on the 10
of March. G. B. Conch and J. W. Toland and T. M. Priddle have all died in
the prisen. I want you to do the best you can tell the boys to purservear
and make as much corn as they can and plant all of your corn land in peas
and take good care of your hogs. I cannot tell when I will be liberated to
come home. Keep your cotton if you can. I want to see you all verry bad. T.
E. Riddle was at Clarksville Ten the last that I heard from him. He was
wounded in the leg above the ancle he was mending slowly it was thought that
his leg would have to be cut off. Franklin Torrgerjan was wounded and was
sent to Clarksville. I learn he died. I want you all to reconsile and not be
uneasey give my love to all the connections. No news at this time but remain
your until death. W A H Shackelford to F Shackleford
Editorial Notes:
Captain W. A. H. Shackelford of Bay Springs, MS, writes home to his family assuring them that he's doing fine in spite of recent health problems. He also gives a report on some of the "boys" from from the area. All of them served with Shackelford's command, Company H. News traveled fast because none of these soldiers were with Shackelford at Camp Chase. Here are some notes:
- "C. M. Priddle" would be Charles M. Riddle of Bay Springs. He died at Camp Morton, Indiana, in April 1862.
- "G. B. Conch" is probably Green Claunch of nearby Barnes Store. He died at Camp Morton on April 5, 1862.
- "J. W. Toland" of Barnes Store died around April 15, 1862, at Camp Morton.
- There is no record of a "T. M. Priddle (or more likely "Riddle").
- "T. E. Riddle" of Bay Springs was a mere 19 years old at enlistment in the fall of 1861. His military records indicate he was indeed left at Clarksville and then later transferred to Nashville where he died from his wounds in mid-April 1862.
- "Franklin Torrgerjan" is no doubt Franklin Ferguson of Barnes Store who died around March 1, 1862, at Clarksville, TN.
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