Christopher T. Dunham to his wife Sarah E. (Sadie) Cummings written November 6, 1863 from the Headquarters of Company F, 92nd Illinois Volunteers in Bridgeport, Alabama.
Title
Christopher T. Dunham to his wife Sarah E. (Sadie) Cummings written November 6, 1863 from the Headquarters of Company F, 92nd Illinois Volunteers in Bridgeport, Alabama.
Description
Christopher Theodore Dunham was born Sept 24, 1836 in Berkshire, Tioga County, NY. He moved to Freeport, Stephenson County, IL around 1856 and in 1860 was elected county surveyor. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a corporal in Capt. Atkin's company in the 11th Illinois Regiment of the Union Army. He transferred to Noleman's Calvary Company and was mustered out July 5, 1862. He returned to Freeport where he again enlisted under the President's call of July 1. 1862 and was elected Captain of Company F, 92nd Illinois Volunteers. With his background as a surveyor, he was detailed as Topographical officer on the staff of Brigadier General A. Baird, commander of his regiment's division. He married Sarah (“Sadie” or “Saddie”) E. Cummings September 22, 1862 in Freeport, Illinois. In 1864 he was tendered by Governor Yates the commission of Lt. Col. but turned it down to remain on staff duty. He was also attached to HQ 3rd Div. Army of Kentucky and HQ 1st Div. Reserve Army Corps. After returning to Freeport he was again surveying, but in 1872 was admitted to the Elgin Insane Asylum, where he died January 27, 1878.
Creator
Christopher Theodore Dunham
Date
November 6, 1863
Rights
Midway Village Museum
Format
jpeg
pdf
Identifier
2013.70.38
Text
2013.70.38
Head Quarters Co. F: 92d Ill. Vol
Bridgeport Ala. Nov. 6th 1863
My Darling Wife
Wonder how you are this evening my dear one! Ive been in my tent all day writing a little reading the papers &c. &c. and this evening feel pretty tired doing nothing.
I am not as well situated now as I was before coming down from Harrison's Landing as the roads were so awful muddy that it became necessary to abandon my stove - consequently I've no fire - but tomorrow I think of having the boys build me a log fireplace and chimney - wont that be nice to counteract the long & chilly rains which are so frequent in this latitude at this season of the year. Yesterday and today however have been fine days.
Page 2
We will undoubtedly remain at this post about 10 or 12 days as it will require that length of time for the Col. to return from Nashville with our fresh horses - new saddles and new rifles - then we will be splendidly equiped [sic] and ready to go to the front again.
My love I would love dearly to hear from you this evening I do hope & trust that you are much - better! Sadie I think of you many times a day & oh how my heart bleeds for you - I am not near as well as I used to be and of course I can take but little interest in the service! but I think by a month or so of time I will be well again. Some times [sic] I feel entirely discouraged on the account of my sickness - feeling that I'm justly desearted [sic] by every body [sic] and then I will feel better and for a while forget all my misfortunes and try to do much about my Co. and Co.papers &c. and shortly I will
Page 3
feel weak again - The only way my sickness affects me is by weakness My blood is in pretty good condition and I can ride or walk any where [sic] and no one would know or mistrust that I am at all unwell - If the Regiment does not suit me better than it now does after we are re-equiped [sic] I shall go [to] Dept. Hd. Quarters and remain there during my term of enlistment. which is 23 months as I've searved [sic] out 13 already - has it not been a long time Sadie to us! does it not appear a long time since I first went into the service! about 30 mounths [sic] - well tis a long time surely but I think one more year will close the war - and then all the volunteers can go home and enjoy the dearly purchased peace -
I see there is a new call for troops that will turn out some of the brave boys at home will it not. I would like to have
Page 4
about twenty five more men in my company - I started to from Rockford with 96 men & offices [sic] and I now have only 72 living by deaths desertions - discharges 24 men so I need 25 to have a good large company - I cannot write anyth'g [sic] can I dear of any account now as I feel that I do not know anything of interest to write –
The mail just came in no letter for me – so good night my dear wife –
Your Affct Husband
CTD
To
Sadie
Please remember me to all
Head Quarters Co. F: 92d Ill. Vol
Bridgeport Ala. Nov. 6th 1863
My Darling Wife
Wonder how you are this evening my dear one! Ive been in my tent all day writing a little reading the papers &c. &c. and this evening feel pretty tired doing nothing.
I am not as well situated now as I was before coming down from Harrison's Landing as the roads were so awful muddy that it became necessary to abandon my stove - consequently I've no fire - but tomorrow I think of having the boys build me a log fireplace and chimney - wont that be nice to counteract the long & chilly rains which are so frequent in this latitude at this season of the year. Yesterday and today however have been fine days.
Page 2
We will undoubtedly remain at this post about 10 or 12 days as it will require that length of time for the Col. to return from Nashville with our fresh horses - new saddles and new rifles - then we will be splendidly equiped [sic] and ready to go to the front again.
My love I would love dearly to hear from you this evening I do hope & trust that you are much - better! Sadie I think of you many times a day & oh how my heart bleeds for you - I am not near as well as I used to be and of course I can take but little interest in the service! but I think by a month or so of time I will be well again. Some times [sic] I feel entirely discouraged on the account of my sickness - feeling that I'm justly desearted [sic] by every body [sic] and then I will feel better and for a while forget all my misfortunes and try to do much about my Co. and Co.papers &c. and shortly I will
Page 3
feel weak again - The only way my sickness affects me is by weakness My blood is in pretty good condition and I can ride or walk any where [sic] and no one would know or mistrust that I am at all unwell - If the Regiment does not suit me better than it now does after we are re-equiped [sic] I shall go [to] Dept. Hd. Quarters and remain there during my term of enlistment. which is 23 months as I've searved [sic] out 13 already - has it not been a long time Sadie to us! does it not appear a long time since I first went into the service! about 30 mounths [sic] - well tis a long time surely but I think one more year will close the war - and then all the volunteers can go home and enjoy the dearly purchased peace -
I see there is a new call for troops that will turn out some of the brave boys at home will it not. I would like to have
Page 4
about twenty five more men in my company - I started to from Rockford with 96 men & offices [sic] and I now have only 72 living by deaths desertions - discharges 24 men so I need 25 to have a good large company - I cannot write anyth'g [sic] can I dear of any account now as I feel that I do not know anything of interest to write –
The mail just came in no letter for me – so good night my dear wife –
Your Affct Husband
CTD
To
Sadie
Please remember me to all
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Christopher Theodore Dunham, “Christopher T. Dunham to his wife Sarah E. (Sadie) Cummings written November 6, 1863 from the Headquarters of Company F, 92nd Illinois Volunteers in Bridgeport, Alabama.,” Midway Village Museum - Digital Collections, accessed May 1, 2024, https://midwayvillagemuseumdigitalcollections.omeka.net/items/show/36.