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These letters were written by members of the 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, both the 3 months' and 3 years' regiments. The letters were originally published in local newspapers; some were written to family and friends back home who in turn took them to the local editor, others were written directly to the newspapers.
These letters cover the Atlanta Campaign and the Campaign in the Carolinas, and describe the covering the crossing of the Chattahoochee River, the Battle of Jonesboro, and the march through the Carolinas.
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Home | Regimental History | Selected Letters
Biographical Sketches | Henry D Kingsbury | Battlefields
Prisoners of War | Other Regiments | Links and Reading
The letters are divided chronologically into groups covering specific events in the regiment's history. The first group of letters were written from Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, Ohio. For most of these men and boys, this was the first time they had ever been away from home, as well as their first taste of military life. The people back home were anxious about the health and welfare of their men, and the members of the regiment were happy to oblige by writing long, detailed letters describing their transition from civilians to soldiers. 
Once the men were trained, after a fashion, they departed for what was then western Virginia, now the State of West Virginia. The 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry has the distinction of being part of the first land action of the Civil War. By later standards it was more in the way of a minor skirmish. To the men of the 14th Ohio, filled with innocence and patriotic enthusiasm, the action they saw at the little town of Philippi was their "baptism by fire." They now considered themselves to be real soldiers. Little did they know how long and terrible this war would be. 
Following their part in the Western Virginia campaign during the spring of 1861, the Fourteenth's three months term of service expired. The regiment returned home, the men were mustered out, and the regiment reorganized for three years service. The next set of letters, several of which were written by Regimental Chaplain E. Raffensperger (pictured right) covers the three years' regiment's first action that took place at a place called Camp Wild Cat located in Kentucky. 
Up until the fall of 1863, the Fourteenth Ohio somehow kept missing out on the big fights like those at Shiloh, Perryville and Stones River. Many of the men were beginning to feel they were being cheated out their chance to win some glory. But on September 19-20, 1863 fate caught up with the regiment along the banks of the Chickamauga Creek in north Georgia. In the battle of Chickamauga, the Fourteenth Ohio suffered some of the highest losses among Union regiments that were there. Following the defeat of the Union army at Chickamauga was the siege of Chattanooga. When the Union army finally broke out, the Fourteenth Ohio was there with the Army of the Cumberland as they stormed Missionary Ridge. This set of letters includes descriptions of the battle of Chickamauga, and the taking of Mission Ridge. 