Letter Set 1—“I'll Be Home for Harvest”
Excerpted from “I Take My Pen to Hand,” by Vivian Zollinger, IMH, vol. xciii, June 1997
Men who volunteered early in the war believed it would take no more than a few weeks to suppress the rebellion. A majority of them came from farms, and they knew their work was vital to their families. They were confident, however, that those left at home could manage for a couple of months. The Owen County commissioners authorized assistance, based upon need, for the families of soldiers as early as March, 1861, but few acknowledged that need in the beginning.
Enthusiasm for the Union cause gradually gave way to concern, then despair, as a few weeks of excitement became months and then years. The soldiers' letters narrate a full range of experiences—all new, for most were away from home for the first time. The men who could write struggled to describe high adventure, rollicking camaraderie, exuberant self-confidence, chilling fear, boredom, and desperate loneliness. They worried about the farms and the families they left in the hills of Owen County, but they had a job to do and were eager to complete it.
Andrew Bush, born May 29, 1833, was the son of German born David and Fredericka Bush, who had settled on a farm in Jefferson Township. Andrew married Mary Hilligas not long before he joined the army. He wrote often to Mary during his Civil War service, and many of his letters expressed worries regarding the farm he had left behind.
You stated in your last letter that you did not know what to do with the corn I don't what to say about it but I think that Jacob ought to see to it and Somebody to gather it for you and pay it in corn they are lots of men would be glad to work that way. Get someone if you can and fat some of the largest of them hogs for fatted pork will be worth somethin.
In his next letter two weeks later he wrote,
I want you to get Jacob White to see them hogs if he can. When you wright again I want to know all the concerns respecting corn gathering and how you get along with the things in general.
The war struggled on another year and Andrew continued advising Mary on the farm and financial affairs.
We drawed two months pay last week and us boys gave our money to the Indiana State Agent; a man that is appointed by the Governor of Indiana to gather all the money that the Indiana boys wants to send home and he takes it to Indianapolis and express it from there to wherever directed; the boys directed ours to John long Samuel sent ten dollars James sent fifty Dol. And I sent twenty Dollar and our Colonel holds receipts for all that was sent and if it is lost the State of Indiana is bound to pay for the los; I culd not make out the names of those you loand money to only the name of Daniel Stantz you can tell me the names the next letter you right; you wanted to know if you should get any land Clared I think you had better not for it will only be a bother to you if you had it Clared. I think that the best think that you could do would be to loan out your money out on interest what you have to spare but be Careful what kind of Security you take.
In another letter he wrote:
I am Happy to inform you that I am in pretty good Health altho I am almost as bad afflicted with boils and Sours as old Job. I had the ariceiplas on my right Side which made quite a bad Sour. I hope these few lines may find you enjoying good Health. John J Moyer came home last night he is well and harty wee were glad to see him and also glad to received the tobacco that was Sent with him to us. Wee got the paper envelopes and Stamps that were sent to us. The Health of Samuel is very bad he has had the tiford fevor which brought him down very low he is not abel to walk any yet but the fevor is broke on him and wee have him inn our tent with us SO that we can tend to him he is Complaining very much this morning with a pain in the left Shoulder and arm What ails it I cant tell it may have come from laying on it when he was in the Hospital for he mostly laid on the left Side.
About the mewls I don’t wont to Sell them to herrod on any Such terms as you Stated in your letter for I don’t think that he world be very good pay; if you can traid with Stanley Vanhorn for that forty that lais clost to John Moody’s on any reasonable terms do it. When I was home he asqued me fifty dollars to boot between the muel and land. I have been Sorry Since that I did not take him up on the offer if he will still do that way you ought to traid for it for I think that is cheap enough at that. About the other piece that you spoke about I cant tell anything about it you will have to use your won judgment about it; but be careful about going in debt make the payments far enough of So that you can Meet them easily; I will Send you money at the rate of ten dollars per month.
Questions: