Item No. 1634911

This letter was written during the Siege of Corinth on May 11, 1862, by Private Albert Lane of the 35th Ohio Volunteers. After the Union victory at Shiloh in April, three federal armies converged on the important rail hub at Corinth, Mississippi, which had been fortified by the Confederates. For about a month between late April and late May, the Union armies laid siege to the town until the rebels eventually withdrew to Tupelo.

Lane begins the letter stating that he is “still on the Land of the Living; well & hearty” and updates his father about one Josh—perhaps Private Joshua Davis—who “has been on the ’sick list’ for at least 2 months, but I don’t believe anything more than homesickness ails him.” He also mentions having seen “Bob Lane,” who reportedly “got to fire 3 rounds at the rebels in the Pittsburg fight and came out all O.K.” This must certainly be Private Robert D. Lane of the 20th Ohio, which fought weeks earlier at the Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing). He adds that his brigade had come under the command of General Thomas W. Sherman after General George H. Thomas was promoted to major general.

Lane then describes how on May 10:

“the Long Roll” beat in our camp, the enemy having made a demonstration on our Right Wing. But it did not amount to much. The probability is that the impending fight will come off this week, but there is no telling, for it takes a long while to get ready.

He adds a rumor that General Franz Siegel “has arrived and will take command of the Artillery.” In March Siegel had distinguished himself during the federal victory at Pea Ridge in Arkansas, but the German-born officer was instead transferred to Virginia and would be roughly handled during Stonewall Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign and at the Second Battle of Bull Run.

Lane also reports that “the news of the evacuation of Yorktown and the occupation of New Orleans have been received”—both key events as Union armies advanced in the spring of 1862.

Before closing, he writes that the warm weather makes it “a heap pleasanter soldiering than it was last winter” and hopes “that the war will soon be over, and then I will come home.”

Albert Lane mustered out with the 35th at the conclusion of his enlistment in September 1864.

The letter was written on three pages of a four-page bifolum letter sheet featuring a patriotic decoration of the US flag. It measures about 4 1/2” x 7 1/2”. Near fine. The full transcript appears below:

May 11th / 62
In Camp before Corinth

Dear Father: I seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you that I am still on the Land of the Living; well & hearty. Ken and Harve (who joined us a few days ago) are well. Josh has been on the “sick list” for at least 2 months, but I don’t believe anything more than homesickness ails him. I saw Bob Lane this morning. He is well. Bob got to fire 3 rounds at the rebels in the Pittsburg fight and came out all O.K. Our Brigade has been transferred to Gen. T. Sherman’s command, Gen. Thomas being promoted to Maj. Gen. Our position is now near the Left Wing, although for me to tell just where is more than I know at present.

Yesterday morning “the Long Roll” beat in our camp, the enemy having made a demonstration on our Right Wing. But it did not amount to much. The probability is that the impending fight will come off this week, but there is no telling, for it takes a long while to get ready. It is rumored here in camp that Gen. Siegel has arrived and will take command of the Artillery.

The news of the evacuation of Yorktown and the occupation of New Orleans have been received.

The weather is exceedingly warm here, but for all it is a heap pleasanter soldering than it was last winter. I expect that you are done planting corn by this time. I would like to have been home to have helped.

Well, I don’t know as I have anything more of interest to communicate, for I suppose that newspapers keep you better posted about the movements of this Army than I could possibly do. I am in hope that the war will soon be over, and then I will come home. Bob Tate and Bill Graham are well. But I must close.
Write soon and oblige
Your Affectionate Son
A. Lane
Company G
35 Regiment O.V.M.I.
Army

P.S. (Excuse this bad penmanship)