11th Missouri Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER from Camp near Danville, Mississippi

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11th Missouri Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER from Camp near Danville, Mississippi :
$102.51

CIVIL WAR LETTER

This Civil War soldier letter was written by Cyrus D. Kendall (1837-1919) while servinginthe 11th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. A biography for Cyrus indicates he was born and educated in Erie, Pennsylvania, the son of Cyrus and Lucy (Aubrey) Kendall. At theage of 17, he came to Kane and then Fayette county, Illinois. He taught school during the years 1851, 1859, and 1860. He then moved to Clay county and read law under William W. Bishop. He was admitted to practice but before receiving his diploma, he enlisted as a sergeant in Co. D,11th Missouri Infantry, and rapidly rose to be 2d Lieutenant when he was transferred to Co. K. In 1864, he was commissioned captain of Co. K and afterward detached as Quartermaster on the staff of Gen. L. F. Hubbard. He was wounded at Corinth the night of 3 October 1862 and at Nashville on 16 December 1864.

Cyrus was married on 23 January 1862 to Catherine Rovilla Miller (1844-1876) in Clay county, Illinois. Rovilla (or “Villa”) was originally from Bellefontaine, Ohio — the daughter of Thompson Miller (1816-1843) and Abigail Sparks (1825-Aft1860). Villa’s siblings included her older sister Charlotte or “Lottie” (b. 1847), her younger brother Heber (b. 1851), and younger sister Emma (b. 1853).

Villa’s mother, Abigail (Sparks) Miller

Cyrus’brother, Sgt. Frederick (“Fred”) P. Kendall (1835-1863), served in Co. H, 35th Illinois Infantry. Fred musteredin August 1861, indicating that he worked as a dageuerrian in Vandalia, Illinois, before enlisting. He was killed on 19 September 1863 at Chickamauga, Georgia. Another brother, John Kendall (b. 1839) also served in the35th Illinois Regiment, but as a musician in Co. B. He survived the war.

The reader is referred to a fine book by Dennis W. Belcher on the11th Missouri Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War — A History and Roster—published in 2011.

TRANSCRIPTION

Camp near Danville, Mississippi
June 8th 1862

Mrs. Rovilla Kendall
My dear wife Rovilla,

Once more I will try and write a few lines to you that you may know that I am still alive though I am not well. I was out in a heavy rainstorm a few days since and I caught a severe cold which laid me up for a few days. I have been in my tent for three days and during that time I have thought of you continually & how much good it would have done me could you have been here then with me. I am getting better & I think I will be able to be on duty tomorrow. The regiment is twenty-two miles from here. I was with the regiment when we pursued the Rebels from Corinth but I got sick and came back to recruit a little.

I am hardly able to write as you will see by my writing which is not of the best quality. So if I fail to write a long letter, I know you will pardon me. I have written often to you but it has been a long time since I was blessed with a letter from you. I suppose you have written often but as there is no certainty about the mails, but few of your letters reach me. I suppose my letters labor under the same obstacles.

Now love, you must now worry at all about me for I think I will be as well as ever in a very few days. I am here in my tent all alone today and I feel very lonely but I spend most of my time in thinking of you and the future. I am always thinking how much I will love you and how kind and good I will always be to you, my dear wife, if my life is spared to get home & your smiles and caresses will pay me a thousand times. I almost dying to see you and I must before long but will hope for the best.

The [35th Illinois] regiment that my two brothers belong to came to Corinth a few days ago and I have seen them several times since. They are well & both send their love and best wishes to their sister Rovilla. We have had some very warm weather. I have no news of importance. You have now the latest news by telegraph.

I will enclose a rose that I plucked in a Secesh garden between Corinth & Grand Junction. My hand trembles so I will close. Give my love to yours and William’s folks and tell them all to write. I will write again soon.Now my dear little love, please write soon.

Your ever true & faithful husband, — C. D. Kendall

I will give you my address:

Cyrus D. Kendall
Corinth, Mississippi
11th Mo. Vol., Gen. [David] Stanley’s Division, Army of the Mississippi

TERMS

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