Matson3

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 BGCOLOR="#000033" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="0db005f0ddtham.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFF33" FACE="Arial" ><B>They Were the 114th O.V.I.</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Regimental "><U>Regimental </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id141.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nine Months of War"><U>Nine Months of War</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="E.D.M May 12th 1903"><U>E.D.M May 12th 1903</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id143.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mark Sweetman letter of May 5th, 1903"><U>Mark Sweetman letter of May 5th, 1903</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="M.A. Sweetman letter and map of May 13th"><U>M.A. Sweetman letter and map of May 13th, 1903</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="W.P. Gault letter of May 14th, 1903"><U>W.P. Gault letter of May 14th, 1903</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letters of Robert Bowlin 114th OVI"><U>Letters of Robert Bowlin 114th OVI</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id186.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bowlin2"><U>Bowlin2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id187.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bowlin3"><U>Bowlin3</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id188.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bowlin4"><U>Bowlin4</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id189.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bowlin5"><U>Bowlin5</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letter and Map of John Pickering 114th O"><U>Letter and Map of John Pickering 114th OVI</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="E.L. Hawk"><U>E.L. Hawk</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Matson"><U>Matson</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id177.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Matson2"><U>Matson2</U></A>   |   <B>Matson3</B>   |   <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ft. Blakely"><U>Ft. Blakely</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id185.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apr3,1864"><U>Apr3,1864</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id219.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Moore11/21/62"><U>Moore11/21/62</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MAS1915"><U>MAS1915</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="0dc622d3.png"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="3acadef0.jpg" border=0 width="173" height="239" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Monument to the </B></div> <div> <B>120th OVI</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="0dd622d3.png"> <bR> <div>      The following Vicksburg letters are from the private collection of Matthew and Trina Haver, and are<I> </I><I><B><U>not</U></B></I> on file at the Vicksburg Battlefield Commission.  The Havers has generously given their permission to allow these letters to be added to the site.</div> <div>      J.S.B. Matson mustered into service with the 120th Ohio Volunteers.  During his service, the 120th and the 114th fought side by side in most of their battles and skirmishes. The units were consolodated on November 26, 1864, and were mustered out of the service together, under the flag of the 114th Regiment.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Raymond K. Moore</B></I>  </div> <div> <I>June 16th / 00 </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> This letter is estimated  to be written between January 18-23, 1863</div> <bR> <div> <I>Friend Lyman,</I></div> <div>      <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Arial" ><I> I received your last when we were flushed with victory and you had better believe it was welcom I also received one from Anne at the same time and one since I don't know what you think of the prospect of the country at this time that my humble opinion is that it is not very flattering the political atmosphere is filled with Miasonatie vafar that cannot but be deadning in its effects the horizon is also obscured with black clouds that we don't know at what moment will let loose the destruction this once happy Republic. Oh! that it was in my power to stay the threatenin calamity but weak and trifling is man individually They do not seem to think anymore about us than if we were as many hogs everybody that a chance seems to be studying how they can best cheat the Government to fill ther own pockets. Men with straps on their shoulders are all the time when apartering offers are poisoning the minds of the soldiers concerning the attentions of the Government Till it would not surprise me if there were an effort made to lay down arms before long if the troubles soon settled you have no idea of the demoralization of the troops in this fleet The expedition to Vicksburg as you are aware was a perfect failure and was truly discourageing to hear different Regs. talk you would thought it out of the question to get them into a fight again but we went up the Arkansas river and whaled hell out of them at Arkansas post and the boys felt better than before but as soon as they found the fleet was again bound for Vicksburg there was general dissatisfaction there is everything to discourage a true lover of his country and very little to encourage I do all I can do to allow this feeling but there is too many to operate against me some with straps on their shoulders say that they thought it a just war when they went into it they have come to different conclusions such I think should immediately be cashiered I think there for there is so many damnd fools that thinks a man with straps on his shoulder that he knows more my humble opinion is that there is as much ignorance as among the officers of this Regs. as there is among the privates and god knows the ignorance is legion throughout and the influence they exert is discourageing I would tell some of them they have no business here but there power is too much for me so I have to seal my mouth it is not here like it was at home there was a rumor here yesterday that 90000 of Burnsides men stacked their arms and refused to serve any longer if it is so or is it as I think a lie. I have not given you any particulars of our last fight I must say I would rather not have gone into the fight men may say they are spoiling for a fight but that is all in your eye for there is nothing inviting to any rational man but we were in the most exposed position of any Reg. we were first brought into line of battle under the enemies fire and marched forward in line for a short distance in this position we were halted and ordered to lie down and I hugged the ground pretty close and still the bullets seemed to come confounded close we lay there a short time till the Gun boats and our land Batteries silenced their Batteries they kept up a continious musketing fire General Osterhaus rode up to us we had closed in mass and were down when he rode up and ordered us to forward D.C. with a cheer they nearly whipped we did so I expected that Mary would be a Widow before I got ten rods but thank God I got through we run up to within 100 yds. of the fort and lay down in shelters as best we could under a murderous fireballs whizzing all around us I was behind a stump with three others we lay some time before we fired I could not see anything to fire at so I reserved my fire waited as best I could to see where their fire came from presumably an object appeared that induced me to shoot but the ball was wasted for I then discharged where they were.  I loaded and looked and saw a curl of smoke, leveled my gun, and as he raised to fire, I fired and there was no smoke came from that place. If my ball killed any I have no regrets for I never took deliberate aim at a wood pecker I fired some six times and the flag of truce was raised by them and then such rush you never saw I had the curiosity to go in where I saw the smoke curl and found a Reb. shot in the forehead he had a bad wound but did not look as though it hurt him much he had dropped a very nice Enfield Rifle which I captured and have yet I do not know whether they will let me keep it or not I will if possible The Colors of the 120th were on the fort the first The Cannonading during the fight, to you I cannot describe.  None but those that have been at similar engagements can form anything like the correct idea.  They had two Parrot Guns 120 pounders and one Columbiads besides a number of lesser caliber their field Batteries were disabled by their horses all being shot the Battle field presents no very pleasing aspect to me and I will not dwell on it we had a complete Victory I understood the we got 7854 prisoners 600 ____ and a large amount of arms and Army stores they had three months rations and wagons and clothing any quantity we made a clean sweep they had captured a very large mail some of the letters were among the captured I am now writing on Rebel Paper now I picked up about fifty letters some of them were just written and some of them interestingly it afforded me some gratification to read the letters for I supposed they had read mine they got some money that had been sent to the boys back I understood that a letter was picked up directed to Surgeon YTagart now Brigade Surgeon offering a bribe of $300 by a widow woman for the discharge of her two sons stating that he could be approached in his way you perhaps have little Idea of the extent of fraud Penalties on the Goverment. Since we left Vicksburg there has been about three or four desertions to Co.in this Regiment four in our Co. and in my humble opinion is if our ___ Chaplin and a number of Officers are not delt with in a summary manner the 120th Reg of ___ will not amount to a damn in a short time. Why, if I thought as I have heard some talk, I would Desert By The Eternal I would. Well the men hear them talk in this manner and what can you expect from them.  I tell you if I had authority there would be some drum ____ Court Marshals till The military atmosphere became a little purer.  Life is sweet to me on several accounts but not worth a damn in their view.  I do not wish you ___ any one I respect to be put to the brisk of a campaign of this kind, for it is rough and men must have a Constitution. To hear it I am more afraid of fever than bullets for if a man gets down sick with fever on this daminable river he is almost as shure to die as though a bullet was put thru his vitals and if boating along this river will put down this whole damd Rebellion.  We are certainly doing our share toward it. Their is now over 600 unfit for duty and they still keep us fooling along the river sometimes I think it is to run us into the ground as fast as possible if that is the intention well are succeeding.  I have not been very well since we left Memphis but I am so as to be about.  I do not report to the surgeon for I think it don't amount to much.  Capt. A U had command of the Co. at Vicksburg and behaved with Credit.  I think he is no coward, he was not able to be out at Arkansas Post McAboniun? is not cowardly in fact with few exceptions Co. I behaved well.  I think there are asbrance bags in any Co. as any where out.  Capt. case was not decided I understood that the Judge Advocate said he did not think the Capt. was aware of the amount of evidence against him we do not get much war news I want you to keep one enlitened as much as possible if you have the gift of contimmence as well as I have had the time you can give me considerable news direct as before.</I></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I> Yours, </I></div> <div> <I><B>J.S.B. Matson </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantrydiary_of_a.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="114th OVI History"><U>114th OVI History</U></A>   <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roster"><U>Roster</U></A>   <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Battles"><U>Battles</U></A>  <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry4c.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pictures"><U>Pictures</U></A>  <A HREF="id169.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roll of Honor"><U>RollofHonor</U></A>    </div> <div> <A HREF="id139.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vicksburg File"><U>Vicksburg Documents</U></A>    <A HREF="id184.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letters Home"><U>Letters Home</U></A>   <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Descendants"><U>114th Descendants</U></A>   </div> <div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Obituary"><U>Obituary</U></A>  <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Accolades"><U>Accolades</U></A>  <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hard Tack "><U>Hard Tack</U></A>  <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry4d.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bugle Calls"><U>Bugle Calls</U></A>  <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Related Links</U></A> </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U><IMG SRC="0781e240.png" border=0 width="30" height="36" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U>back to home</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div>   <A HREF="http://www.toolzone.com/isuite/bin/regsign.cgi?UID=TZ096430&APPID=GuestSign&LANG=english"> Sign my Guestbook </A> --- <A HREF="http://www.toolzone.com/isuite/bin/registry.cgi?UID=TZ096430&APPID=GuestSign&LANG=english"> View my Guestbook </A>  </div> <div>   <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://pub15.bravenet.com/counter/code.php?id=176950&usernum=1214804337&cpv=2"></script>   </div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U><IMG SRC="0781e240.png" border=0 width="30" height="36" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>