Manuscript Database
Creator/Title
Thayer, James Harvey, 1833-1864. Letter, 19 June 1862. ALS, 4 pp.
Call No.
Mss. C T
Content
A member of Co. E of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry, Thayer writes his family while stationed near Obion River in northwestern TN. He describes in detail the former Confederate base at Columbus, Ky. He reports that he saw and conversed with Confederate prisoners from Gen. Leonidas Polk's command while on leave in St. Louis. While in that city he also saw two rebel gunboats captured in the recent naval battle at Memphis, TN. He describes travel on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, camp life and military operations in northwestern TN. He also describes the impact of the war on local plantations.