1863 Missouri Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER from Military Prison in Alton, Illinois

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1863 Missouri Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER from Military Prison in Alton, Illinois:
$137.50

Civil War Letter

Marvelous and well researched Civil War letter - written in 1863 by a Missouri infantryman incarcerated at the Alton Military prison (Illinois).

FULL RESEARCH NOTES, SCANS and TRANSCRIPT below.

Letter housed in its original envelope - with a blue Alton postmark.

This letter was written by James Monroe Richardson, Jr. (1844-1896) to his father, James Monroe Richardson, Sr. (1820-1895) ofSaline Township, Miller County, Missouri. James Sr. was married to Frances (\"Frankie\") Ann Stephens (1827-1866) in 1843. James Jr. mentions his sister Martha AnnRichardson (1848-1920) in the letter.In Miller County records, James M. Richardson’s 5 slaves were valued at $2400 per the assessor’s books. At one time James and Frances (Stephens) Richardson, their seven children, and five slaves lived in the Tuscumbia area before the Civil War.

Among the Union Provost Marshal Papers in Missouri is the record of a letter written by James M. Richardson, Sr. on 10 June 1863 to Gov. Gamble stating that he was arrested for having southern sympathies and claiming that his property in Miller County, Missouri, had been confiscated and scheduled to be sold by Lieut. Babcock without due process of law. The letter was written from Marion, Illinois, which is where this letter was sent.

Pvt. James M. Richardson enlisted at the age of 17 on 20 July 1862 at Cedar Creek, Marion County, Missouri, to serve three years in Captain William Skiles\' Company E, Hunter\'s Battalion, Missouri Infantry. Hunter\'s Battalion consisted of seven companies that had previously served as cavalry. After adding more companies, the Battalion expanded into Hunter\'s 2d Missouri infantry regiment in September 1862, which was later designated as the 8th Missouri Infantry. [Note: Sometime after the Battle of Helena, the regiment was changed to the 11th Missouri Infantry.]

James was present for duty on 4 July 1863 when Confederate records show that he was missing after the Battle of Helena. Federal POW records indicate that he was one of several confederates captured at Helena who were placed on board the steamerTycoonand forwarded to Memphis. There they were transferred to to the steamerSilver Moonon 5 July 1863 and forwarded to Cairo. James was admitted to the Alton Military Prison on 9 July 1863 and was admitted to the post and prison hospital on 26 July 1863 suffering from diarrhea. The date of his release from the hospital is not given but was clearly prior to this letter in November 1863. [Note: The military records for Alton Military Prisonhave his name as James Richison.]

James was imprisoned at Alton until 29February 1864 when he was transferred to the prison at Fort Delaware. He arrived there on 5 March 1864. He was probably housed in Division 16 of that prison -- a division with several other Missouri soldiers. Microfilmed records pertaining to Fort Delaware tell us that James was admitted to the Fort Delaware Post and Prison Hospital on 6 JUN 1864 and discharged back to the prison barracks on 22 JUL 1864. The cause for treatment was not given.

James was paroled for exchange on 27 February 1865, one of 1,018 paroled prisoners of war loaded aboard the SteamerCassandraand sent off that day to the James River. Union guard Private A. J. Hamilton from the Fort Delaware garrison accompanied these prisoners south and reported on their delivery. Hamilton wrote on 1 March 1865: “At noon, we came to anchor off Aiken’s Landing. Lieutenant Lewis went ashore and reported to Colonel Mulford, found that the Rebs were unable to furnish transportation and unable to receive our prisoners and we would have to wait.” On 2 March 1865, Hamilton wrote: “Early this morning, Lieutenant Lewis went ashore, got orders to run alongside the [Steamer]State of New York, to put all the Rebels who were able to walk a few miles ashore. We have got rid of 500 of them and they struck out for Dixie on foot.” CMSRs show that there were several other Missouri soldiers paroled at Fort Delaware on 27 FEB 1865 who were released at Aiken’s Landing on 2 MAR 1865.

James’ name appears on a Roll of Paroled Missouri Soldiers who arrived at Richmond 3 March 1865. They were forwarded by Lieutenant R. S. Bevier, a Missouri officer present in Richmond, to Brigadier General Francis M. Cockrell who was commanding French’s Division of the Army of Tennessee at Mobile, Alabama. Cockrell’s troops were involved in the defense of Fort Blakely which fell on 9 APR 1865. The City of Mobile was occupied on 12 April 1865.

Family oral history claims that James Jr.was a tall, red-headed farmer, school teacher, and merchant.He is reported to have gone to Oklahoma on the first train inApril 1889 and lived there until his death at theage of 52. He was married in 1875 to Vania Barnes and had two children.

I\'d like to thank Hugh Simmons of theFort Delaware Societyfor assisting in the research of Prisoner of War James M. Richardson. They have updated their research folder pertaining to him so that others who might want to research this soldier may learn more.

TRANSCRIPTION
Addressed to Mr. James M. Richardson, Marion P.O., Williamson Co., IL

Military Prison
Alton, Illinois
November 26th 1863

Dear Pa,

I once more have the pleasure of sending you a few lines which leaves me well, hoping when this comes to hand that it will find you enjoying the blessings of life.

I received a letter from sister Jane today dated the 19th inst. All was well at home. I have nothing of interest to write you for all is dull here at this time to me.

You spoke of James Reed. Since I wrote to you in October, he had got a letter from home. Therefore, I did not mention it to you when you was up here. He is a nurse in the hospital & does not have much time for studying books.

Concluded Nov. 27th. I received all of the money you sent me the same evening that I got the other articles. I am a making tolerable good use of my time with my books. If I should not understand some parts at once, I have plenty of friends that will explain it all to me at once for we have some very intelligent men here. I and my friend Joseph Adcock have some butter yet. He received a express package from home containing some eatables so we have faired very well since you was here.

Pa, I take a great pride in writing in particular to you & Ma so I want you to write to me ofttimes. I will come to a close for this time.

Believe me to be your dutiful son, as ever, -- James M. Richardson

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