7th Indiana Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER from Fairfax Seminary, Virginia NICE ONE

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

7th Indiana Infantry CIVIL WAR LETTER from Fairfax Seminary, Virginia NICE ONE:
$56.01

CIVIL WAR LETTER

This Civil War soldier letter was written byPvt. Theodore (“Dory”) Longwood (1843-1877) the son of Milo Longwood(1802-1883) and Rebecca Scott (1803-1882) of Aberdeen, Ohio County, Indiana.Indiana marriage records indicate that Milo married Rebecca Scott in May 1829though it should be noted that death certificates of their children record hername as Rachel Tumy of New Jersey so it’s likely this was her second marriage.

Other members of the Longwood familyincluded:

Mary Ann (“Molly”) Scott (1823-1892) was a step-sister to Dory & Morty Longwood, a daughter from Rebecca’s first marriage, born in Kentucky. In 1844, Mary Ann married William “Frank” Stevens (1821-1900), a merchant in Aurora, Ohio county, Indiana. Their children included Laura Ida (1846-1919) and Charles (1848-1906). Ida was a regular correspondent with her Uncle Dory during the war.
Sarah (“Sally”) Jane Longwood (1830-1907), born in Aurora, Indiana. She married on 23 April 1850 to William Elias Yonge (1825-1893), born in New York City. In 1880 William was a dry goods merchant in Vevay, Indiana. William and Sallie lost their infant son (named “Frank”) in 1863. They also had a daughter named Ada Carrie (1853-1917), a son named William (“Willie” 1852-1939) and a daughter named Alice (1865-19xx). Willie was a regular correspondent with his Uncle Dory during the war.
The Longwoods had at least two other children who did not survive childhood. These were Maria Louise Longwood (1840-1841) and Elizabeth Lenore Longwood (1845-1852).

Pvt. Dory served in Co.C,7th Indiana Infantry.Referenced in this letter is Sgt. Mortimer (Morty) Scott Longwood, Dory\'sbrother who also served in the 7th Indiana.

Dory\'s fate is described in the followingfamily history quip:

TheodoreLongwood was known as “Dory” to his family. He was five years younger than hisbrother Mortimer. Mortimer enlisted in the 7th Indiana, so Dory followed himone year later – being assigned to the same company. Dory was a private andolder brother Mort was a sergeant. Dory’s luck ran out on August 19, 1864. Heand brother Mortimer had been part of the siege of Petersburg – which lastedfor nine months. During that time the two brothers, along with soldiers frommany regiments, were sent to capture the Weldon Railroad which ran fromPetersburg to Weldon, North Carolina. Union Generals realized that they had tocompletely cut Petersburg off from any outside Confederate support, and therailroad was one of those lines of support. During that action the rebels underGeneral Beauregard put up a fierce fight. In the two day running battle unionforces lost 212 men killed, 1149 wounded and 2879 missing. Most of thosemissing men were captured by Confederate troops and spent the rest of the warin a prisoner of war camp – Dory was one of those unlucky men captured by theenemy… Theodore was always “sickly and weak” after the war. He married and hadone child but died early at age 34.

TRANSCRIPTION

Addressed to Mr. William E[lias] Yonge, Aurora, Indiana

Fairfax Seminary
April 6th 1863

Dear Brother,

I received yours of the 10th which brought the sad news of the death of your little cherub babe. Dear brother, it makes me feel very sad to think that I will never see him on earth. His days here were but few but now he is gone and left a vacancy in our hearts never to be filled. We have one happy thought to console us that he is now happy and numbers one more with the ____; she is happier now that we that are left to mourn his loss. But as the poets sing, happy will be the day when in heaven our friends we see.

Death is spread abroad over the land and while we mourn over those that are gone, we yet may be thankful that we are still spared and enjoy good health. I got a letter from Mort a few days ago. He was well and at the same place. There was nothing of any note going on there at the time of writing.

I have got several letters from home in the last two or three weeks. Your letter is the only one that I have got from there for some time. I have been longing to hear from some of you. I got two or three of the Aurora papers that I suppose you sent to me.

I suppose you are having a big time there with the Copperheads. Pa said in his letter that some of the traitors had got shot. Oh I wish it was so. I could come and help shoot the cowardly traitorous dogs. Their days are growing short. They would not say a word when all of the soldiers was at home but now they think they will take possession of those that are left at home. They write discouraging letters to those that are in the field and they raise the report that we are tired of the war and that we will not fight anymore. We are not so tired of the war and we will not be done fighting until we whip the rebels at the South and come home and whip the cowardly traitors of the North and drive them through our lines for we don’t want no traitors to live in the North or South for the sake of the country. We have left our business, our kindred, our friends, the firesides of our most sacred of places, and all the nearest and dearest relations of life to serve our country. We have endured hunger, thirst, cold, and heat and all manner of suffering—while there be traitors at the North who cry peace when they know there is no peace nor can be none till this unholy rebellion is crushed. If I were home, I would settle some of them for I know who they are. If you ever have to shoot at one of them, be sure to take good sight.

I believe I have nothing of much importance so I will have to close. I sent Pa $30 this week by Express. I also sent him a letter and to him to come in there and get it soon as it comes to Aurora. I have got everything that I need now and have good health.

As I have nothing of importance to write, I will leave this with you to make the best out of you can and please look over the mistakes. You will see that I finished on the wrong side but I will number them so perhaps you can find the end. So please write as often as you can. Tell all to write. Give my love to all as I am still yours as ever. Yours truly, — Theodore Longwood

TERMS

$2.00 postage in the United States and $3.00 elsewhere. We accept paypal. Postage combined for multiple purchases.

We\'re members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.

We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions). Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for futuregenealogists and history buffson the Spared & Shared blog.

We\'ve been selling on since 2001. offer WITH CONFIDENCE.