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Article Title: “I Thought it my Duty to Go”

Full Citation: James E Potter, “‘I Thought it my Duty to Go’: The Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry,’” Nebraska History 81 (2000): 134-169

URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH2000MyDuty.pdf Date: 10/27/2010

Article Summary: Twenty-two-year-old Thomas Edwin Keen, a Pennsylvania native, joined up with a group of diverse soldiers from Nebraska to fight on the Union side of the Civil War. He left behind twenty-three letters he wrote to family members between 1861 and 1864, providing a vivid description of his experiences as a private in the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry.

Cataloging Information:

Names: Thomas Edwin Keen, Lewis Keen, Susannah Armstrong, Mary Ann Keen, Ed Brown, James E Brown, Silvina Brown, James B McPherson, John W Davidson, General Prentiss, General Grant, John Hutton, James Hutton, Adam Reinvehl, John M Thayer, George F Kenedy, Lyman M Sawyer, W T Clarke, Lew Wallace, J B Ludwick, John S C Abbott, Alexander Simplot, John Brown, Robert R Livingston, Major McKenny, General Curtis, Captain Adams, Adjutant General Thomas, General Vandiver, General Hardee, Lieutenant Sawyer, Chaplain Tipton, Frank W White, Ed Brown, John A Burke

Place Names: Omaha, Nebraska; Camp Pilot Knob, Missouri; Georgetown, Missouri; Ft Henry, Tennessee; Crump’s Landing, Tennessee; Shiloh, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky; Helena, Arkansas; Camp Chase, Missouri; Arcadia, Missouri; Ironton, Missouri; Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Camp Mary Bell, Carondelet, Missouri; St Louis, Missouri; Eleven Points [river]; Camp Gamble

Keywords: First Nebraska; Company H; Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home; American Oncologic Hospital; Erie Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home; Seminary Hospital in Georgetown; guerilla warfare; home defense; Signal Corps; Service Chronology of Company H, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, 1861-64; Secesh; 4th Division; 3rd Division; Warsaw affair; battle of Pittsburg; 58th Ohio; Army of the Southwest; Lincolnites; Copperhead; military occupation; Atlantic Monthly; anti-slavery; Scofield Barracks; military prison; U S Christian Commission; 7th Minnesota; small pox; rheumatism; Allegheny boys; Chippeway Indians; Minnesota regiment

Photographs / Images: “The Officers of Gen Prentiss’s division planting the Stars and Stripes on the Summit of Pilot Knob, Missouri”; Brothers John and James Hutton, Co E First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry; “Field Operations in Missouri and Northern Arkansas”; “Fort Donelson”; “Gun-Boat attack on Fort Donelson”; Confederate earthworks at Fort Donelson National Battlefield; Brig Gen John M Thayer; “View of the town of Paducah, Kentucky”; First Lt William T Clarke; “Map of the Battle of Pittsburg Landing”; Lewis Wallace; View of steamers sunk by the Rebels; Jackson’s monument at Memphis; Robert R Livingston; Brig Gen John W Davidson; Area of operations for the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry; Slaughter of the innocents, or how the Union troops did their foraging in Missouri; Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Pilot Knob; Thomas W Tipton; U S Mississippi gun boats being built at Carondelet; A Service Chronology of Company H, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, 1861-64

Introduction of his superior officers, and his own pa­ family. James E. "Ed" Brown was born During the American Civil War, a di­ triotic sentiments. They shed light on in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, in verse group of soldiers from Nebraska the day-to-day activities of the First Ne­ 1838, and his family moved to Pittsburgh followed the Union banner to Southern braska, reveal Keen's motivation for en­ when Brown was eight. Either there, or battlefields. Many of them were Nebras­ listing, and explain what helped him en­ earlier in Huntingdon County, Brown kans by association only, transplants dure the hardships of campaigning. and Keen became friends. Brown from elsewhere who had lived in the Ne­ Keen analyzes why he believes the re­ moved to Nebraska Territory in 1855 braska Territory only briefly. One such bellion must be suppressed and dis­ and claimed land in Wyoming Precinct, soldier was twenty-two-year-old Thomas cusses the soldiers' reaction to the em­ Otoe County. Whether Keen came west Edwin Keen, a Pennsylvania native. Un­ ployment of black troops, while at the at the same time has not been deter­ like most of the Nebraska troops, how­ same time revealing his own sympathy mined, but he was living with Brown in ever, whose Civil War legacy is limited for the plight of African Americans. By Otoe County in 1860, where the census to their military service record or a line contrast, his views on American Indians, records him as a farm laborer. Also liv­ or two in postwar rosters, Keen will be the Irish, and Missouri civilians are ing in the household was Brown's remembered by a trove of twenty-three much less charitable. mother, Silvina (mentioned in several of letters he wrote to family members be­ Keen also relates episodes of near the letters). Although Keen notes in his tween 1861 and 1864, describing his ex­ mutiny by troops against incompetent first letter that "my crop amounted to periences as a private in the First Ne­ and overbearing officers, and tells of a little or nothing," there is no evidence braska Volunteer Infantry. melee between men of the First Ne­ that he had claimed land himself. Per­ Keen's letters span the period from braska and another Union regiment that haps he was only sharecropping on August 1861 to March 1864, when the brought death to several soldiers. He Brown's preemption claim.2 First Nebraska served mostly in southern provides an interesting narrative of pro­ When the Civil War commenced Missouri and eastern Arkansas, garrison­ vost duty in St. Louis, including the ban­ in the spring of 1861, Keen told his fam­ ing small outposts or marching through ishment from the city of alleged Rebel ily that he did not plan to enlist. He the countryside in pursuit of guerrillas. sympathizers, whom he helped escort to changed his mind, however, in July and As the letters reveal, companies of the Confederate territory. joined Company H, First Nebraska Vol­ First Nebraska also were detached for Thomas Keen was born in Lebanon unteer Infantry, which was then assem­ provost duty, or assigned to guard pris­ County, Pennsylvania, on January 4, bling in Omaha. At the time of his enlist­ ons, commissary stores, and naval 1839. His parents were Lewis and ment Keen was described as being five yards. Although the regiment partici­ Susannah (Armstrong) Keen. Little is feet, eight inches tall, with brown eyes pated in the important Union victories known of his early life, but the letters re­ and dark hair, twenty-two years old, and at Fort Donelson and Shiloh in early flect his having reaped the benefits of a a farmer. His term of enlistment was 1862, those Tennessee battles marked its good education. When Keen was a three years. most significant combat against regular child, the family lived in Birmingham, Like most of the Nebraska soldiers, Confederate forces. Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, but Keen expected the regiment to remain Keen's letters are rich with his obser­ they moved to Pittsburgh sometime be­ in the territory for home defense, an ex­ vations on the life of the common sol­ fore the war. Keen had a sister, Mary pectation soon dashed when the First dier, including his feelings during battle, Ann, who was the primary recipient of Nebraska was ordered south in late July. his less than flattering opinions of some his wartime letters, as well as a sister For the next three years Keen served named Sarah, and a brother, Lyman. I with the regiment in Missouri, Tennes­ James E. Potter is editor of Nebraska History. Keen's letters often mention Ed see, and Arkansas until his enlistment Brown and other members of the Brown expired in July 1864 and he was dis­

134 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen charged for disability on account of "chronic rh eumatism. " In early Novem­ ber 1863 Keen had become unfit for duty, and he spe nt th e remainder of his enlist­ ment in a St. Louis militalY hospital. Following his discharge Keen re­ turned to Pittsburgh . There is no evi­ dence he ever visited Nebraska again. He spent at least part of his li fe em­ ployed as a carp enter and neve r mar­ ri ed. In a wartime letter he alludes to what may have bee n a failed love affair. To his sister's suggestion that he marry after th e war, Ke en respond ed, '''A burnt child dreads th e fire' so th at ends th at questi on." As he reached his sixti es Kee n's health deteriorated and he moved into th e So ldiers' and Sa ilors' Home at Erie, Pennsylvan ia. In 1898 he applied for and was granted a pensi on of $8 per month on account of rh eumatism of the "The officers of Gen. Prentiss's division planting the Stars and Stripes on the summit lower limbs and feet, heart disease, and of Pilot Knob, Missouri." Frank Leslie 's Pictorial History of the War of 1861 , 8: 120 "general debility." The pension wa in­ a nurse at Sem inalY Hospital in di fferent words. Th e editor has ad ded creased to $12 in 1907. Keen died De­ Georgetown, D.C., while an occasional punctuation an d paragraphing to im­ ce mber 7, 1908, at the Ameri can Onco­ letter was addressed to his parents in prove readability and has ca pitalized logic Hospital in Ph iladelphia. He was Pittsburgh . Although th e letters span th e proper names, but has not corrected sixty-nine years old. The immediate peri od from early in Keen's service in th e spelling. Th e addresses on th e enve­ cause of death was given as lobar pneu­ 186 1 to nea r th e time he was discharged lopes, most of which accompany th e monia. He was buried in th e cemetery in 1864 , intern al evidence confirms th at letters , have not bee n reproduced. at the Erie Soldiers' and Sa ilors' Home.3 he wrote several other letters to his fam­ Thomas E. Kee n's letters we re pu r­ As historian James B. McPh erson has ily that have not survive d. Neverth eless, chased by th e Nebraska State Historical pointed out, Civil War armies were th e th e letters reproduced below are th e Society in 1999 with th e assistance of mos t literate that had ever fou ght a war largest group of personal letters from a John A. Burke of Ithaca, Nebraska, and up to th at time, and unlike th e situation member of th e First Neb raska th at have with funding provided by private dona­ with twentieth-ce ntu ry arm ies, th e corre­ yet come to light and they bring new in­ ti ons to th e Nebraska State Historical spondence of Civil War soldiers was not sight and understanding to Nebraska's Soc iety Foundation . ce nsored ." Th ousands of th em wrote let­ modest but fascin atin g contribution to ters home or kept diaries. Wh at distin­ Civil War histOlY. The Letters guishes th ese personal writings from a considerab le body of so ldier correspo n­ A note on editorial procedures August 24 , 186 1 dence appearing in hometown newspa­ Th omas Keen was a literate and Ca mp Pilot Knob, Mis ouri pers is that the personal accounts are th oughtful writer, whose letters refl ect My Dear Sister, [M aIY Ann Keen1 usua lly more candid. Th e criticism of an above ave rage education. As with I have no doubt you will be surpri sed superi or offi cers and of government many writers of his day, howeve r, his to receive a letter from me dated at this policies evident in several of Keen's let­ punctuation , paragraphing, and capitali­ place. Early in th e spring I wrote to you ters was not likely to be included if th e zation are erratic. He so metimes mis­ that I would not enlist but when th e Ne­ so ldier wrote with publication in mind. spells words, th ough th ere is rarely braska reg iment was swo rn in, it lacked One First Nebraska soldier was arrested doubt about what he mea ns. Through­ about 100 men of being fu ll and the gov­ when a letter to his wife, critical of his out th e letters he refers to Gen . John W. ern or issued a proclamati on reques ting offi ce rs, was published by an overzeal­ Davidson as "Davison ." Words in brack­ every man that could to enlist and so accord ingly on th e 19th Most of Keen's letters were written to Word s enclosed by < > refl ect where of Ju ly I proceeded to Omaha and was his sister, Mary Ann ("My Dea r Sister"), Keen repea ted himself or substituted sworn in along with some 8 others into

135 Nebraska History - Winter 2000

Company H, 1st Regiment Nebraska Vol­ and Lyman8 and father and mother and received 2 shirts, 2 pro drawers, 2 pro unteers.6 As my crop amounted to little grammy[?] and all the rest and I remain woolen socks, blouse, overcoat, blan­ or nothing I thought it my duty to go your affectionate brother, ket, knapsack, canteen & ec. We are en­ and serve my country. But when I en­ Thomas E. Keen camped in a valley surrounded on all listed it was with the promise to not be Direct your letter in this form sides by high hills. It puts me in mind of taken outside of the territory, but Thomas E. Keen home. On one side is a high hill like we were ordered to St. Jo., Missouri, to Co. H, 1st Regt. Nebraska Volunteers Coal Hill only instead of being filled get our arms and from there to St. Louis Pilot Knob, Missouri with coal, it is filled with iron ore, nearly and from there here. But Geml. Prentiss Please write soon & farewell. pure iron on which is situated the fa­ has promised us that we shall not be mous "Pilot Knob." It rises some height taken from here until we get our tents above the top of the hill and a person and uniforms and pay. We have not re­ Camp Pilot Knob can see all over Missouri nearly. It is ceived a cent of pay from [the] govern­ Sept. 9, 1861 used for a lookout for an enemy's ap­ ment as yet, but we are expecting our My Dear Sister, proach. At the foot of the hill is a large pay &ec. daily and when we get them I received your kind letter 3 days ago furnace for smelting ore. we will be ordered to move south imme­ and it gave me great pleasure to hear The Secessionists keep themselves diately, I think. 7 from you, it has been so long since I pretty scarce about here. Our company I would have written to you sooner, heard from you. I have not had very was out 2 or 3 days ago after a band of but I have been putting it off from day to good health since I wrote to you last. them, but they were about 3 hours to day until now. I had no money to pay the When we first came down here we had late, they had mounted and were off postage and I couldn't borrow any in the no tents and had to camp in the brush south. They succeeded in capturing 3 company for I don't believe, to take the with nothing to shelter us but our blan­ men and one wagon and a span of whole company together officers kets and the sky, and the heavy dews horses. They let two men go and the and all, there is 50 cents in it and it is so and fogs of this country and standing one they brought in was the greenest with the whole regiment. guard in the rain several times gave me specimen of humanity ever I saw. He There is at present some 18,000 men the ague and I had 4 pretty severe chills was about 112 civilized. He had never in and around Pilot Knob and Secession before I got it broke. It weakened me seen a cannon and could neither read prisoners are brought in daily. They are down conciderable. I am not able for or write and he told us that he was told treated with humanity but what be­ duty yet & have only been 3 or 4 days that the Union men were a thieving set. comes of them I don't know. The forces from the hospital. The hospital arrange­ They hung all the men and murdered here are under command of Generals ments of our regiment is none of the their women and children and plun­ Grant and Prentiss and are mostly Ills. best. The hospital consists of 3 large dered their property. He was surprised and Iowa troops and were stationed at tents in which is some 30 patients. The at the treatment he received at our Cairo before coming here. We have steward is careless, the attendents are hands. He said he expected to be hung plenty [to] eat for soldiers and are well surly.9 There is no women's kind hand right off. We took him and showed him contented so far as that part is concerned to soothe the weary patient, nor is there a mounted 32 pounder cannon and he and we have good company officers. enough beds. For what time I was there was struck almost dumb with astonish­ There is plenty of fruit in the vicinity I had to lay on the ground with nothing ment at the sight of it. He is a sample of and we help ourselves. The weather at to lay on but my blanket nor I did not "Secesh" in this part of the country. present is very hot, but is getting some get my medicine regular until I raised a My dear sister, I think events are cooler. I am well and hearty at present, fuss about it, so you see there is a vast drawing to a crisis and this may be the but you must excuse [me] from writing difference between the one you de­ last letter you will ever receive from me, any more at present as I don't know of scribe and ours, but taken at an average for from recent events which has taken anything more just know [now]. Please there is better health in our regiment place in the northern part of this state, write to me soon and let me know all than any other. which I have no doubt you have heard about home. Tell mother I could not We have received our uniform an [d] of ere this, may place us in the field. It stand back when my country stood in camp equipage and we do first rate fairly makes my blood boil when I think need of soldiers and if I should never now. Our uniform consists of a blue of the feindish work on the Hanibal and return she will have the consolation of frock coat and blue pants and a high St. Jo railroad that they have committed knowing that I have died in the defence black hat looped up on one side with and the report in camp is that our cap­ of my country, but I will take care of my­ an eagle, a bugle in front, and an ostrich tain is a prisoner in their hands.1O If so self and not run myself into any unnec­ plume on one side. We present a gay and any harm befalls him, there will be essary danger. Give my love to Sarah appearance on parade. In addition we a reconing some day with them, for

136 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen there is not one of us but wou ld fight until the death for him, for he is beloved like a father among us. We have all knelt with him under th e "S tars and Stripes" and sworn to defend it with th e last drop of blood in our hea rts. Where is the man that would stand back now and refu se to fi ght until death to defend the best country in the world? I for one am ready at any moment to lay down my life on th e altar of my country if it is requ ired, and if the Almighty sees fit to pass me through th is war it is well and good. If not, I am ready to die a so ldier's dea th in defense of it any mo­ ment aga inst a mean and contemptable foe. They are worse than Mexicans and Indians. Th ey sneak around and shoot our pickets. Th ey won't mee t us face to face like men or an hon­ orable foe . I wrote a letter home 2 days ago and promised to se nd my likeness home in my uniform and I will send it to you also when we receive our pay and [I] am at a place where I can get it taken. We have not received any money from [the] government as ye t. Your stamps came in good play and I am a thousand times obliged to you for them. Well, I have nothing more to write. I will close my letter and bid you an affecti on­ Brothers John (left) and James Hulton, Co. E, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry. They are ate and broth erl y farewell and I remain wearing the uniforms described by Keen, including the Hardee hat. NSHS-RG2057-39,40 your loving brother, T. E. Keen P.S . Our first lieutenant w ill let you of war, except th e dea th of a Major Since we have been here there has been know if anything serious happens to me. 11 Marshall of Merrill's Cavalry. Th e way it an ave rage of 3 died wee kly. What is th e E. Keen occurred was this. A party of th at ca v­ cause I do not know unless it is th e trea t­ alry under his command were se nt out ment th ey rece ive at th e hospital. Very Georg etown [Missouri] on a scout towards th e west. Th ey had few men ever come out of our hospitals Jan . 25, 1862 broke up a Rebel cam p and the major ali ve if th ey are very sick unless he has My Dear Sister, and two of his aids were in hot pursuit an iron constitution. 13 It has been a long It has bee n some time since I have of two flying Rebels and th e major hav­ time since I have heard fro m Browns. 14 rece ive d your letter and I have not an­ ing th e best horse overtook one of them Our regiment is well quartered here swered it until now. Th e reason I have and after th e Reb el saying he would in th is place and well fed, well clothed, for not writing is this. There is so much surender he fired on the major and shot and pretty well treated for so ld iers , sickness in our regiment and so much him an d mortaly wounded him. Th e as­ when we are well. I wrote a letter home duty it is on that account that I have sassin was sti ll pursued and shot and his on yesterd ay. I have hea rd nothing of hardly had time, and another good carcass left where he was ki lled.12 my 5 dollars as yet. I am ve lY much reason is I have nothing to write about. At present I am not very well. I have afraid it has been lost. We ge t th e St. There has bee n nothing of much impor­ so me kind of intermittent fever that is Lou is papers daily, in fact th e sa me tance happened here since my last prevalent in our reg iment and in al l the night of the morning th ey are issued letter except th e common occurrences rest of th e troops around here. th ere, so we keep pretty well pos ted on

137 Nebraska History - Winter 2000

today it has been very pleasant over­ head, but very sloppy underfoot. I was very much surprised to hear that you had seen "Adam Reinvehl."15 Ah, well do I recollect the times that are tMILES gone, from the first time we stopped at 10 20 30 their house until they left there (Pitts­ burgh). You say Adam wore spectacles and unless he has wore out his eyes with study he has no use for them, but something may have happened to his eyes that renders them necessary. Since we have been here our com­ pany has been quartered in a large church except for 8 of us, the orderly sergeant, the 3rd duty sergeant, 3 corpo­ rals, my "bunky" and myself, and the 5th duty sergeant. We occupy an old print­ ing office. The way I got in here was this. We had been with the (my bunky) 3rd sergeant's squad ever since we en­ listed, in camp and in quarters, and when we came here he refused to sepa­ rate from us. He is a no. 1fellow. 16 Well, as I know of nothing more to write I will close my letter and I remain ever your brother, Thomas E. Keen P.S. please answer soon and direct as usual.

February 18, '62 Fort Henry, Tennessee My Dear Parents, I received your letter and package on my arrival in St. Louis for which I am much obliged for to you. It was not for want of material that I did not write oftener, but for want of something to write about. I suppose you will be sur­ prised to receive a letter from me from this place. We left Georgetown on the 3rd of this month and after a 5 days march we got to Jefferson City, where we took the cars for St. Louis and ar­ rived there for the 3rd time. On Sunday we got on the boats for Paducah. We "Field Operations in Missouri and Northern Arkansas." M. F. Force. From Fort Henry to Corinth (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1881).3 staid 1 day in that place and left for here. After we got here we were ordered the ways of the world. You wrote me the adjutant's office. As we can buy them back to go up the Cumberland river to that you sent me an illustrated paper. I here, it is only a loss to you. The weather help take Fort Donelson, a strong hold have never received it and do not send here has been very cold for some time situated there and indeed it was one. me any more for they never get through and very disagreeable, but yesterday and We got there on the night of the 12 [13]

138 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen inst. and staid there all night about 4 miles south [north] of the fort. We left the boat on the next morning for the field and laid on our arms all night and the next day we advanced still nearer the fort and about noon, whilst support­ ing a battery, for the first time during the war our regiment came into action. 4 regiments of Rebels and one regiment of cavalry charged on the bat­ tery to take it and they got up within 200 yards of us when we gave them a terrible fire from the battery and from our regi­ ment. For 3/4 of an hour we kept up a steady fire on them when they retreated in confusion to their breastworks. On Sunday morning they surren­ dered. After 3 days hard fighting we were victorious. Upwards of 12,000 men stacked their arms as prisoners. We got over 100 peices of cannon, about 3 mil­ lion $ worth of property in horses, provision[s], ammunition ec. ec. I can­ not give you the number of killed and wounded on each side as I have not heard any estimate of them, but it was very large. After staying in Fort Donelson 1 night we marched to this place. We had 3 killed and 10 wounded in our regiment. I think we will leave this place in the morning for Alabama up the Tennesee river. I cannot give you the particulars of the battle to­ night as I am tired and weary and it is late in the night and I only write to let you know where I am and that I am well, but I escaped very narrowly. A bullet went through my overcoat cape "Fort Donelson." Force, From Fort Henry to Corinth, 35 and a ball and 3 buckshot through my coat-tail and cut my pants in two places. place. We left Georgetown on the 3rd with 3 gun boats we proceeded up the The taking of these two places are glori­ inst. and for 5 days we marched through Tennesee river to this place. When we ous victorys on our side. 17 Please excuse the mud and snow and at night we slept got here we found we could not go haste and write soon, and I remain ever on our tents instead of under them. I across the country to Fort Donelson by your son, was not very well when we left that land as was intended, so we were or­ Thomas E. Keen place, but as I had nothing to carry the dered to put back and go up the P.S. At present we live in the cabins march done me good. We got into Cumberland. We staid here about an the Rebels built for their quarters. Jefferson City on Saturday where we hour and on the next day we started for E.Keen took the cars for St. Louis where we ar­ Fort Donelson. rived for the 3rd time during the war on We got within 4 miles of the fort on Fort Henry, Feb. 22, '62 Sunday. We staid there all day and took the night of the 13th. We staid on the My Dear Sister, the boat at night for this place. When boat all that night and on the next day I suppose you will be surprised to we got to Paducah we were we took our blankets and two days ra­ receive a letter from me dated at this joined by 9 other transports and tions in our haversacks and left our

139 Nebraska History - Winter 2000

"Gun-Boat attack on Fort Donelson." Harper's Pictorial History of the Great Rebellion ( 1866), 1:233

kn apsacks on the boat and started ou t, kill 112 of us, for th ey were only about 60 surendered. 20 Th ey had log cabins this time to fight. We marched out to th e ya rd s in our rea r. 19 enough bu ilt to accomadate 10,000 men battle ground slowly and took up our Th e next morning we were ad­ in which our men were quartered in pos ition assigned to us and kept it all va nce d still nea rer th e fortifacati ons and ri ght away. Th e Secesh were se nt off day and slept on our arms all night. as we were taking up our position, we down th e river. I did not get to go into Next morning [we were) ord ered to ad­ got th e news of th e surrender of th e fort th e main fortificati on. Th ey had breast va nce and take up anoth er position, and as the news passed along th e lines, works for three miles around on a high which we did several times. cheer after chee r went up from the al­ ridge and it was a natural position for a About noon we were ordered to sup­ most worn out men. One poor fellow fortificati on th ey had. Th e trees and port Sm ith ['s ) Chicago battery. IS We had th at was shot in th e leg which was fra c­ brush were all cut down for 200 yards in hardly taken up our position on th e tured an d two men was leading from front of th e breast works and all inter­ right wing when 4 reg iments of Rebels th e fi eld, took of [f) his hat and gave 3 as laced so as to make it almost imposs ible and one of th eir cavalry charged in col­ hea rty cheers for th e Union as anybody. to charge over and th e countlY around umn on our battelY and our ce nter to try We marched into th e fort after 3 days of it is all hills an [d) ravines thickly cov­ and cut th eir way out. Th ey got up hard fi ghting, victorious, and of all th e ered with timber and oak sc rubs and within 200 ya rd s of us before we fired a sights ever I saw or read of this beat it. I brush an d was velY muddy. We staid shot when our battery opened on th em will not attempt to describe all I saw for there all night and th en started for here and we got ord ers to fire and for 3/ <1 of I ca nnot. Dead and wounded men lay in across th e countly. It took us 2 days to an hour we kept up a terrible fire on every directi on inside and out of the fort march 12 miles it was so muddy. th em when they retreated in confusion an d horses blown to peices by bombs, Wh en we got here we were quartered to th eir intrenchments, leaving about ca nnon knocked over, clothing sca t­ in th e ca bins th e Secesh had built for 300 of th eir men killed and wounded on tered and trampled under foot, tents all their men where we still are, under or­ th e fi eld. Although we were subjected cut to peices by grape shot, arms and ders to march in an hou r's notice. Th ey to fire from one of there battelYs and amunition piled up in evelY direction. are very comfortable th ings built of logs th ere fire, we only had 4 killed and 10 For three days our gun boats and field and chinked and daubed with mud, wounded in our regiment. We all laid or artillelY poured a terrible fire into the good ti ght roofs, and big open fire kn ee led down during th e fi gh t, wh ich I fortifica tions and made it to hot for pia es . Th ere is 12 of us in a squad stays thi nk saved many of our lives . Th e 76th them to stay there. in th e one I am in. Th ere has bee n a Oh io regiment, which was stationed in We got betwee n 12 and 15 thousand good deal of rain since we have been our rea r as a reserve, got so excited th at priso ners, 18,000 stand of anns, over 100 here and at present while I am writing it th ey commenced firing without orders peices of can non, 65 of which were is raining ve lY hard. I will not tlY and their bu llits ranged from the height larg [e) se ige gu ns, th e rest were fi eld to describe this place to you for I sup­ of our heads to forty feet in th e air and peices, a large number of horses, a great pose you have read all about it in the th at placed us between two fires and it many ten ts, ec. ec. 5,000 of th em es­ papers before this. Well, as I do not is a great wonder to me th at th ey did not caped under Floyd the night before th ey know of anything more to write about

140 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen and as there is such a noise in the cabin Th e Rebels are concentrating large ce nt illness of Georgetown , but I did I will close my letter. forces along the line of railroad leading not complain but marched out to battle And I remain eve r your brother, from Memph is to the southeastern cit­ with my com rades and it is a wonder to Thomas E. Keen ies. There is a large force at Corinth in me how I stood the three days of expo­ I have wrote a letter home pretty nigh Missippi 25 miles from [here] and our sure in th e state I was in, for th e weath er the sa me as this2J picets [pickets] are within 6 miles of was bitter cold and we had nothing to each oth er. Th ere is a great many eat bu t hard bread an d raw bacon. I can Crups [Crump's] Landing pressed Union men in th eir army from think of nothing but the excitement of Hardin Co ., Tenn. this state and th ey escape as fast as they th e occasion that kept me up, for after March 25 , '62 can and come into our lines fo r protec­ the surrender and the excitement died My Dear Sister, tion. At present there is some eighty-five away in a manner, I could hardly stand I am in receipt of two letters from or more here and th ey report the fact up, and to go to the hospital is pretty you, one I received on my arrival at that th e Reb els have to keep a strong nigh sure death , at least to our regimen­ Savannah in this state, the other since I guard over a good many of their men to tal hospital. have been here. I wou ld have written keep them from deserting. I have just I was not wounded or harmed in sooner, but I have [had ] so little seen an account of Burnside's victories battle by the enemy bullits but I had chances of writing since we left Fort in the southeast. I think they were great some very narrow escapes. A rifle bulit 2 Henry. We left Fort Henry on th e 7th victori es :) I hope this war will soon be passed through my over coat cape, a inst. and proceeded up the ri ve r slowly at an end and I think things are tending musket ball and 3 buck shot went to this place and we are now in the very that way pretty fast and nobody wishes through my over coat tail cutting heart of the So uthern states, being only for an end worse than I do. Although I my pants in two places, another went 18 miles distant from the Miss. and will help to crush this rebellion with my between me and my next file, grazing Allabama lines. We are in camp here life if ne[ce]ssaIY, I would like to see my elbow and tore th e eagle of[f] his and have been for several days and I ex­ th e end of it. hat. Another struck the third file below pect you will soon hear of stirring news My health at presen t is pretty good me and shot his ram rod away. The man from this part of the country. We have a and is improving, but when we left th e next to him had his gun ruined by a large force here under command of boats before Fort Donelson I was very bullit striking his gun right below th e General Smith 22 weak and debilitated from my th en re- muzzle and bursted his gun. Another was struck by a ball right above the left eye and wounded him pretty bad. I was surprised at my coolness and the cool­ ness of my comrades during th e battle. Although th e Rebel sharpshooters com­ menced firing into us as we were taking our position, we took our position w ith­ ou t any confusion and I shot at several men with as cool an aim as though they we re stumps. You ask so me questions which I should have informed you of before. Our colonel ['s] name is John M. Thaye r, but our lieut. col. is in command at present. My capt.['s] name is George F. Kenedy, but he is not with us and has not been since we left Georgetown. He was court-martialed for something or oth er. Our 1st lieut['s] name is Lyman M. Sawyer, our 2nd [lieutenant's] name 2 is W. T. Clarke 'J We are in the 4th [Third] division under Gen . Lew Confederate earthworks at Fort Donelson National Battlefield as they appear today. Wallace of Indiana . ~s Our capt. was Photo by James E. Potter taken prisoner last sumer, but escaped and was tried for something co nn ected

141 Nebraska History - Winter 2000

"View of the town of Paducah, Kentucky, at the confluence of the rivers Ohio and Ten­ nessee, the northeast terminus of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad." Leslie's Pictorial History, Brig. Gen. John M. Thayer. NSHS-RG2720-1A 10:149 with [the] Warsaw affair26 I was enlisted well and hearty at present and have on th e 3rd day of July 186 1 for 3 years been so for some time. Please answer unless sooner discharged . soon for I am anxious to hear from you. At present I am well and doing duty The Ohio river is very high at this place with [the] compo We have compo drill with a prospect of becoming higher. every morning and battallion drill in th e Th e days are getting pretty warm. There afternoon. Our drilling ground is a large is a great many sick and wounded sol­ cotton fi eld. Well, as I know of nothing diers in the hospital at this place. They more to write about and as it is nearly are well cared for. Nothing time for drill I must close my letter. more now. And I remain eve r your loving brother, And I remain ever your brother, Thomas E. Keen Thomas E. Keen Pl ease answer soon. Direct your letters thus. Thomas E. Keen Paducah, May 3, 1862 In care of Li eut. J. B. Ludwick My Dear Sister, Signal Officer Why do you not write to me? Have Paducah, K.Y. you not received my letters or are you Signal Corps First Lt. William T. Clarke. Courtesy of Steve so busy and have you no time to write Speakman me a few lines? I have written you two Paducah, May 11 , 1862 letters and I have also written two home My Dear Sister, with Lieut. Clark of our company and as yet I have not received any an­ I received your long looked for letter though, and I will have a pretty easy swer. I have been looking and ex­ on yesterday and I was glad to hear time. It will be much easier on me than pecting a letter from you or from home from you once more. I had almost be­ to carry a musket and harn ness of a sol­ anxiously for some time. I have been gan to despair of hearing from you. dier, although I don't think the danger here eve r since the battle of Pittsburg It is very hot here today and I expect w ill be any less. Landing on detached serviceY I was it will be hotter here after while. I do not I cannot hardly describe my feelings se nt here to be instructed in signaling think we will be here very much longer to you wh ich I experienced on th e and have been here nearly a month. I as we are looking for our horses to ar­ morning after the battle of the 7th ult. like the business first rate. I have noth­ rive here from St. Louis tonight and then [Shiloh] after I had went over the ing of interest to write you . I was in the in a short time we will be off (we are ground on which I had fought over on bloody battle of Pittsburg on Monday the 7th ultimo and seat of war. I do not know where or to it ever happened that so many of us es­ escaped unharmed and unhurt. I am what part I will be sent. I expect to go caped with our lives, unharmed . But

142 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen

IM[t1.11? ({j)jz 5I'lTIlJ1J: IB£Dr 'Jl'.l[,1I:l.! OF P!1"TSaURG LANDING

"Lewis Wallace." Harper's Pictorial History, 1:235 troops, that th ey never think of Ne­ braska and as we have no body "to puff" us, we have to keep still. But if you can get Maj. Genl. Lew Wallace's report of Donnelson and Pittsburg you will see our regiment very highly noticed. 28 We have th e confidence and praise of our ge neral and [the1 territorial papers and that is enough for us. The territorial leg­ islature sent us a note of th anks after th e Donelso n fi ght. "Map of the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. " John S. C. Abbott, History of the Civil War in I would like to se nd you some "tro­ America, 2 vols. (New York: Henry Bill , 1863-66),2:204 phy" of th e battl e, but I have nothing of th e kind but a cani tel' shot about th e one thing is ce rtain, we hugged th e comrades and we would rush forward si ze of a walnut which penetrated ground mighty close someti mes and we with a yell amongst the storm of leaden my haversack and spoilt my tin cup and took every advantage we could. Wh en hail as th ough we were immortal and smashed my hard crackers for me. I we would get an ord er to advance on a could not be killed or hurt and our reg i­ took it out and have had it in my pocket battery of Rebels we would go double ment never gave back once. Although I ever since. It was nea rly spent when it quick for a while and as quick as we seen men fall all around me I never struck. If I could send it to you I would. I saw th e fl ash and smoke from their once thought of any danger to myself, also have a nice little testament which I guns, we would drop as quick as th ough but afterwards when I seen how th e picked up inside th e fo rti fications of Fort we had all been shot and th eir ca nister trees were barked and th e brush was Donelson, which I will sen d to you as and shell would go over us and do us cut down by th e bull its I was astonished soon as I can raise money to pay th e no harm and then we would get and surprised . postage as I run a great risk of up and still advance untill we would get I will te ll you why you never see our losing it and I wou ld not like to lose it for up to the infantlY supporting the battery regiment hardly ever mentioned in th e a good deal. We have not had any pay and then we had it hot and heavy for a papers. We are a lone regiment being for 4 months now and wh eth er I will get while. During the battle I never once th e only men from so far west and th e any before I leave here is doubtful to say th ought of danger to myself, but a kind states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio are th e least. If we do I wi ll send you my like­ of wild excitement seized me and my so filled with notices of th eir own ness fo r I can get good ones taken here.

143 Nebraska History - Winter 2000

-.=--- - _. _------,.- ,.- .------.-.~. ~--

"View of steamers sunk by the Rebels between Island No. 10 and New Madrid. (Sketched by Alexander Simplot) ." Harper's Weekly, May 3,1862,285

The news of th e fall of New Orleans have received all the letters that you Camp near Helena, Arkansas and th e evacuation of Yorktown made sent me since I have bee n here, but they Aug. 21st [1 862 ] me feel very much satisfi ed. I do not were so long coming, especially th e first My Dear Sister, think th e Rebels can hold out much one, I got so impati ent and it really It is now over two months since I 29 longer. seemed a longer time th an it was. I re­ have written direct to you. Th e only rea­ Th ere is a good many hospitals in ceive d a letter from home this morning son I have to offer you for my neglect is this place and [they] are superintended containing some stamps. I have that I thought you were at home, and as by a board of medical directors. In all answered it today. I send you many I have written home as often as th at I have bee n in, th e patients are well th anks for the stamps th at you have sent practible, I thought that would suffice. taken care of and well trea ted. In the St. me. I would have had to [have] mailed But I received a letter from you on yes­ Johns Hospital , which used to be a large my letters "so ldiers letters" many a time terday dated July 11th and I hasten to seminary, everything is nice and clean , if it had not been for th e stamps that you answer it. So please excuse my neg lect 30 evelything is in ord er. It has a nice yard have sent to me from time to time and expect better hereafter. J last wrote in front and all arou nd it and holds a I was paid off a few days ago and I to you from Paducah, since when I have good many patients. Paducah at present have had my picture taken and will mail had an interesting journey from th ere 3 is th e prettiest town ever I was in. There it with this letter ! Also that testament. here. Probably a short history of my trav­ is so many nice yards and nice houses I think the likeness is a very good one. I els would not be uninteresting to you . and shade trees. The streets are as level am well and hearty as usual at present. After we left our camp at Paducah as floors and lined with shade trees It is ve lY hot here now. I have nothing of we proceded to Co lumbus, Ky. by river. along th e sides. It used to be a heavy importance or interesting to communi­ From there we went across the state of forest and in clearing it off for a town cate to you today. I do not know when Tenn. on horse back, also a part of site, they left a row of large shade trees we will leave here. We have our horses Ke ntucky, altogether a distance of 230 along on each side of the streets, which but no saddles. I th ink when we get miles. We were ordered to report to gives it a ve lY beautiful appearance. I them we will leave. I will let you know General Halleck at Corinth [Mississippi].33 am well and hea rty as usual. when we leave here After we had reported to hi m he or­ And I remain ever your brother, I am very glad you did not send me dered us to disband and to report to our Thomas E. Keen any money for I know you did not have respective regiments as soon as possible Please answer soon, answer soon. it to spare. Weill must close. as the nature of th e country would not And I remain ever your brother, admit the use of signals. On our Signal Camp, Paducah Thomas Edwin Keen way across the state of Tenn. we passed May 28, 1862 through several bea utiful southern towns My Dear Sister, Enclose [d] you will find th e official amongst which was Trenton, Clinton, I received both of your letters and I report of our col. of th e Battle of [and ] Jackson. But Corinth J thought was was glad to hear from you once more. I Pittsburg. [N ot Enclosed]32 the dirtiest, nasti est, stinkenest town J

144 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen eve r was in. I staid in Corinth about one the city. I also saw many beautifu l shade trees and I keep out of th e sun as week helping to wind up the business of women in th e city, high born Southern much as possible. I expected to find th e th e corps in turning over our horses and ladies I suppose th ey call th emselves , mosquitoes very bad down here, but I equipment to [the] government and but I thought that if some of th em had have bee n most agreeably dissapointed th en received transportation to my regi­ had a little more good breeding and in th at respect as they are not as bad ment. I proceeded to Co lumbus by rail sense it would have become th em bet­ here as th ey are in Nebraska. I am as and from th ere to Memphis by river, ter. I did not get accquainted with any we ll and hea rty as usual and th e hea lth where I joined my camp. and regimen t. of th em as my stay there was short. I was of th e regiment is better now than I have At Co lumbus I saw much that was in­ glad to get back to my company and the ever kn own it to be since we have been teresting. It is a very strong fortifacation. kind welcome I received from myoid in th e se rvice.:l5 Th ere is lots of gree n On my way down the river I passed the comrades made me fee l as th ough [I] corn and sweet potatoes in this vicinity, celebrated Island No. 10 and I also saw had returned home from a long but I don 't ea t much of either as th ey seve ral wrecks of the vesse ls abcense . Three days after my arrival are very unhea lthy at this season of th e that were sunk by the Reb els after th e th ere we were ordered down here, year so far so uth. We can get plenty of surrender of that place by th em. On my where we have bee n ever si nce. We fru it from the sutlers by paying a good arrival at Memphis I saw several of th e have a fin e, shady, hea lthy camp here round price for it. We can get anyth ing Rebel gunboats that were captured in and good water and plenty of it. we want from them for money. th e battle before th at town. 3'1 One of I forgot to say that on my arriva l back Since I have been here I have see n them was a steamship with masts and to Co lumbus I found your letter contain­ John Brown several times. He is in com­ was quite a rakish looking vesse l. She ing your picture. I think you have either mand of a mortar boat and has done has been repaired and now lies before changed a grea t deal or else it is a poor good service at Co lumbus, Island No. th is place. pi cture, which is it? I am glad you were 10, Fo rt Pillow, and Vicksburg.:lG While Memphis is a splendid place. There is pleased with my picture. You wanted a at the latter place he was taken down many ve ry beautiful residences in th e piece of my hair. I wou ld have sent it at with a slow fever bu t has sin ce recov­ city and I believe it is th e prettiest city I the time, but I had just had it cut a few ered. He told me that Ed has gone to ever was in. I found my regiment en­ days before so close to my head I could Pikes Peak and that Li zzie is engaged to camped in a fine grove right in th e city. not get any long enough to send. be married to a scool teacher in Ne­ I went around and see n court sq uare, The weather is velY hot down here braska and his father has en listed and which contains the bust and monument but I sta nd it velY well but it makes me gone to war. I have not heard from of Jackson. It is a beautiful ornament to sweat a good deal. We have lots of nice home since I left Paducah and I am

"Jackson's monument at Memphis." Harper's Pictorial History, 1:305

145 Nebraska History - Winter 2000 anxious to hear from there. I have written our regiment and the 58th Ohio. It came you were very busy on account of the from every place where I have stopped, about in this way. At the battle of Shiloh recently hard fought battles in Virginia. but as yet I have received no answer. they were in our brigade and were our I think some of the generals will have a I am glad to hear that the gov. is tak­ support of our reg. on the left and fearful reckoning some time to account ing such vigorus steps towards suppress­ while we were receiving and returning a for, for the sacrifices of life they have ing the rebellion and I hope it will be very hot fire from the enemy they fell made for nothing else than jealousy and crushed before long. It is now about 14 back and were about to retreat and hate. If they did want to sacrifice a good months since I have enlisted and in that leave us in the lurch. We repulsed the general as they did Pope, I think they time I have seen soldiering in all its enemy and the 58th then rallied and might have spared the men. Although forms. I have made many hard marches came up again and since then our boys the men enlisted to be sacrificed if nec­ and suffered many hardships and priva­ have been quarlling and accusing them essary, I do not think they wanted to be tions and exposure, but I have done it of cowardice on every occaision. About sacrificed by treachery and hate.40 [as] cheerfully as possible. I have seen a week ago some two or three of our I am sorry to hear that your nice hos­ men suffer and die in all manner boys came past their regiment drunk and commenced abusing you say, they have the wherewith to pro­ went out in the beginning ful of health them and instead of arresting them as cure attendance [attendants] and ec. and life die all around me, some by dis­ they should have done, they fell on that the private soldier has not and I ease some by the bullets of the enemy. them and gave them an unmercifull think that if there is any chance to alle­ I have stared death in the face several beating. As soon as they came up to viate the sufferings of soldiers the pri­ times, but as yet I am not discouraged. camp some 60 of our boys went down vate ought to have the prefference. I I heartily reitterate your wish of being to the camp of the 58th and com­ have seen so much heartlessness, de­ close enough to you so as you could menced to fighting them with clubs, pis­ ceit, and abuse between officers and send me a box of "goodies," but if you tols and knives being used on both men that I cannot have that respect for have them to spare give them to some sides. They fought for an hour or more. them which is supposed to be due them. other soldier and believe me there is Our boys pitched in to the whole regi­ I have not been well since I last nothing encourages a soldier more than ment and paid no respect to officers or wrote to you. About two weeks ago I such small attentions. It makes him feel men. There was 4 of the 58th killed and was taken with a low fever so prevalent that he is rem [em] bered at home. I am 9 severely wounded besides any in this climate, but by taking heavy much pleased with your description of amount of black eyes. There was one doses of quinine and calomel and other the kind treatment [of] the poor man very badly wounded of our regi­ stuff I broke the fever. The fever is very wounded in the battles before Rich­ ment and a good many severely, but weakening and debilitating in its effects mond.37 What a difference between that none killed. It was a deplorable affair. upon the system. I had not quite got the and the treatment of the wounded of Since then we have been put in differ­ fever broke when the flux [dysentery] Shiloh. There many of our wounded ent brigades.38 Well, I don't know of any­ broke out in our regiment and I was at­ laid for days in tents and on the river thing more to write about I will close. tacked with it and the two together bank for days without hardly anything The health of the troops here is good. weakened me down considerable, but I to eat or drink, their wounds undressed We are under command of Genl. Curtis have got rid of both diseases and I am and uncared for. The sanitary commit­ and are in the Army of the South West.39 recovering rapidly now and I think in a tees of Ills. and Ohio found them in a Well, no more. short time I will be able for duty again. horrible condition, both friend and foe. And I remain ever your loving brother, There has been a good deal of sickness They soon had things fixed a little differ­ Thomas Edwin Keen in our regiment lately and at present ent. Really, if it was not for those kind P.S. I forgot to state that our first lieut. one half of it is on the sick list with the and good sanitary committees, the sick and captain are both very sick. same diseases that I had. There has been soldiers of the west would fare badly. I E. Keen very heavy rains lately. I think that has expect our regiment will soon be filled been the cause of so much sickness. Our out to its original number. Several re­ Camp near Helena, Arkansas lieut. col. is very sick and several other of cruiting officers have gone up to Ne­ Sept. 27, 1862 our officers also. The lieut. col. has gone braska for the purpose of recruiting. My Dear Sister, home on sick leave. Our first surgeon has Please write soon and when you write, I received your kind and welcome died since we have been here, but his direct your letters as of yore to Co. H, 1st letter a day or two ago. I had anxiously loss was little regretted. He was a Regt. NebraskaVolunteers, Cairo, Ills. looked for it for some time. I was afraid hard hearted wretch and nobody regret­ An unfortunate occurrence hap­ my letter had not reached you and then ted it, in fact I never knew of a man's pened about one week ago between again I thought, as was the case, that death so little regretted as was his.41

146 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen

I see by th e papers that victolY has were all up, and th e roads were about 6 one more returned to our ca use and th e inches dee p of mud, which made it very eastern horizon begins to look brighter hard marching. We had to wade most now. Th e loss of life and th e sufferings all of th e creeks and I thought that there must be terribleY I suppose you have was one about every III mile, but it was see n th e account of th e dreadful explo­ th e same creek we had been following sion at th e Allegheny arsenal. It must all th e time and we had to wade it about have been a fearful thing. A re­ evelY Ih mile it was so crooked. sponsibility must rest upon so mebody We arrived in Patterson about noon for its occurrence. I wrote of the third day, wet and tired and hun­ home before I was taken sick, but as yet gry, but Ih a day and a night's good rest I have re ceived no answer, but I am ex­ and a good strong cup of coffee set us pecting one every day. ready for th e road aga in. We started I think it will not be long before th e aga in th e next morning for this place. "Army of th e Southwest" will aga in be Th ere is a little town here about th e size on th e move. Extensive preparations of Patterson ca lled Vanburen. It is about have been and are being made for th e 60 miles from Patterson and after fi ve fall campaign, but in what direction we days of hard marching we arrived here. will go I have no idea . In case anything Th e road run along creeks, which we had serious should happen to me I have to wade as usu al, and over mountains made preparations a long time ago for and through swa mps and some places your speedy knowledge of it. I do not we had to go through mud kn ee deep. know of anything more of importance Th e first night our wagons did not get in th at I can communicate to you so I will until 11 o'clock and we had to close my letter with my love to you. go without our supper and after march­ And I remain ever your brother, in g all day that was not velY pleasant. Thomas Edwin Kee n Th e next night they did not get in un­ til 2 o'clock and before we started we Camp Chase, filled our haversacks with provisions and South East Missouri took our overcoats and one blanket and an India My Dea r Parents and Brother, ru bber blanket and put our knapsacks in I received your letter of th e 19th th e wagons and started. Our officers some time ago while I was on the march wanted us to carry th em and in fact gave to this place. I also received 3 dis­ us premptory orders to take th em out of patches and two other papers for which th e wagons and cany them. We told I am much obliged for. I have traveled th em we would not do it, that we had around quite considerable since I wrote ca rri ed th em until our shoulders were to you from Patterson last .'i3 We were or­ so re and we could carry th em no farther dered to go to the Black river, where we Robert R. Livingston, commander of the th rough th e mud. We started and after arrived after two day's march. We staid First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry during we had marched about 5 miles Genl. th ere some eight days and after we had much of Keen's term of service. NSHS­ Daviso n ca me up and seen our regiment RG3323:1-1 gathered a quantity of corn, we were or­ without our kn apsacks 44 He went up to dered to destroy what we could not take our col. and wanted to know the reason with us and to go back to Patterso n. We raise d so fast th at we did not get time to of it. Co l. told him we would not cany had good roads going out to Black river, get all of our mules out of th e road and them. He said he would see if we would but it rained 5 out of eight days continu­ some four or fi ve got drowned. We had not. He ordered a halt and called up our ally while we were in camp there and it quite a lively time for a while. Th e ri ver company officers and told th em to put the roads in a horrible condition. is velY swift and when anything march us back to th e wagons and to get We were in camp right on th e river bank got out in the current it was a goner. our knapsacks and when th ey came and th e river commenced rising very Some of th e boys lost th eir knapsac ks. back and ordered us back, we told them rapidly and we had to pull down our I got evelY thing of mine out safe. We we would not go and we told th em to go tents and go up on the hills in a hurry. It started back to Patterson , th e creeks and tell Genl. Davison that we

147 Nebraska History - Winter 2000 would stack our arms and would not stir Pap's mixture and took it. I am now as than I ever saw before, all yellow pine a foot before we would carry th em and well and hea rty as ever I was in my life. and very full of pitch. There is lots of it we did not. He got velY angry and I have a splendid appetite and can de­ around here. We use the branches for threa tened to bring up th e rest stroy as many of Uncle Sam 's rations as beds and they make first rate ones. It is of his division to force us to go back. We any man. a very wild country. Some of the sol­ told him to fetch them along and to diers have shot some bear. I know of try it if he wanted a nice little fight on his two being shot. There is lots of deer hands. He th en went off as mad as a wet around through these mountains and hen and ord ered all th e men away from some of our pickets have seen and shot th e wagons up to the regiment and told at panthers. It is almost unsettled and th e teamsters that if th eir wagons upset to what settlers there are are of the poorest throw evelY knapsack out of the wagons. class. The men are all away, they either We started on and did not see our belong to th e numerous guerilla parties wagons for four days. Th ey were scat­ that infest this state or are in the tered all along th e road from here clear Southern army and there is from six to back to Patterson. We were wet from eight children in every house of all ages our waist down all the time. At night we and I never saw such poverty. It was built big fires out of pine knots and cut worse than ever I saw in Nebraska or pine branches for beds so we got some any other place. rest at night, but it made a good many I have no idea when we will leave of the men sick and when we got here this place, nor I have no idea what we we were all wore out with fatigu e. We were ever brought to this place for. We got in here the night before Christmas have had no pay no [w ] for four months and on Christmas day I had about two and I don't know when we will be paid thirds of a hard cracker, a peice of fat or I don't care much. I don't know of pork, and a quart cup of coffee for my any thing else to write about so I will breakfast and that was all I had that day close. Direct your letters as usual to to enjoy myse lf on for Christmas. headquarters in St. Louis always while I In the afternoon a chap and myself am in this state. went out about two miles from camp And I remain ever yours, and coming across a two year old steer, Thomas Edwin Keen we shot him and skinned him and took Camp at Arcadia, Missouri our haversacks full and hid th e rest in Brig. Gen. John W. Davidson. Arthur th e brush and went back to camp and Marchand Collection, U.S. Army Military February 22, 1863 told the rest of the boys where the rest History Institute My Dear Sister, of it was and in a few hours it wou ld It has now bee n over two months have done you good to see th e ch unks Since we have been here one of our since I have written to you or have of beef standing around the fire roast­ forage train[sJ was attacked heard any tiding of you, but in ing, and before ten o'clock at night we by the guerillas. They captured 7 wag­ that time I have traveled over a greater ea t up all of that ox but th e bones, so ons and 34 men, they wounded 5 of our portion of South East Missouri and in you may think were hungly. About 11 men and we killed two and wounded 6 that time I have suffered more hardships o'clock at night our wagons commenced of them. There was about 500 of them. and privations than at any other time to come in and we got some coffee. We They got off with their booty. We sent a previous since my en listment, but per­ had a great time of it all together. It was large cavalry force after them, but they haps a history of my travels would be in­ th e worst march we have ever made. traveled to fast and got away. All trains teresting to you. We are encamped now close to a that go out now are well escorted by a We left Patterson for Black river on beautiful stream called Current river. large force of infantly. the 8th of December last. We made th e Th e water is clear as chlystal. It We have plenty of duty to do. We have had sp len­ and the roads were rough but solid and trip as well as anyone. I was afraid once did winter weather here lately, the finest in good order and we had a pleasant that myoid fri end , the ague, was com­ almost ever I saw and th e mud is nearly time. We staid th ere 7 or 8 days and it ing back again but when I got all dried up. We came through a great rained for 5 days almost continually and hold of my knapsack I fixed up some of pine country coming here, more pine the river became flooded in conse­

148 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen quence and we had quite a lively time in moving our camp upon higher ground (we were camped on the bank). We got everything out safe except two or three mules. The next day we re­ ceived orders to destroy all the forage that we could not take away with us and return to Patterson. We started"back and after two days and [a] half of hard muddy marching, we got back to Patterson. The creeks were up and the Warsaw. roads were in a horrible condition. The next morning we were ordered Rolla. to march to Van Buren, a point some 65 miles west of Patterson. We started at daylight and marched 15 miles that day through the mud. Our teams had great Sprl~gfleld trouble getting up and many of [the] other regiments' teams did not come up, but were scattered all along the road stuck in the mud clear back to Patterson. The next morning we took our haversacks [as] full of provisions as we could carry them and started (we o, 1020304050 , , , , , MILES had our blankets also) and that was the last we saw of our wagons for four or five days. We arrived at Van Area of operations for the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, August 1861-February 1862 and October 1862-November 1863. Map by Dell Darling Buren the day before Christmas and my breakfast on Christmas morning con­ of Jan. we received orders to march and until we reached a river called sisted of about two thirds of a hard started the next morning in the di­ "Eleven Points." On our way we passed cracker, a piece of fat pork, and a cup rection of a town called Doniphan. We " through a small place called "Cold of coffee. I went out about two marched one day and the same night Springs." There is a spring runs out of the miles from camp and I came across a we received orders to return to Van side of a high mountain large enough to two year old steer and shot him and Buren. The next day we returned back turn a mill and the water is as cold as ice filled my haversack full and went back to Van Buren, where we received orders even in the middle of summer. to camp and told the rest of the boys to prepare for a march southwards, ev­ Well, we reached the river about w[h]ere to find the rest of it and in a ery man to carry his own personal bag­ noon on the 19th of January and after a short time it would have done you good gage or lose it. short consultation between Gen. to have seen the meat roasting over the Two days afterwards we left Van" Davison and some other officers, he fire, and in less than two hours we had Buren. The morning we started it was concluded to make a bridge of wagons, eat all of the beef but the bones, so you raining a steady, soaking rain and had so accordingly we built fires and may think we were hungry, but we had been all the night before and the roads awaited the coming up of the wagons. no supper the night before and but very were in a horrible condition. Well, our They soon came up. The river where we little breakfast. The men were dissatis­ wagons did not come in that night and were to cross was about 60 feet wide fied with General Davison for we had a about midnight it commenced snowing and very swift and the wagons were slight difficulty with him on the road and as we had no tents, in the morning driven in and placed nearly side ways about our knapsacks. we found about 4 inches of snow on top together in the stream and the teams We remained at Van Buren for some of us. We did not march that day, but were left hitched to the wagons. The time and while we [were] there we waited for our wagons to come up. It bridge was soon completed and we were put upon 213 rations, which caused got very cold that day. The next morn­ commenced to cross. It took some time still more dissatisfaction among the ing we started at daylight as usual. The for our regiment to cross and by the men, for our rations had been scant roads were frozen hard and we time we had got across and picked out enough before. On the night of the 9th marched on without any interruption a camp it was nearly dark.

149 Nebraska History - Winter 2000

Well, we had hardly stacked our aware of the fact, he disregarded it. The rest of his men were?" He told him that guns and got our things off and fires men insulted him at every opportunity they were not able to come out for want built when our adjutant came up and and their threats of desertion and "shoot­ of shoes. He said he would see about it. wanted every man to come down to the ing Davison" were loud and frequent That evening we were issued 5 days ra­ river for the mules were all and it was with great difficulty that we tions for to last us ten days and we also drowning. We started for the river tired got enough to eat, and if it had not been received orders to march to Salem in Ar­ as we were, for we had a hard march for sly foraging parties after night out kansas. A large cavalry force had been that day, as fast as we could and what a into the country at the risk of being sent forward to Batesville to reconnoitre sight we saw there. There was 150 mules taken prisoner, we would have suffered. and our brigade were ordered to sup­ kicking, floundering, and splashing, We remained at Alton for some time port them (we also got 100 pairs of Davison standing on the bank raving waiting for supplies when we received shoes instead [of] 450 that had been and swearing and cursing the teamsters orders to march to "West Plains," a sent for). We talked the matter over in and everything else in general. The point some 60 miles west. The supply camp and concluded to stack our arms teamsters were doing there best to extri­ train that we had been waiting for had and not movela foot untill we received cate the mules when we got there. been obliged to go to that place so we full rations, but the report got out that Somebody went and got a long rope were ordered there. Well, we started for we were going to Batesville and from from a battery and was tying it to the there with about two days there we were to go down White River first wagon when Davison noticed it and rations to go a distance of 60 miles and and join Gen. Thayer at Helena and we wanted to know "who ordered it." We almost barefooted, but through concluded that we would undergo any­ told him none of his business and we somebody's carelessness we could do thing to get from under the command of told him if he did not clear out we no better. Our spirits had been revived a Davison. would throw him in amongst the mules. little at the prospect of getting full ra­ Well, we started the next morning at He raved a while and finally gave the or­ tions when we arrived at "West Plains." daylight as usual and in two days der for Col. Livingston to take charge of We were obliged to forage a good deal marching we reached Salem, a distance us and to do the best he could. The along the road, for our rations had en­ of 30 miles south of "West Plains." The mules had stood in the water, which tirely given out and the night before we night we got there it commenced snow­ was breast high, until their legs had be­ arrived in West Plains all we had to eat ing and it snowed all night and pa1 of come so benumbed with cold that they was a piece of fresh pork without salt the next day and then turned very fold. lost the use of them and the river was so and a little coffee. That day our col. sent out to a tannery swift that it swept them altogether in a Well, we reached West Plains about that was close to Salem and confiscated mass against the wagons and you can 10 o'clock of the 30th of January. The 11 sides of sole leather and issued it to well imagine what a confusion there supply train got in about the same time. the companies and told us to fix our was. Well, we tied the rope to the wag­ Our col. went immediately to see about shoes the best we could for a while for ons and pulled them up the bank, some rations. He came back and told us we would soon be where there would mules and all, and in two or three hours that the supplies had not been turned be plenty of shoes and rations. Well, in we had all the wagons and mules all out over to the post quartermaster yet, but a short time every thing that would of the river with the exceptions of three soon would be. Well, we waited pa­ make or drive pegs was busy and by or four which got drowned. There was tiently all day and night came, but no night we had our feet off the snow. also one man got drowned. rations. The next morning we got a box Many of the men's feet were frost bitten The next morning we went on and of crackers for breakfast and Davison and one or two were frrzen. I got mine that night we arrived at a small town sent an order around to have inspection slightly bitten. I called Alton. We found the town de­ (it being Sunday) and "division drill." Well, the next morning while we serted by all except one or two families. We were perfectly surprised that instead were sitting around a comfortable fire in We remained there for some time and of getting something to eat we were or­ our tent (we had just got done eating our rations became still scarcer and dered to drill just after coming off a long our breakfast) in pretty good spirits, the while we were there, Gen. Davison or­ march and many of us with our bare order came to "strike tents" and "load dered division drill every day and the feet on the ground. Well, every man up." We were quite surprised, the order dissattisfaction still increased among the whose shoes were bad went immedi­ was unexpected, but our col. came and men, for a great many were nearly bare­ ately upon the sick report and our sur­ told us that he had just received orders footed for the country that we had been geon excused all that went. Davison but a few minutes before to return im­ marching over was composed of fine was very mad when he seen our reg. mediately to West Plains. We went to flint rock and soon cut out the soles of come on the ground. He asked our col. work sullenly and silently enough. The our shoes very fast and although he was in a very insulting manner, "where the men's spirits went down below zero, but

150 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen in less than two hours we had our tents down and ou r wagons loaded up and we were on our road back through a deep snow to West Plains. We marched on su llenly and si len tly all day and at night we enca mped three miles north of the Arkansas line in Missouri. Th e next day we were back in West Plains. When we got th ere we found that Gen. Davison had issued (or rather Gen. Benton had taken them) full rations to th e troops th at had remained th ere and had loaded up the rest of th e ra­ tions and started farther north nearer the base of supplies ."s He also left orders for Col. Livingston to follow him imme­ diately with his brigade. He had not left us a single rati on. And th ere we were, 105 miles from our nearest point of sup­ plies and with little or no rations and a hard, muddy march of 67 or 70 miles north before us. If ever I saw an enraged set of offi cers and men it was there and th en. Daviso n had left no word which "Slaughter of the innocents, or how the Union troops did their foraging in Missouri, road to take and our col. was left in a scene by Bessyville." Leslie 's Pictorial History, 10:147 doubt where to go to, but he finally concluded to proceed to a town called the line of march. One clause of his cir­ march to "Pilot Knob. " "Emminence" about 65 miles north. He cular was this "that our conduct was a If our supplies had been cut off by also expected to overtake the supply shame and a disgrace to the name of a any of th e usua l accidents of war I train in a day or two. Union so ldier and th e ca use we were would not have thought anything about Well, we started on our journey and engaged in and if it was known abroad it, but with plenty of transportation and th e next day we reached a town called would bring a blush of shame to rations at Gen. Davison's command and Thomasville, where we heard th at th e th e faces of our friends and relatives at his communicati ons uninterrupted, I supply train was on another road so me home. " It caused a great excitement in thought it was rather hard to be starved 20 miles west of us. Our co l. said he camp and no wonder. What kind of lan­ and treated as w e were. That th ere was would not march us 20 miles through th e guage was th at for a general to use to some fl agrant outrages committed I will mud, but would forage his supplies of[f] his men that had just undergone what admit, but what better could he expect, th e country. We done so and proceeded we had and I firmly believe that if to march an arm y of 10,000 men ill fed, on to Emminence. We arrived th ere one Davison had been th ere he ill clothed, and ill treated, th rough an day in advance of the train , but Davison would have bee n shot, so enraged were enemy's [country] that abounds with had got there before us. He came and di­ th e men at him for issuing such a circu­ and sustains numerous guerilla parties rected our col. where to encamp. As lar. For my part I studied th e matter over and then to issue strict orders aga inst for­ soon as the men seen him they com­ in my mind calmly and and aging. There was not much in th e coun­ menced groaning and hooting at him so with reflection and reason and I came try, but we were bound to have some of strong th at he was obliged to retire and to this conclusion. That if th e govern­ it to eat in spite of ord ers and guard s. it was so throughout the whole brigade. ment th at I have so willingly and Well, we staid at Emminence 3 days Th e next day, the 13th of Feb., we drew promptly su stained for twenty months and on th e morning of th e 16th Feb. we 2 days full rati ons and we got our hun­ cannot place a better and more capable started with two thirds rations for Pilot gry craving stopped for once. man over me to command me and at­ Knob and we arrived here on the 21st Gen. Davison left for St. Louis th at tend to my proper wants than Gen. (this is about 3 miles sou th). It com­ day, but before he went he issued an or­ Davison, it cannot have my services and menced raining when we were about 8 der or rather a circular censuring both I would have left the army immediately, miles from here an d when we arrived officers and men for their conduct on but the next day we received ord ers to we were obliged to camp in an open

15 1 Nebraska History - Winter 2000 field right in the mud and now while I "West Plains." It is a large, fertile, and Iron Mountain, Missouri write, the mud is about 3 inches deep in beautiful valley and is well settled. But March 6, 1863 our tent, but we tore down a board the rest of the country we came over is My Dear Sister, fence and took the boards to lay on. heavily timbered with pine and is rich I received your letter dated Jan 28th. Nearly every officer and man is off with minerals of various kinds and I Since my arrival at this place it was the up in Pilot Knob today and they have think if it was settled with an enterpris­ first I have received in some time from went there with the express purpose of ing people it would be a rich country. you. It was very welcome indeed. I also having a spree. We were paid off on the Our rout[e] from West Plains here received the paper you sent me. It must day before we left Emminence. We re­ was through a somewhat better country, have been very gratifying to ceived four months pay so they have but very little better settled . the soldiers in Washington on Christ­ plenty of money and whiskey is plenty Emminence is the county seat of Shan­ mas. We left Arcadia and removed to and I expect those of us that staid in non County and has been so for 19 this place some days ago. I think camp will have a serious time of it. years and all the buildings it contains is we will leave here in a few days, but Feb. 24. Just as I expected we have an old log court house and a log jail. where we will go I have no idea. I also had an awful time since we have been That is a specimen of this country. received your letter dated Feb. 22 on here. I have been on duty constantly If you will get a map of this state and the same day I was writing a letter since the night of the 22nd trying to trace the route from Pilot Knob to to you. We had just such a storm keep order in camp, for men and offic­ Patterson, from there to Van Buren, there as you described and the weather ers have been beastly drunk and quar­ from Van Buren to Alton, from there to has been very changeable ever since. relling and fighting and raving around West Plains, from there to Salem in Ar­ Gen. Davison has left us and is in com­ with loaded revolvers in their hands kansas, from Salem back to West Plains, mand of the department of St. Louis and threatening to shoot anybody that inter­ from there to Emminence, and from Genl. Carr is in command of our division fered with them. Carousing and drinking Emminence here you will see that we of which I am very glad and pleased.46 has been the order of the day and night have had a very circuitous route and we I have written to Ed Brown and as his and yesterday, while I and some more have accomplished nothing but the mother is coming home to Pa. [Pennsyl­ of the guards were trying to quell a fight, breaking up of a few guerilla parties, but vania] this spring, I requested him to a drunken officer pitched in we have been a good deal of expense to send those pictures home with her. I to me with a loaded revolver and struck the government. will write home and request them to me with the stock of it. I immediately I have had very good health, I send your picture to you, will that do? knocked him down with the but of my am glad to state, with the exception of As I am not well I will not write much gun and broke his jaw bone. I was ar­ some bad colds and sore feet, and at and I wrote this in acknowledgement of rested but was released this morning by the present time my health has never your letters. I have taken a very severe our col., who said I had done no more been better. cold and it has settled on my lungs and than my duty. Well, I have written all I can think I have an attack of pneu­ I have no idea how long we will stay about. I will bring my somewhat long monia and the doctor says I must keep here, but the impression is that we will letter to a close. I have not written to still. So you must excuse my brevity. go to Vicksburg. At least I hope that by Mrs. Brown yet concerning "that pic­ And I remain ever your brother, the time I write to you again we will be ture" for this reason. Our mail facilities Thomas Edwin Keen someplace from under the command of has been so slim lately that I thought it Please answer soon and direct as Gen. Davison. If we are not I will be very would be of no use and another reason usual. Please send me some stamps for much tempted to leave the army, but I was I had no stamps or money to send the 2 [dollars?] enclosed as we cannot hope before long a new state of affairs to her until now. I will write to her as procure any here. will be inaugerated in this department, soon as I can now. Please answer soon E. Keen for I do not wish to attach any dishonor and direct as usual to St. Louis. Please to my name that has thus far stood upon send this letter home for my time is so Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the rolls of my company untarnished. scarce, my writing facilities are so poor, April 6, 1863 The country that we have travelled and it will save me the trouble of writing My Dear Sister, over is a wild, mountainous country and another long letter. I have received two letters from you is but poorly settled and what inhabit­ And I remain ever your loving since my arrival at this place. ants and settlements there is are of the brother, The one I received first was dated 14th most squalid ult. I received one dated 6th character except in "Howels Valley," Answer soon. ult. in a short time afterwards. I which lies in the immediate vicinity of would have written sooner, but I have

152 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen been off on detail to St. Louis and I had St. Ge nive ive is one of th e oldest priso ners of war from this place. Th ey no time. We left Iron Mountain about towns in th e west and was a post long were mostly guerillas and th ey was th e the 6 of March for St. Genive ive and as before St. Louis, but now it is a poor dirtiest, ragged, ignorant, set of men eve r we had good plank and grave l roads all misserable, cramped up place about Ih I saw in my life. They kn ow no more th e way we had good marching. We ar­ as large as Birmingham [P ennsylvania]. about the issu es of th e day or what th ey ri ved at St Genivive about noon of th e We sta id there encamped on the bank were fi ghting for than a babe. 17 third day out. Th e distance is 42 miles. of the river nea rly two days awaiting I was not velY well when we left Iron I was very glad to see th e face of th e old transportation for this place. We arrived Mountain, but the march done me some Mississippi River once more. It looked here about the 14th of March and we good and when we arrive d at th e river I quite natural after an absence of five have been here ever sin ce and from all I was returned for duty although I was months. Th e country we marched can learn we will probably stay here for hardly fit for duty. Our med ical depart­ through is one of the old est settled some time and I think th at it is no more men t is very poorly managed and al­ part[s] of Missouri and as than right that we hould have so me rest ways has been. I had a severe cough the se ttlers were all French and Ger­ after the campaign we have just been and my lungs was velY sore for some mans, their descendants have some through. I do not think we will ever time after the pneumonia fever left me beautiful and well cultivated farms. have another such a campaign aga in and I was afraid it would settle on my They were ve lY hospitable and kind to while we are in the service. This is a fine lungs and turn to consumption, but I us. It is also a ve lY loyal part of Missouri. healthy place and has been and in fact have a good strong pair of lungs and a I have never seen any German settle­ is now quite an important point of op­ good constitution and by taking good ments yet but what they were sound erati ons in this state. There is some velY care of myself I have finally overcome it and loyal Union men. On our way we nice buildings here, "and a grea t many and I now enj oy my usual good health. passed through a beautiful little town beautiful young lad ies. " We are en­ There has been so many cases of death called Farmington. It was before th e war camped in th e outskirts of the town and from pneumon ia in our regiment and in a thriving town , but like all inland towns we have a velY nice ca mp. I was se nt up nearly evelY case if th ey wou ld have in this state, war has se t its sea l on it. to St. Louis as one of a guard with some had good attention I have no doubt they

"Cape Girardeau, Missouri, an important strategic position on the Mississippi River between Cairo and St. Louis." Leslie 's Pictorial Historv, 10:147

153 Nebraska History - Winter 2000 would have recovered. I bought a bottle some time back. I think the time has 9th inst. in which I acknowledged the of "Ayers Cherry Pectoral" after I arrived come now for active measures both receipt of both your letters and also my here and it done me a great deal of good. North and in our army south, for I think reasons for not writing sooner, but I sup­ My dear sister, you need not give there is a great many traitors in the North pose ere this it has reached you. Since yourself any further uneasiness about and in my opinion they should be se­ then my company has been detached my deserting the army and I am very verely dealt with. For my part I despise from the regiment and sent to this glad I did not follow my former determi­ them and I consider the men of the place.49 First we were sent to "Schofield nation to leave, but at the time I formed Southern army a far more honourable Barracks," it being the place where all that determination I was so mortified at foe than they are and I believe I would straggling and returning soldiers report the unjust censure we received after un­ sooner fight Northern traitors than South­ for transportation to their respective dergoing what was almost beyond hu­ ern ones and I would warn them if there regiments and also where all deserters man endurance that I was discouraged has to be old soldiers sent home this that are captured are confined and from and disheartened. Even if I had left at summer to lay the horrors of civil war at there are sent under guard to their regi­ that time it would have only been to en­ their doors, it will be a fearful reckoning ments. Our duties were to see that the ter some other branch of the service, for them for they will have no mercy place was kept clean and orderly and to but now we have as good treatment and shown them. I think the government has go as guards with deserters and other good attention so far as good provision been to lenient to Southern sympathizers prisoners to all parts of the army. and clothing is concerned as any good heretofore and allowed them to go too We remained there some time and a soldier could wish for and I am now per­ far in their expressions of sympathy and few days ago we were taken from there fectly satisfied. So you may rest assured acts of a treasonable nature. and put upon provost guard duty right of my never leaving the army unless I I think the rebellion is in its last ago­ in the heart of the city. The regiment can do so honorably or until my term of nies and I think a few vigorous and vic­ that had been doing that duty was or­ service expires. torious blows on our side dered off to some other place and our When I enlisted I done so through a would soon end it. I have heard a great company is now doing the duty that two sense of duty lowed to my country. I many men say that if it was not for the large companies of that regt. was doing had a good idea of a soldier's life. I did "President's Proclamation" they would and it keeps us busy all the time day not enlist through impulse as many did, enlist "but they wasn't going to fight to and night. We have been promised to repent at the first hardship that pre­ free the niggers" and in every case I more help as soon as possible. I expect sented itself, but I done so through pa­ have found out that those persons were our regiment will be here in a few days triotism and I have never repented of more or less tinctured with Southern to garrison this post and then the that step yet and the light of that sense sentiments and sympathies or else were duty will not be so hard on us. of duty and patriotism burns as bright to ignorant to understand the issues that The provost guards heretofore have today as when I first enlisted. But al­ were at stake between slavery and free­ been rather slack in enforcing the laws though it is true that no past services, dom. For my part I think that it is one of in this city, especially that in regards to however glorious, will keep from dis­ the best things that ever happened and selling intoxicating liquors to soldiers. honor a man who meanly deserts his if it had been issued at first and carried But since we have been in command country and comrades in the hour of out promptly things would look differ­ we have put quite a scare on the saloon danger, yet such continued tyranny and ent now to what it does.48 Well, I can't keepers. We shut up five or six yester­ abuse as I received from Gen. Davison think of any thing more to write about. I day and arrested the proprietors and last winter I never never will stand again will close my letter. now while I am writing a guard has just and remain in the same army corps. It And I remain ever your brother, been sent out to shut up some five or six was, as you say, he could not use us up Thomas E. Keen more and also to arrest the proprietors. fast enough. If it had been to accom­ Answer soon and direct as usual to There is so many cases of soldiers be­ plish any important object we would St. Louis. ing lured into those infernal saloons, if I have stood all our hardships and even may use the words, and made drunk or more without one murmer. Physical St. Louis, Mo. drugged and unmercifully beaten or danger and hardships I do not mind a April 24, 1863 robbed in this city, that the authorities bit if it is a necessity, but I have My Dear Sister, have determined to put a stop to it and seen so much unneccessary hardships I received a letter from you on yester­ consequently there has been an order and exposure and its effects, that some­ day dated April 6th in which you inform issued making it the duty of every of­ times it is very hard to stand. me that you have received no tidings ficer and guard to report the fact if he I hope the war will be carried on from me for some time. I wrote a letter sees any person or persons selling li­ with more vigor than it has been for to you from Cape Girardeau about the quor to soldiers. No difference where it

154 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen

"Applying for passes at the office of the provost marshal at St. Louis. (Sketched by Alexander Simplot)." Harper's Weekly, January 18 , 1862,39 is, from th e lowest rumhole to th e gilded them a little walY and cautious5 1 We are St. Louis, Missouri saloon, and I think it is perfectl y ri ght quartered on Washington Avenue be­ May 23 , 1863 for th ere is plenty of Co pperh eads and tween <6th & 7th> 5th and 6th , one of Rebel sympathize rs in this city th at th e fin est stree ts in th e city. We occupy My Dea r Sister, would murder a Union so ldier on th e a large, four-story brick house that was I have received your letter of May 4. least pretense, especially a drunken confisca ted for th at purpose by Cenl. would have receive d it sooner but being oneso But if we catch th em we will [John C. ) Fremont when he was in com­ seperated from my regiment, nea rly all show th em no mercy. Our col. is also mand of this department. Our capt. is of [the) mail goes to th e reg iment and here on deta ched service. He is in com­ act. ast. provost marshaljSz I am in good th en back to us. I would have answered mand of th e Invalid Deta chments. He hea lth just now. We get plenty to ea t sooner, but I have just returned from a takes charge of all th e conva lesce nt so l­ and wear now, th e weather is delightful "pl easure excursion " to "Dixie," where I diers th at are disc harged from th e hosp i­ here now and has bee n so for some have been to escort some North ern tals and organizes them into detach­ time back. I have not heard from home "Rebs." But perhaps a histOIY of th e af­ ments and sends th em to th e different for so me time, but I suppose it is on fair and trip would be interesting to you, army corps to which th ey belong. account of my moving around, so so I w ill give you as full an account of it I have seen a good many such as you I expect that th ere is some letters on th e as I can. desc ribed. Here we have a different road for me some place. Well I must Ever since this rebellion bega n this mode of dea ling with such chara cters. close. city has bee n infested with a se t of Th ey are put in irons and either kept in And I remain eve r your loving Rebel sympathizers who have done ev­ irons and close confinement, or else brother, elY thing in th eir power to aid and abet se nt to some fortifications and put to Thomas E. Ke en the Rebels and as many of th em were work which I think is the better plan, for When you answer direct as usual to wealthy and influential citizens, of th ey all hate to work and it make rs) this place. course th ey had a great dea l of influ­

155 Nebraska History - Winter 2000 ence, and here lately when Genl. Price hundred arrested in all, and when they away her head and said,"Bah, you dis­ was in this state they were very bold and found out that they had to go south for gust me." confident and insulted us soldiers when certain, many of them grew very repen­ In a short time we arrived at the boat ever a good opportunity presented it­ tant and offered bonds in a large that was to convey them down the river. self.53 Let me relate to you a couple of amount for their future good behavior, The rest of the prisoners arrived in a the many instances that came under my but as many of them had been under short time, and every thing being ready, own personal observation to show the bonds for a long time and failed to be­ at 5 P.M. the boat backed feeling of hatred they entertain towards have themselves their offers were not out in the stream and soon St. Louis was us and our cause. accepted. So their fate was sealed. left in the distance. It caused consider­ While on guard in front of the pro­ Some thirty of the most prominent and able excitement and an immense crowd vost marshall genl. office a short time wealthy Rebs were selected to lead the collected on the levee to see them off. ago, a well dressed and respectable way, male and female, and my com­ And beyond the waving of a few hand­ looking woman (I will not call her a pany was chosen to escort them beyond kerchiefs, there was no disrespectful lady) came along carrying in her hand our lines. Among the female exiles was demonstrations made towards the gov­ three nice roses in her hand, a red one, several secret Rebel mail agent[s] and ernment. Perhaps the line of Federal a white one, and another red one. She the wives of several Southern officers bayonets close by prevented them. A also had the same emblem in her bon­ now in the Southern army. The Rebel great thing are those "Fed" bayonets. The net. As she passed the sentinel on post, Genl. Frost's wife was among the num­ "Rebs" here have a holy horror of them. one of my comrades, she shook the ber and a notorious she Reb by the I was one of the guards stationed in flower[s] at him. He says to her, "Ma­ name of Miss Lucie Nicolson. She is a the cabin over them that night and I dame those are very nice, give me one." "tarter," I tell you.54 watched them close. To an outsider She turned around very indignantly and Arrangements were made to start they appeared very gay and happy over said "You dirty nast[y] brute of a sol­ them south on the 13th inst. and their forced trip to Dixie, but by close dier, how dare you insult a lady on the accordingly on that day we received or­ observation I could see plainly that it street in that manner." He laughed at ders to report to Col. [Franklin A.] Dick, was nearly all forced. I have seen to her and she went off in high dudgeon. the provost marshall genl. at 1 o'clock much of human nature and studied it to Another, a few days after while I was on P.M. After we had reported and were much to be very easily deceived byout­ the same post, three respectable looking awaiting further orders one of my com­ side appearances, especially as thin as women came along and when they rades and myself was sent theirs was and their uneasiness and were within a few yards of me one of around in an omnibus with an officer to anxiety manifested itself more and more them got off the pavement and walked the female prison to escort some five la­ as we neared Memphis. around me, and as she done so she said dies down to the boat. After some delay There was nothing important oc­ to the others, "You may walk under that the prisoners got into the bus and we curred on our way to Memphis and we if you want to, I won't" (pointing up), along with them. While waiting until arrived safely at that place on the meaning the large flag that hung out of some baggage was being put on top of the 15th inst. When we left St. Louis, we the window over the pavement. I the bus, one of them proposed three thought our destination was Vicksburg, looked at her as contemptible as I could cheers for "Jeff Davis." I told them but on our arrival at Memphis, we found and she returned the look with interest. [they] must not, and at that the one that we were to take the cars there and pro­ But since old Price and Marmaduke sat next [to] me turned around and ceed to Holly Springs in Mississippi, that and his theives have been driven from gathered up her dress in her hands so place being the nearest Rebel point to the state they have been more submis­ that it would not touch me and says "Sit our lines, where they were to be handed sive. For some time back the military au­ farther away from me, I hate the very over to the tender mercies of Jeff Davis thorities here have been busy making sight of Lincolnites." It made me mad and his friends for whom they have out a list of disloyal citizens, male and and says I, "I return you your hate most done so much for. And so on the morn­ female, and having them arrested for cordially and emphatically." "0 Ho," ing of the 16 we transferred our prison­ the purpose of having them sent beyond says she, "Where did you learn all those ers and baggage on board of the cars our lines, according to the instructions big words?" "Where you were was per­ and at 8 A.M. we started. of the secretary of war [Edwin M. haps in civil society," says I. "Well, I When we arrived at La Grange, about Stanton]. The men were confined in the don't think I am in very civil or decent 50 miles distant from Memphis, we military prisons and the women in a society just now," says she. "No, you found that the track was torn up be­ large brick house on Chestnut st. (the wouldn't be if us soldiers were out of tween there and Holly Springs and we property of one of them) selected for here," says I. She looked at me very con­ could go no further by the cars. The that purpose. There was some three temptible for an instant and turned commander of that post furnished a cav­

156 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen airy escort and transportation for the "old soldiers" (for my part I always was form since I have been here and have prisoners, ambulances for the females, in favor of the measure). The oppisition seen some queer things. Our duty and and army wagons for the men and bag­ I allude to came from the 90th III., a regi­ authority takes us into every hole and gage. We turned our prisoners over to ment composed entirely of Irishmen, comer of this city and as you say it is a the cavalry and they were soon aboard and I will say here that two thirds of the great place to demoralize a soldier. the ambulances and started for H.S., Copperheads and men who oppose the I have my faults and failings of where I don't think they received a very war and government in St. Louis are course, but I don't think there is tempta­ warm reception. Irishmen. And for the life of me I cannot tion enough in this city to lead me to do I watched the train as far as I could see why these men, many of anything to disgrace myself or the uni­ see it and I wished from my heart that whom I can see no difference between form I wear, so you may rest assured I every Northern traitor was along with it them and an African, neither in an intel­ shall do nothing that would make you and as I stood there and watched it dis­ lectual or moral point of view, except in ashamed of me. appearing from my sight I could not color, should so strongly and bitterly op­ As to your request for me to go to help reflecting what a vast difference pose this measure. Their opposition as­ church, I have been there twice and I there was in the treatment they were re­ tonished Genl. Thomas some, for it was promise you I will go whenever I am not ceiving from the hands of our humane the first outspoken opposition that he prevented by my duties. The first church government, and the treatment the poor had met with in the west. The way it I went to I heard a kind of milk and wa­ persecuted Unionist of the South re­ came out was this. ter Copperhead sermon so I ceives. They never had a large commo­ After he had got through speaking he concluded I would not go there again. It dious steamer placed at their disposal proposed "Three cheers for the Union was called the M.E. Church South. I with polite and complacent officers and and the president" which were given wish I could find a Lutheran church. I soldiers to escort them beyond their with a good will. He then proposed think I would feel more at home in one lines. No, but they were driven from all "Three cheers for the prest. policy," but of them than in any other. they held dear upon earth by the sacred instead of cheers he heard groans and I will send you back that photograph ties of kindred and home and their rela­ cries of "no wager & ec." He ordered the as you request, but mind you send me tions and associations, their homes col. to point out the men who "refused another for in showing it to my com­ desolated, plundered, pillaged, and de­ to obey the orders of the prest." At this a rades it has been my boast that it was stroyed by Southern soldiery and sergeant stepped out and said he was the picture of my sister who has been a obliged to flee ignominously as hunted willing to obey all orders of the prest. soldier as long as I have. Us western sol­ felons at the peril of their lives to North­ and his superior officers, but he was not diers have great respect for you nurses. ern protection and in many instances in favor of arming the Negroes. Then an­ In all my wanderings, and I believe I losing their lives in the attempt. At 2 other sergeant and several privates have been in every hole occupied by P.M. we were aboard of the cars again stepped out and said "that was their sen­ our troops in the west, I have never seen and in a short time we were enroute for timents." That was all that would come but six lady nurses in hospitals. I have Memphis again. I have forgot to state out. The genl. sent them to the guard often wondered how you were em­ that the prisoners were in charge of Ma­ house and told the col. he would [give] ployed and what salary you receive & jor McKenny, A.D.C. to Genl. Curtis and them one week to make up their minds ec., but as I thought it was none of my a Captain Adams who went with them and then left. The poor Negro has but business I never asked. (in charge) to Holly Springs. Our cap­ few friends in this department and I I will send you my photograph just tain was in charge of the escort (us) and think that it is a shame and disgrace as soon as I get paid off again, but I will came back with US.55 upon humanity to see the mute looks not promise to have it taken with mus­ Adjutant Genl. Thomas was on the and appeals for sympathy and encour­ ket & ec. for indeed nothing looks train on his return from Corinth and he agement from this down trodden people meaner than to see a picture of soldier stopped at every station where there so utterly disregarded by the white race bundled up with his accoutrements. I was troops and made a speech to the and especially by the officers and sol­ suppose you have an increase of pa­ soldiers explaining the policy of the diers of our armies. tients since the late battles in Va. I will president in arming the Negroes.56 With We arrived in Memphis that evening send you two Memphis papers with this one exception it was well received. and stayed there that night and on the letter. I received the papers you sent me. When the subject was first introduced it next day we left for St. Louis. We arrived And I remain ever your brother, met with a very hostile reception in our here safely on the morning of the 21st Thomas Edwin Keen western army, but since it is better un­ and immediately marched to our old Write soon and direct as usual. derstood it is growing more and more in quarters and resumed our duties. favor every day, especially among us I have had some queer duties to per­

157 Nebraska History - Winter 2000

"Pilot Knob, the celebrated 'I ron Mountain' near Ironton, Missouri." Leslie's Pictorial History, 8:120

In Camp at Pi lot Knob was a mere mud hole (quite a contrast put up ou r tents and we have remained Missouri between the nice quarters we had just in it ever since. June 21st , 1863 left), but being used to making ourselves It rained for four or five days almost My Dear Sister, com fortable in the mud, we pitched ou r constantly after our arriva l here and it As you perceive by the dating of my tents and went to work and by a free use made it so muddy we could hardly get letter I have left th e city of St. Lou is and of spades and shovels we cleared away around at all , but lately we have had am once more in th e field. Our co. re­ the mu d to some extent and by night we some very fin e weather and the mud is ceived orders on th e 1st inst. to rejoin had things quite comfortable. We went pretty well dried up. Our ca mp has a the reg iment immed iately at this point. and cut brush and had good dly beds at ve lY good location for drainage, but it is The regiment had marched across th e night. The next day Ge n!. in the centre of an old field and there is country from Cape Girardeau . So on the Va ndiver's force left to join Gen !. Grant not a shade tree within three hundred morning of the 2nd we proceeded to at Vicksburg and while we were wonder­ yards of us , but we remedy that by build­ the depot of th e Iron Mountain Rail ing wheth er we would have to go along, ing brush sheds which answers the place Road and took the cars there for this we received orders to march in an hour of th e shade trees in a manner. I was not place. We arrived here about noon of so we struck our tents and loaded our very so ny to leave the city for I had got the sa me day. It was raining when we wagons and had formed in line and tired of it, but we were so comfortably got here and had been raining for sev­ were ready to move in :l;'1 of an hou r quartered there that I was sonya little to eral days previous, which made it velY from the time we received th e order to leave on that account. But I feel far better muddy but we packed up and sta rted march."7 But while we were waiting fo r being out where I can get the fresh air off for camp in old style through "Mis­ fu rther orders the order fo r marching constantly. I don't believe I could live in so uri mud." was cou ntermanded and we were to a city again with any satisfaction. We found the camp in a poor place stay here. So we marched to our present We have drawn new tents since we and th e ground that was allotted to us ca mp, being a far better location, and have been here and we are to receive

158 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen

new arms in a few days. When the requi­ ence with "picket duty" and I remember not a good picture in my opinion, al­ sition was made out for new tents and how close we watched every bush and though I had them taken by an artist sent to Genl. Davison he proposed to our old stump expecting every minute to see that was recommended to me as being col. to issue those "shelter tents" or as we some "Reb" stick his head out from be­ as good an artist as there was in the call them "dog tents" to us. "Well," says hind it and there was hardly a night but town. I engaged 112 doz. but I would only our col., "If you issue those ~ to my some unfortunate animal got shot by stir­ take three that I paid for in advance for men the first march they start on they will ring around in the brush close to our they were not as good pictures as he either throw them away or will carry sentinels, but we were new soldiers then. promised to take for me. If ever I get them until they get tired and then they The field that we are now camped in another chance I will have some taken will go off in the brush and camp and at that time was a nice pasture enclosed like yours. they will be scattered along the road by a good "five board" fence and there I think that that extract you copied from the time they start in the morning was several nice shade trees in it. It used from the Atlantic Monthly is a splendid until they encamp at night, but if their to be a nice place to drill, but now the and sublime thought and the author is tents are in the wagon they will come shade trees are all gone, grass is all well worthy of praise for it. I see by the right up." Davison knew us of old so he tramped out, and there is not one ves­ papers there is quite an excitement in "guessed he was right" so we got the tige of the fence remaining. It is so with the east on account of Lee's threatened Sibly tent.58 other fields in the vicinity. The brush and invasion of Pa. There is a heavy expedi­ I have no idea how long we will stay timber has all been cleared off the sides tion fitting out here for some place but I here or where we will go when we leave of the hills and forts and breastworks won't say where. I think it will start here. There is a dozen rumors flying have taken their places. This is an impor­ soon. Our captain is home on furlough around as to our future destination, but tant point for military operations in this and I hope he will never come back. He I place no reliance upon any of them. state and is now well fortified. There has is a rank Copperhead and a traitor. He But from all I can see and learn I think been several large house[s] built by was run out of Iowa for his Secesh we are destined for and have the un­ [the] government for storage & ec. principles two years, ago but it is a long pleasant prospect before us of another I was over the ground the other day history of fraud and bribery in his get­ long campaign through south east Mis­ where we first camped and where we ting command of our company over souri and under old Davison too. I shall sheltered ourselves from the weather by our other officers who are men of honor go along if we go, willingly, but not so brush sheds . We lived some and principle. His name is much so as though we were under any three weeks in the brush before we got Ivory and his home is in Westmoreland other commander. tents or uniforms and by the time we got County, Pa. I will write you his whole What a vast difference two years of our uniforms a good many of history some time. GO "military occupation" has made in this us were barefoot, and as I walked I am enjoying excellent health at place. When we first occupied this point around the platform of the de­ present writing, and I hope it will remain it was a snug little village. Our regiment pot I could [not] help but smile as I so. We are to have a sermon in camp to­ was the first regiment of Union troops seen a spot where I run a splinter in my night by our chaplain. Our chaplain is that was ever here and I remember very foot nearly two years ago while on post one of the best army chaplains I have well how frightened the "natives" were over some commissary stores. I was ever seen. He is a kind, good man and a when we first arrived here on the 15th of barefoot at the time . I had shoes perfect gentleman, will do anything for a August nearly two years ago, just a few but they were worse than none. person. He has charge of our mail and days after the Battle of Wilson's Creek. I have received your interesting letter he tends to it faithfuly. I have great confi­ At that time this country was swarming of the 9th and also your pic­ dence in him. Well, dinner is nearly with Rebels in every direction and the ture. I think it is a splendid one and if it ready and I must close my letter.61 people mistook us, as we had no uni­ does not flatter you I do not think your And I remain ever your loving forms, for "Secesh" troops, for at [that] ~ has destroyed your good looks a bit brother, time Genl. Hardee was advancing with a and by the by, our ages are crawling up Thomas Edwin Keen force from the south to occupy this towards that much dreaded point pretty When you write direct as usual. point.59 But we beat him and when he fast . I have about concluded to heard of our being here he stopped remain in "single blessedness." I may Pilot Knob, Missouri within 15 miles of here and staid there 4 take a foolish notion to get married August 11, 1863 or 5 days and by that time there was a some time, but I doubt very much. How My Dear Sister, considerable force here and he con­ is it with you? I enclose a couple of pic­ I received your letter of the 24th ult. cluded to "skedaddle" farther off. tures which I had taken a few several days ago. I had been expecting it It was here we had our first experi- days before I left St. Louis, but they are for several days, but the mail came into

159 Nebraska History - Winter 2000 camp day after day but no letter for me. [ teeth chewing "hard tack" since [ have news and on that account we might began to think there was something up. been in the army so you see how that have a holiday. May be there was no [t was over a month from the time [ had happens. I assure you [ have been en­ cheering done about that time, and a written before [ received an answer from tirely rid of that cough for some time wilder set of men [ never saw during you. Now how is this, why do you not an­ and at present I am nearly as fat and that day than we were. Since then [ swer my [etters more promptly? [s it for hearty as ever [ was, so you need not be have been much pleased in reading the want of time or mere carelessness or alarmed on that score. accounts of the way they used their want of inclination? [ generally answer [ received a letter from Ed Brown a "friends," the Copperheads. [wish they your [etters soon after [ receive them. [ few days ago. He is out in the gold had got hold of every one of them. I have often assured you that it is a great, mines.54 He says he is doing very well. He don't think that Lee will try "invading a very great pleasure for me to get a let­ intends to stay there about a year to try Yankee soil" any more. Morgan did not ter from you. Now do try and be more and raise a stake and is then coming to make much by invading either.58 prompt in writing to me, please. Nebraska to get married. He is engaged Truly you have been fortunate and We still remain at this post, but I to a Miss Bishop.55I am acquainted with blessed in regard to your health since.­ don't know how much longer we will her. She is a very nice, tidy young woman you have been in the hospital and I stay here. Rumor has it that we are to and will make Ed a good wife. think the hand of the Almighty has pre­ leave here as soon as Fort Davison is fin­ I received a letter from Lyman giving served your health for the merciful mis­ ished. Thursday the 6th inst. (Thanksgiv­ me an account of his experience in sol­ sion in which you are engaged . ing) was very well kept here.62 All the diering. [ was considerably amused at it. May heaven bless you thus always is my stores was closed and in the morning He says he liked it well enough though, earnest prayer. we fell in and marched down to and would have went out for six months Our chaplain's name is "Tipton." [ Ironton, about two miles below here. if it had not been for mother.66 It also in­ don't know what denomination he be­ We had a hot, dusty march down, but formed me of "that blessed baby['s]" ex­ longs to. He used to be a lawyer in Ne­ after we were there we were fully paid istence. Sarah might have given it some braska and he used to preach at the for it by hearing a beautiful and patri­ other name or else left the Keen off, but same time. He was the means of expos­ otic speech from Genl. Fiske.GaIt was as [ don't care. [ hope she has recovered ing several frauds there and for it he re­ good a speech as I have listened to for a her health by this time. ceived the name of "Tipton Slasher." He long time. Genl. Fiske is in command of You want to know what nickname [ is a fine man and [ like him. this district now. He is a noble looking go by amongst my chums, whether it is So you advise me and really think 1::: man and what is more, he is a strong Tom or Ed. Well, it is neither one or the had better get married if [ live to get out anti-slavery religious war other. [ am known throughout the regt. of the army. Well, [ must beg leave to man. A Democrat he says he was before and am called entirely by the "sharp differ from you. "A burnt child dreads the war, but he knows no party until the sweet" name of "Pin." [ don't recollect the fire" so that ends that question. And rebellion is crushed. [don't know how how [ received it, but it was in Nebraska. as for the idea of you getting married, he would manage a march or a cam­ Ed Brown started it and Sawyer, our ha ha, funny ain't it. paign, but [ well know this much that he former first lieut., knew me by that name The weather is very warm here has more good sound common sense in several years previous. Kept calling me now and it has been very dry for some five minutes than a regiment of such that name so it followed me into the time back, but there is now some indica­ genls. as Davison ever had in their lives. army. Many times has that name been tions of rain. The crops need rain badly. But about that "picture." You say you taken down by the sergeant of the guard [ am beginning to think that the were "frightened at those hollow and many times has "Private Pin, Co. H" Southern Confederacy is nearly played cheeks." Well, [ can account for them. been sent to the adjutant's office on the out. A few more such vigorous cam­ When I first went to St. Louis [ took a no­ guard reports, but what's in a name? paigns as the one just ended and the___ tion to shave all my beard off, and previ­ When we received the news of the boasting Cornfederacy will be amongst ous to the time [ had those pictures fall of Vicksburg and the defeat of Lee's the names and things that were. What taken, [ had been on duty almost con­ army we had a "high old time. "67 [t an intensely interesting history the his­ stantly day and night for nearly three made me feel "glorious." We were at tory of this rebellion will be, but it will weeks. During all that time [ don't be­ work on the fort when the recall be an awfull one as the wicked secrets lieve [ had one whole night's rest, and sounded and immediately after, we of the Southern despotism is exposed. then [ had just returned from that trip heard the assembly sound. We won­ Well [ must close. with those exiles and of course such dered what was up, but we soon fell in . And [ remain ever your loving brother, constant duty reduced me considerably, line when our col. read us a dispatch he Thomas Edwin Keen and then [ have lost some of my back had just received announcing the good Now Mary, please answer soon.

160 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen

Camp Mary Be ll await for our wagons to come by so we much duty and have nea rly as nice a Carondelet, Missouri could get something to ea t. Well our ca mping place. We are encamped on a Sept. 17, 1863 wagons did not arrive until about 1 P.M. bluff overlooking the river, a good part My Dearest Sister, and by th at time we were pretty hungry. of the surrou nding country, and the I have received your letter of the 3rd We had filled our haversacks full before town of Carrondelet. The ground is a several days ago. My scolding I see has we left the Knob, but a so ldier moving nice little grove and was formerly a done you some good and of course you around can eat an "a wful sight." After sc hool ground. There is a stone school have my "pardon" if necessary for being house which we use for a kitchen and more prompt than usual, but you may ea ting room and our duty is light. We expect a lecture every time you procras­ have no post to stand in the daytime at tinate as long as you have done some­ all, only at night and then it is only a times heretofore. Enclosed you will find little over three hours. Although we are a picture which I send you by way of on every other night the duty is very..----­ contrast to that miserable "thing" I se nt light, th e town is quiet, every thing is you some time ago. I have looked over cheap. Vegetables are plenty and cheap all th e photograph ga lleries in St. Louis, and for so ldiers we live but in none of them cou ld I find any "bully." All we have to do in the daytime pictures of the vignette style that could is to clean up camp in th e morning and in any way compare with that one you drill about 1lh hours in th e afternoon. sent me and I could not find any to suit So you see we have a "good thing" as me. So I thought I would have this one long as we stay here, but of course I taken and se nd it. I w ill neve r have an­ have no idea how long that will be. We oth er photograph taken unless I can were first destined for Kansas City, but find so me I like, for a poor one is the th e 1st Kansas was sen t th ere and we mea nest looking thing th ere is. were kept to help garrison th e Post of St. We have left Pilot Knob since I last Lou is. Our col. is in command of the --­ wrote to you. On the 30th of Aug. we re­ post. Th e res t of th e regiment has since ceived ord ers to be ready to move in an moved into the city and are now quar­ hour's notice. So we got ready. The next tered in "Sco fi eld Barracks." day about 1 P.M. we got th e orders to The draft will come off in St. Louis strike tents and pack up and leave. We this month sometime I believe, and I soon had our tents down an d our wag­ Thomas W. Tipton. NSHS-RG2411-5631 would not be surprised if there was a ons loaded and we fell in line and "bit of a riot" on account of it, but I marched down to th e depot of th e Iron we had got something to ea t and were hope not. But there is so many Irish in Mountain Railroad. When we got there preparing to put up our tents, th er[e] St. Louis and they always start anyth ing we loaded our baggage on board the ca me an order for Co . H to go down to of that kind and you know th at th ere ca rs that were wa iting for us and got on Ca rondelet and re lieve a company of has been several large riots here so me board ourselves and at 6 P.M. we started th e 10th Kansas that were stati oned years ago, bu t the "dimmychrats" ha2-­ fo r, as we thought (as was reported) th ere guarding the navy yard at that better not kick up a row here just now Kansas City. We arrived in St. Lou is place and take charge. At the same time or they may get sick of it. The weather about midnight. I did not sleep any on some oth er and at th e time I did not like th e me more in mind of it than any place arrived there by "sunup," stacked arms, idea of leaving it much, bu t now I am eve r I was in. Th ere is several large and staked off a camp and set down to very well sat isfied for we haven't nea r as "shops" here and to hea r the whistles

161 Nebraska History - Winter 2000 blow and to see the hands stringing out expressions th ough, and I have seen wea lth or influences of any kind to use, morning noon and night it puts me more than one person amused at them. to raise to a commissioned officer. Merit very much in mind of home. 59 It I would do anything I could for her. You may do it sometimes, but very se ldom. is right on th e bank of the river too, and ask why I think Sarah might have left Th ere is always to many "suckers" that the houses are of the same style and the Keen of[f] my nephew's name? Well, I'll are watching every opportunity to shirk "natives" are nearly all "Dutch" also. tell you. I don't like to see a youngster their duty and get rid of carrying a mus­ Our col. is trying to fill up our regiment. have such a long name, not th at I am ket. Of course I try to lighten my duty as He has got permission to sen d some re­ ashamed of it [at] all. I would far rath er much as possible, but shirk it never, and cruiting officers to Nebraska, but I have see a plain name. It sounds nicer to me, I would far rather, yes a thousand times no idea how th ey will succeed in getting bu t every body to their taste. Besides it rather, have the name of good soldier recruits. stops a youngster's growth to learn such than an incompetent offi cer. The latter I received [a] letter from home on a long name? And as for th e contrast are a laughing stock of th eir brother of­ th e same day I received yours, which you speak of, well perhaps so. fi cers and th e men they command. We was the first informati on I had that Our company is getting pretty small. have several such in our regimen t. It is mother had been sick. I was glad to We only have about 22 priva tes for duty not because I have not the ambition or hea r that she was well aga in. Th ey are now, th e rest are all gone.71 One of our experi ence enough, but when I see how far more dilitory about writing to me at sergeants has received a commission in useless it is to try I do not do it. I enlisted home th an you are. I don't know what is the 4th U.S. Infty. colored troops. He for th e benefit of my country as [a] sol­ th e reason , I always answer their letters was a fin e fe llow and I was sorry to see dier in th e ranks and not for office or pay promptly. Speaking of Mrs. Brown, you him leave usY There was a good many and as a soldier I expect to remain in th e say that they think at home th at she is non-commissioned officers and privates ranks until my time is up and per­ not broken down as much as mother. have applied for commissions in col­ haps longer if I live. I may ri se to th e po­ Well, I believe it, but if she has not been ored regiments, but as yet he has been sition of a corporal or se rgeant, but through hardships and pri vations and the only one that has rece ived a com­ higher I do not expect to attain .73 tro ubles to kill a dozen common mission. You ask me why I don't try for Some time perh aps, I will tell you all women I don't know who has. Next to promotion. Well, I'll tell you. You know about a little love sc rape I have had moth er, I love and respect her for she or at least have a good idea that it is al­ since I enlisted bu t not now. The thing was a kind mother to me while I was in most impossible for a so ldier in th e is not quite ended yet and I want to see Nebraska.7oShe does use so me funny ranks without influential fri ends or how it will end and then I will tell you

" U.S. Mississippi gun-boats being built at Carondelet, near St. Louis, Missouri. " Harper's Weekly, October 5, 1861 , 630

162 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen all about it. There was a large fire in St. you, although I am still quite weak. I do Jan. 20. I did not get to finish my let­ Louis on Sunday night. There was four not suffer much from pain. My knee still ter on yesterday so I will finish it today. large steamboats burnt at the wharf. We swells some and is weak and stiff, but I There is nothing, my dear sister, that I could see it from our camp. It was a get better use of it every day. For over a know of that you could do for me and I grand and beautiful sight indeed. They month after I came here I done nothing have no want that you could supply. My were set on fire by some person. The but blister my knee and ancle with wants are few and as I have plenty of boats were totally destroyed. I sent you small blisters and they relieved me of money are easily supplied, for in St. a paper a few days ago containing an pain, but for a while I suffered the most Louis a person can get anything they account of the U.S. Christian Commis­ intense pain immagginable. Now I do may want for money. I do not buy sion. It supplies us soldiers with reli­ not use anything, leaving nature to re­ any trash to eat such as sweet meats ec. gious reading of all kinds and I suppose cruit alone. I am taking "Tinct. Ferri" or and I use some little judgement in that does some good. Well, as dinner is iron as it is commonly called, and I respect. If I want any thing that I need I nearly ready I must close my long letter. think it gives me some strength. I was am able to go out now and get it. I don't And I remain your loving brother, not able to leave my ward until Christ­ think there is much danger of making Thomas Edwin Keen mas and on that day it was so nice and myself sick by indescretions, as many (Please answer soon and direct as warm I managed to get to the front do that have been sick in hospital for a usual.) door, and I tell you after so long a con­ long time. P.S. I forgot to say I am in excellent finement the fresh air smelt good [even] I have not been vaccinated since we health just now. I feel better now in fact if it was in the city. Since then I have first lived in Birmingham some 18 years than I have for a long time.74 been out farther and this morning I ago. It took well at that time and I can E.Keen walked around a square and I think in a very well recollect how it was. It was short time I will be able to go to my regi­ very large and inflamed and I recollect Hickory St. Hospital ment, where I am anxious to go for I am one evening father and mother was St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 19, 1864 sick and tired of hospital life. looking at it. Pap said it was "worth a My Dear Sister, This is a post hospital and is not man­ dollar" and I thought it must be very I have just received your letter. Long aged none of the best. I think it could valuable, for at that time a dollar was an and anxious[ly] have I expected it, the be managed better. It is not my nature immense sum of money in my mind. first I have received from you since last to complain, but I think so. Every per­ Ever since I have been in the army I September and I assure you it relieved son does pretty much as they please have been in contact with the small pox me of a great deal of anxiety, for I had and I don't think that is quite right and have never had the first symptoms come to the conclusion that you were around a hospital, but I have learned in of it. It has been in my regiment and sick, for I received a letter from home a whatever state I am in, there with to be company. Last summer three members few days ago and Lyman wrote that they content. So I get along very well, espe­ of my company had it and they staid had not heard from you for six weeks cially when I contrast it with regimental right in the co. until they were all broke and I thought surely something was hospitals and other hospitals that I have out in blisters. One of them died a short wrong. But I am very glad to learn that seen. We get plenty to eat of good com­ time after he was removed. It spread such is not the case. mon "grub" and the doctors are good into other companies and quite a num­ You say that you sent me a letter the and understand their business and one ber were sick with "Variola" and small same time you sent that "Harper." Well, of them, Dr. Senter, is a perfect gentle­ pox. I have never thought it worth while I never received it and I can account for man and I think that he is as good a to be vaccinated. There is a great [deal] it in this way. The articles went to my doctor as ever felt a person's pulse. He of it in the city now and the small pox regiment and were sent back to me is not an army doctor, but he is a citi­ [hospital] is full of patients. It broke out from Rolla where my regiment was at zen. I don't know how [he] happens to in the 7th Minnesota stationed here and that time and the letter must have got attend here. I tried to get a furlough from quite a number of them have died. lost on the road back. When I first wrote here but I could not for the reason that And there is a number of to you from here I forgot to tell you to this was a post hospital and the surgeon their men in the small pox hospital now. omit the regt. and company from the ad­ in charge, Dr. White [Frank W. It was all the fault of their officers. dress and so I lost your letter, but I don't White], told me that soldiers sick here I'll tell you how. The quarter[s] they see how the magazine and paper came were supposed to belong to regiments now occupy were previously occupied back and your letter not. stationed at this post and he could not by a Negro regiment and some of them In regards to myself, I am very glad to give furloughs for that reason. So I guess ~ with that disease right in the quar­ be able to write to you that I am very I will have to wait until my time expires ters and the Minnesota boys were put in much better than when I last wrote to before I get home if I live that long. there before it was renovated or aired

163 ...

Nebraska History - Winter 2000 and consequently, the first thing they and fare worse, for Ed is a good, honest, reenlisted and will go to Nebraska on knew, the small pox made its appear­ sober, industrious young man and that furlough as soon as they can be relieved ance and a number of valuable lives is not the case with all the young men by General Steele, under whose com­ have been lost that by a little trouble on the frontier, I am sorry to say. Do you mand it is.76 They would have been off might have been saved. think it would be a good idea for me to some time ago, but they could not get The recent "cold snap" here, and I reinlist? Well, as my letter is pretty long I releived. I am looking for them every guess it extended pretty generally over guess I will stop writing. You must an­ day now. They have been stationed in the North, was the "coldest ever known swer as soon as possible and not "pro­ Batesvill, Ark. all winter and they have in this vicinity" so the papers stated. It crastinate" and direct as last and omit had a very hard time of it, for they were caused a great deal of suffering amongst the regt. and co. nearly all the time out scouting after the poor, for coal went up to 35 and 40 And I remain your loving brother, guerillas and have had a number of cts. per bushel and wood at 11 and 12 Thomas Edwin Keen fights with them this past winter and dollars per cord and at those prices it some of myoid comrades have been was hard to keep warm. A large number Hickory St. Hospital killed and wounded by them. had their limbs frost bitten. The water St. Louis, Mo., What an immense amount of misery pipes through out the city were on a March 31 [1864] and unhappiness is comprehended in general "bust." The weather has moder­ My Dear Sister, these two words "killed and wounded." ated greatly and I suppose those enor­ I received your letter of the 23rd sev­ I could moralise on the subject for a mous prices for fuel have fallen to living eral days ago. I had been expecting it week, but it always makes me feel bad prices. There was good sleighing for for some time. It was quite welcome I to do so. My regiment has the name of quite a while and I could here the bells assure you. I am still here yet, you per­ being a terror to the guerillas, for they in every direction. The river was froze ceive, but I am on duty now as "night never take any urisoners of that kind. up tight and is yet. All the passing to and watch." I suppose you know very well That guerilla warfare is a horrible busi­ fro between Ill. and Mo. was done on what that is. I have been doing that duty ness. Honourable warfare, if it can be the ice. There was some accidents of now for nearly three weeks and so far I called so, is bad enough, but when it course, but not many. have stood it first rate. The very day that comes for men to watch from be­ Since I have been here "Pap" sent me I was going to ask the surgeon to send hind trees and bushes to shoot one an­ a receipt for the rheumatism. When I get me to my regiment the vaccancy oc­ other down in cold blood like wild a little stronger I intend to ask the sur­ curred by the former night watch going beasts it is terrible to think of. 77 geon to let me try it. I don't think he will into the kitchen as cook, and he asked I have a kind of an idea that if the oppose it, it is a linement and Pap says me if I would not take his place and try regiment goes up to Nebraska on fur­ it has cured mother and you know she it for a while. I studied the mat­ lough and to recruit that it will not used to have it very bad. ter over and concluded to take the come down again for some time, but I have received several letters from place and try it. So we went to the stew­ will be kept there to protect the frontier home since I wrote you last and in one of them Lyman wrote since, I am very glad I done so for it has There is to be an expedition fitted out that Ed Brown had returned from the been very cold, stormy weather nearly this summer against the Sioux Indians mines and the girl he intended to marry ever since, and I know if I had went out and it is likely that they will be included "refused him." He axed her would she in the field at that time I would have in it, but that is merely one of my own have him and she said "nix," and so Ed been laid up again with rheumatism. suppositions/8 gets reckless and exclaims with Byron, I find that doing duty around a hospi­ I was quite surprised a few days ago "0 frailty, thy name is woman" and he tal is not near so unpleasant as I had an by a visit from Ed Brown. He and some says he intends to "go for a sogerman" idea it was. Anyhow, it is not near so more Allegheny boys were on their way and stand in front of the battle and die tiresome as being a patient. I go to bed to the new gold mines of Idaho. I was like a hero "boo-hoo hoo." Poor Ed, "his at 5 A.M. and generally sleep until noon quite glad to see Ed, the first time since I bright visions of love" in a cottage and and the afternoons I have to run around have been in the army. He looked as future happiness with plenty of blue in if I want to. natural as ever, a second edition of the eyes and curly heads and "sich," like.!I!X I heard from my regiment a short old man. He says that the old man has a own, has ended in smoke and amounts time ago through a sergeant of my com­ notion of reenlisting. What do you think to "nix." Alas, poor humans, you are pany that came through St. Louis on his of that? I hope Ed will be more fortunate doomed to many dissappointments.75 way to receive a commission in a col~ in Idaho than he was in Nebraska. I never knew the girl that refused him ored regt. and he came in to see me. He I seen an account in the papers of very well, but I think she may go farther tells me that the regiment had nearly all the fair that was being held in Washing­

164 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen ton. There is one to be held here in May. I think as you do that our armies re­ to have the hand of finishing it up. There is very extensive preparations be­ enlisting must be a damper to the hopes I am getting quite strong and hearty ing made for it already. I expect it will of the Rebs. I see by the paper that their again and feel first rate. But I can still be a grand affair. 79 I was quite amused leaders still stick to their old hobby of feel "whinges" of the rheumatism now at your account of those Indians draw­ regaining their lost ground and again and then. I suppose it will stick to me as ing [?] those dolls. They will probably blockading the Mississippi river. How long as I live. This hospital is full now, take good care of them and take them foolish. They certainly know better. I fuller than it has been at any time since back to Minnesota where they will be a have been watching Grant's movements I have been here, mostly fever cases, a source of great amusment and wonder since he has been installed commander good deal of remittent. I received a let­ to their squaws and papooses, for it is in chief of the U.S.A. with some interest, ter from home today and Lyman writes not often they see such things. Lo the and I think that he is fixing for a grand me that mother still has the rheumatism. poor Indian. I have seen enough of the and final campaign this summer and I I expect she has suffer [ed] a great deal redskins to know that there is a good have no idea but that it will be a suc­ with that confounded mean disease. deal of mistaken sympathy thrown away cessful one for the Union. He also wrote me. about the astonishing upon them. In the Minnesota regiments I think the coming presidential cam­ high price of provisions in Pittsburg. I stationed here there is a number of half paign will be an exciting one, but I have was quite surprised for provisions used breeds Chippeway Indians. They make my doubts of Lincoln being reelected to be quite cheap there. I thought they pretty good soldiers and are apt schol­ for there has been a great deal of oppo­ were dear enough in St. Louis, but ac­ ars in all the evils and vices that hover sition sprung up against him lately, cording to Lyman's statements they are around a soldiers' camp. more than you have any idea of, both in cheaper here than there. Well, I can I recollect of reading an account of and out of the army. Why it is so I can't think of nothing more to write. that soldier being found [dead?] with tell. In my opinion he is just the right And I remain ever your loving an ambrotype in his hand looking upon man in the right place. I don't think that brother, his children. I thought at the time I read there is a man living that could or can Thomas Edwin Keen it that it was an affecting incident. I am manage the past and present affairs of Please write soon and direct as usual. glad that the thing is being turned to the nation any better than he has and E. Keen some account for the benefit of his chil­ does. He had a hard and difficult matter dren in the manner you speak of. to commence on, and I think he ought

165 Nebraska History - Winter 2000

A Service Chronology of Company H, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, 1861-64, with a calendar of Thomas Keen's letters l

1861 Jan 28-30 Marched to West Plains, Missouri July 3 Mustered in at Omaha Feb. 1-2 Marched to Salem, Arkansas Aug. 8-15 By rail to Pilot Knob, Missouri, from St. Joseph and St. Louis Feb. 4-6 Marched to West Plains, Missouri Aug. 24 Keen letter from Camp Pilot Knob, Missouri Feb. 6-8 Marched to Eminence, Missouri Sept. 9 Keen letter from Camp Pilot Knob, Missouri Feb. 17-21 Marched to Arcadia, Missouri Sept. 21 Marched for Syracuse, Missouri Feb. 22 Keen letter from camp at Arcadia, Missouri Oct. 21-Nov. 2 Marched to Springfield, Missouri, with Fremont's army Feb. 27 Marched to Ironton, Missouri (Pilot Knob) Nov. 9-22 Detached to guard government property at Warsaw, Missouri Mar. 6 Keen letter from Ironton, Missouri Nov. 22-24 Rejoined the regiment at Sedalia, Missouri Mar. 8-10 Marched to St. Genevieve, Missouri Dec. 8 Went into winter quarters at Georgetown, Missouri Mar. 11-12 By steamboat to Cape Girardeau, Missouri Dec. 15-27 Marched with expedition under Gen. John Pope Apr. 6 Keen letter from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Warrensburg and Milford Apr. 11-12 By steamboat to St. Louis, Missouri, for provost guard duty Dec. 27-Feb. 2, 1862 In winter quarters at Georgetown, Missouri Apr. 24 Keen letter from St. Louis, Missouri May 13-21 Company detachment escorted banished civilians to Confederate 1862 lines near Holly Springs, Mississippi, returned to St. Louis Jan. 25 Keen letter from Georgetown, MiBBouri May 23 Keen letter from St. Louis, Missouri Feb. 2-9 Marched and traveled by rail to St. Louis, via Jefferson City June 2 By rail to Pilot Knob, Missouri, rejoined the regiment Feb.9-11 By steamboat to Ft. Henry, Tennessee June 21 Keen letter from Pilot Knob, MiBBouri Feb. 11-13 By steamboat to Ft. Donelson, Tennessee Aug. 11 Keen letter from Pilot Knob, Missouri Feb. 14 Marched to the battlefield of Ft. Donelson, Tennessee Aug. 28 By rail to St. Louis, Missouri Feb. IS Engaged in battle against Confederate forces at Ft. Donelson Aug. 29-0ct.31 Detached to guard Union Iron Works at Carondelet, Missouri Feb. 17 Marched to Ft. Henry, Tennessee Sept. 17 Keen letter from Camp Mary Bell, Carondelet, Missouri Feb. 18 Keen letter from Ft. Henry, TenneBBee Oct. 31-Nov. 4 Marched to Camp Gamble, St. Louis, Missouri, rejoined the Feb. 22 Keen letter from Ft. Henry, TenneBBee regiment Mar. 6-13 By steamboat to Crump's Landing, Tennessee Nov. 5 First Nebraska designated as a cavalry regiment Mar. 25 Keen letter from Crump's Landing, Tennessee Nov. 8 Keen entered a military hospital at St. Louis, suffering from chronic Apr. 6 Marched to the battlefield of Shiloh, Tennessee rheumatism Apr. 7 Engaged in battle against Confederate forces at Shiloh Nov. 30-Dec. 1 Marched to Rolla, Missouri {From mid-April to mid-August, Keen was away from his Dec. 10-25 Marched to Batesville, Arkansas company on detached service with the Signal Corps] May 3 Keen letter from Paducah, Kentucky 1864 Jan. 19 Keen letter from Hickory Street Hospital, St. Louis, MiBBouri May 11 Keen letter from Paducah, Kentucky Jan. 23-30 Expedition against guerillas at Sylamore, Arkansas May 27-June 2 At Corinth, Mississippi Feb. 11-20 Expedition to Pocahontas, Arkansas May 28 Keen letter from Paducah, Kentucky Mar. I3-Apr. 4 Detached to guard steamboat gathering forage on White River June 2-17 Marched to Memphis, Tennessee Mar. 31 Keen letter from Hickory Street Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri July 24 By steamboat to Helena, Arkansas Apr. 5-16 Rejoined the regiment at Batesville, Arkansas. Aug. 21 Keen letter from camp near Helena, Arkansas Apr. 17-19 Marched to Jacksonport, Arkansas Sept. 2-24 By steamboat up the Mississippi River, returned to Helena Apr. 20 Engaged in a skirmish at Jacksonport, Arkansas Sept. 27 Keen letter from camp near Helena, Arkansas May 1-24 Detachments marched to Devalls Bluff and Black River Oct. 5-11 By steamboat to Sulphur Springs, Missouri May 25-30 Detachments rejoined the regiment Oct. 26-30 Marched to Ironton, Missouri (pilot Knob) May 30-June 10 At Devalls Bluff, Arkansas Nov. 2-4 Marched to Patterson, Missouri June 10 Reenlisted veterans furloughed to Nebraska Dec. 9-19 Marched to Reeves Station, Missouri, returned to Patterson July 9 Keen discharged from the service at St. Louis, Missouri Dec. 21-24 Marched to Van Buren, Missouri

I The chronology is drawn from William W. Ivory, "History of Company H, 1863 First Nebraska Veteran Cavalry, July 3, 1861-Jan. 31, 1866; written at Ft. Jan. 7 Keen letter from Camp Chase, near Van Buren, Missouri Sedgwick, Julesburg, Colorado Territory. Manuscript in RG 18, Records of the Jan. 9-10 Marched to Doniphan, Missouri, returned to Van Buren Nebraska Military Department, s.g. I, s.7, Nebraska State Historical Society. Jan. 14-16 Marched to Alton, Missouri

166 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen

Notes torical Times I/Iustrated Encyclopedia ofthe Civil turned over his command, commandeered some War (New York: Harper Collins, 1986),600-1. steamboats to ferry his own troops across the Cumberland River, and abandoned the rest of the I Thomas Keen death certificate, Pennsylvania 8 Assumed to be Keen's sister and brother. Division of Vital Records; Thomas Keen pension Confederates to their fate. Floyd was relieved of file, National Archives and Records Administra­ 9 The hospital steward was Edward Donovan, his commission by President Jefferson Davis on tion, copies in possession of the editor. later to be second lieutenant, Company K. Dudley, Mar. 11, 1862. Stewart Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Roster, 6-7. Confederacy (New York: Facts on File, 1988),93; 2 James E. Brown biography in Raymond E. Dale, Faust, Encyclopedia, 265. "Otoe County Pioneers: A Biographical Dictio­ 10 Guerrillas had fired into trains transporting nary," 10 vols. (Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Union troops across northern Missouri. Keen's 21 Although the letter to his parents was included Society, 1961),1:342-43; 1860 census of Otoe captain, George F. Kenedy, was living at Florence, in the Keen correspondence, it was in every mate­ County, Nebraska Territory, Nebraska City Post Of­ N.T., when he enlisted July 3,1861, Dudley, Roster, rial respect identical to this letter and has been fice, National Archives Microfilm Publication 90. No documentation of Kenedy's capture has omitted from publication. been found. In his letter of Mar. 25, 1862, Keen M653, Roll 665, copy at Nebraska State Historical 22 Charles F. Smith (1807-62) had been pro­ says Kenedy escaped. He was in command of his Society. moted major general of volunteers following the company in November 1861. See Kenedy report in Battle of Fort Donelson and placed in charge of 3 The foregoing biographical information is OR, s. 1, v. 8, 376-77. drawn from the letters, Keen's pension file, and his the Union advance up the Tennessee River that death certificate. II Lyman Sawyer was a resident of Omaha when would lead to the Battle of Shiloh. On Apr. 2, he enlisted July 3,1861, Dudley, Roster, 90. Smith was forced to relinquish command when he 4 James B. McPherson, "A War That Never Goes injured his leg. The wound became infected and 12 This was likely Maj. George C. Marshall of the Away," American Heritage 41 (March 1990): 42. Smith died Apr. 25,1862. Sifakis, Second Missouri Cavalry (Union), also known as Who Was Who in 375; Faust, 5 In a Jan. 19, 1862, letter to his wife, Sgt. William "Merrill's Horse" for its commander, Lewis Merrill. the Union, Encyclopedia, 694-95. A. Polock of Company C complained that regi­ The OR contain Marshall's report of a scouting ex­ 23 Keen refers to the Roanoke and New Bern mental commander Col. John M. Thayer had ig­ pedition through Saline County, Missouri, Dec. 2­ campaigns in North Carolina under command of nored the wishes of the men when he appointed 12,1861, in which the command was fired on sev­ Ambrose E. Burnside (1824-81), who was des­ William Ivory to command the company. Accord­ eral times (s.l, v.8, 34-36). Marshall, however, was tined to fail miserably at Fredricksburg, Virginia, ing to Polock, "Ivory is an unpopular man in the unscathed in these encounters. Whether he was in December 1862 after being appointed to lead regiment and is, and always has been particularly shot in a subsequent engagement prior to Keen's the Army of the Potomac. Sifakis, Who Was Who obnoxious to our company.· About seventy men Jan. 25, 1862, letter is unknown. in the Union, 57-58; Faust, Encylopedia, 96-97. of the company got up a petition asking Ivory not 13 24 John M. Thayer (1820-1906), the original com­ to come into the company. When Polock's letter The Missouri Democrat, in an article about the was published in the Nebraska Advertiser First Nebraska's hospital at Georgetown, attributed mander of the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, (Brownville), word got back to the regiment the sickness to "typhoid pneumonia." The article had been promoted to brigade command. He and Polock was briefly placed under arrest. The described the hospital as neat and clean, and lo­ served at Vicksburg, and commanded military dis­ editor apologized for publishing Polock's letter. cated in a Rebel's house. The article was reprinted tricts in Arkansas. After the war he was elected Nebraska Advertiser, Feb. 6, Apr. 6, 1862. in Omaha Tri-Weekly Republican, Jan. 15, 1862. one of Nebraska's first two U.S. senators and served as governor of Wyoming Territory, 1875-79, 14 A reference to the family with whom Keen had 6 Keen's discharge papers in his pension file, and and governor of Nebraska, 1887-92. Sifakis, Who been living in Nebraska. his following letter of Mar. 25, 1862, state that he Was Who in the Union, 408-09; Faust, Encylopedia, was enlisted on July 3,1861, perhaps at Nebraska 15 Evidently a family friend. 752-53. City. Edgar S. Dudley, Roster ofNebraska Volun­ 16 Keen never identifies this soldier by name. teers from 1861 to 1869 (Hastings, Nebr.: Wigton Lt. Col. William D. McCord of Plattsmouth was in immediate command of the First Nebraska at the and Evans, 1888), 98, indicates that Keen was mus­ 17 For a full account of the Battle of Fort battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh. He resigned tered in at Omaha on July 20. Donelson, including reference to the First his commission Apr. 22, 1862. William T. Clarke Nebraska's role, see Benjamin Franklin Cooling, 7 There was some outrage in Nebraska Territory Forts Henry and Donelson: The Key to the Confed­ of Omaha was mustered into the regiment as a when the First Nebraska Infantry was ordered second lieutenant of Company H, and was com­ erate Heartland (Knoxville: University of Tennes­ south. As Keen indicates, the regiment had been missioned first lieutenant on Jan. 9, 1863. Dudley, see Press, 1987). Cooling's article, "The First Ne­ raised with a promise from the War Department 4-5, 90-91. braska Infantry Regiment and the Battle of Fort Roster, that it would remain in the territory for home de­ Donelson,· appeared in Nebraska History 45 (June 25 Lewis Wallace (1827-1905) commanded the fense. The War ofthe Rebellion: Official Records of 1964): 131-46. third division of Grant's army at Fort Donelson and the Union and Confederate Armies (Washington, his generalship was instrumental in the federal vic­ D.C.: GPO, 1880-1901), s. 3, v. 1.,222-23 (hereaf­ 18 This was Battery A of the First lllinois Light Ar­ tory. Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Union, 434-35; ter cited as OR). Many of the soldiers, however, tillery, commanded by Lt. Peter Wood. Capt. Faust, Encyclopedia, 799; Cooling, Forts Henry and probably welcomed the opportunity to fight James Smith had formerly commanded the bat­ Donelson, 177-80. against the Confederacy. tery. Cooling, Forts Henry and Donelson, 177; J. N. Benjamin M. Prentiss (1819-1901) commanded Reece, comp., Report ofthe Adjutant General of 26 This comment may relate to the destruction by troops in Missouri until the spring of 1862. He led the State ofI/Iinois (Springfield, Ill.: 1901),8:597­ fire of government stores at Warsaw, Missouri, in the Sixth Division, Army of the Tennessee, during 98. November 1861, while the town was under the ju­ the first day of battle at Shiloh, Apr. 6, 1862. risdiction of Capt. George F. Kenedy and Company 19 The official reports of division commander Prentiss's division held off repeated Confederate H of the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry. Kenedy Gen. Lew Wallace and brigade commander Col. attacks on its position, known as the "Hornet's reported that the fire "was done and deliberately John M. Thayer are in OR, s.l, v.7, 236-40; 252-53. Nest," giving the Union Army a chance to rebuild planned by the enemy," but admitted having its lines. The division finally surrendered. Stewart 20 John B. Floyd (1806-63) was in overall com­ taken steps to burn the stores anyhow, because Sifakis, Who was Who in the Union (New York: mand of Confederate forces at Fort Donelson. not enough wagons were available to remove Facts on File, 1988),322; Patricia L. Faust, ed., His- When the fall of the fort seemed imminent, Floyd them as he had been ordered to do. Reading be­

167 Nebraska History - Winter 2000

tween the lines, one could conclude that the fire also reports the reversal in the regiment's health. diers at the Battle of Summit Springs in Colorado. may have been set deliberately or accidentally by Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Union, 67; Faust, En­ 36 John Brown was evidently a relative of "Ed" the troops themselves, which would have been cyclopedia, liS. Brown, with whom Keen had lived in Nebraska. cause for Kenedy's appearance before a court­ .7 Union soldiers' attitudes toward Missouri civil­ martial. Kenedy's report of the incident is in OR, 37 These were the Seven Days Battles and others ians and guerrillas are discussed by Michael s.1, v. 8, 376-77. There are no extant Keen letters resulting from Gen. George B. McClellan's Penin­ Fellman, Inside War: The Guerrilla Conflict in Mis­ from the period of November 1861, though h~ al­ sula Campaign against Richmond in the spring souri During the American Civil War (New York: lusion to "the Warsaw affair" in this letter suggests and summer of 1862. Oxford University Press, 1989), esp. 159-63. he may have previously mentioned it to his sister. 38 There is no mention of this incident in the his­ .. Keen is referring to Abraham Lincoln's Eman­ 27 This battle was also known as Shiloh. Pittsburg tory of the Fifty-eighth Ohio, which appears in cipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in the Landing was the steamboat landing on the Ten­ Whitelaw Reid, Ohio in the War, 2 vols. (Cincin­ Confederacy as of Jan. nessee River near the battlefield. nati: Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin, 1868),2:349-51. 1, 1863. Brigade commander Gen. John M. Thayer's report .9 Keen and his comrades missed the Battle of 28 Wallace's division (including the First Ne­ of the Battle of Shiloh indicates that the Fifty­ braska) did not reach the battlefield until after the Cape Girardeau, Apr. 26, 1863, in which the First eighth Ohio and the First Nebraska both ran low first day's fighting had ended. Wallace blamed Nebraska played a role as Union forces turned on ammunition at about the same time and with­ bad roads and contradictory orders from General back a Confederate raid led by Gen. John S. drew from the firing line to replenish their car­ Grant, but his performance at Shiloh clouded his Marmaduke. For a review of this action, see Anne tridge boxes. OR, s. 1, v. 10, pI. 1, 193-95. career and he saw little combat duty thereafter. J. Bailey, "Texans Invade Missouri: The Cape Girardeau Raid, 1863," Missouri Historical Review He is best remembered for his postwar authorship 39 At this time Samuel R. Curtis (1805-66) com­ of the novel, Ben Hur. Sifakis, Who Was Who in the manded the Military District of Missouri in the 84 (January 1990): 166-87. The report of the ac­ Union, 434-35; Faust, Encyclopedia, 799. Wallace's Department of the Mississippi. He is perhaps best tion by Lt. Col. William Baumer of the First Ne­ report of his division's role in the Battle of Shiloh known as the victorious Union commander at the braska is in OR, s. I, v. 22, pt. 1. 267-70. is in OR, s. 1, v. 10, pI. 1, 169-74. His report of the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, Mar. 7-8, 1862. 50 Northern Democrats who advocated a more Battle of Fort Donelson is cited in note 19. Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Union, 99; Faust, conciliatory attitude toward the South (Peace Encyclopedia, 198-99. 29 The Confederates evacuated Yorktown during Democrats) were also called Copperheads be­ the early stages of the Army of the Potomac's Pen­ 4. This reference is to the Second Battle of Bull cause some wore copper pennies as identifying insula Campaign against Richmond. The loss of Run, Aug. 29-30, 1862. Keen served under John badges. Although most Peace Democrats sup­ New Orleans was a more severe blow to the South. Pope in Missouri in the fall of 1861, which mayac­ ported the Union war effort, a minority was avow­ Keen is overly optimistic about the war's duration. countfor his opinion of the general. edly antiwar. Faust, Encyclopedia, 564-65. 3. The July 22, 1861, act of Congress authorizing 41 Dr. Robert R. Livingston (1827-88) of 51 It is not clear to whom Keen is referring here. the raising of volunteers provided that soldiers' let­ Plattsmouth was promoted lieutenant colonel of Perhaps he means slackers among the soldiers, a ters could be transmitted through the mails with­ the First Nebraska on Apr. 22, 1862, and colonel problem that plagued all the Civil War armies. on Oct. 4, 1862. He was promoted bvt. brigadier out prepayment of postage, which was to be col­ 52 John C. Fremont (1913-90), famous for his lected from the recipients. OR, s. 3, v. 1, 383. general in 1865. Surgeon James H. Seymour of western explorations, was the first Republican Omaha died Sept. 5, 1862. Dudley, Roster, 4-5; 3. Keen several times refers to having his photo­ candidate for president in 1856. Fremont's fame J. Sterling Morton and Albert Watkins, eds.lllus­ graph taken, but none is known to survive. and political connections led to his appointment trated History ofNebraska,S vols. (Lincoln: Jacob as commander of the Western Department in July 32 The report by LI. Col. William D. McCord can North Co., 1906),2:384. 1861. Fremont proved inept as a military com­ be found in OR, s. 1, v. 10, pt. 1, 197-98. 42 Keen refers here to the Sept. 17, 1862, Battle manderand Lincoln removed him Nov. 2,1861, "Henry W. Halleck (1815-72) was then com­ of Antietam. after the general had issued an independent mander of the Department of the Mississippi, and emancipation proclamation. Sifakis, Who Was ,.3 This statement confirms that some of the let­ would become commander-in-chief of the army in Who in the Union, 143-44; Faust, Encyclopedia, ters Keen wrote to his sister or parents are not in­ July serving in that capacity until March 291. The captain is William W.lvory. 1862, cluded in the present collection. 1864. Halleck's advance on Corinth was so plod­ 53 Sterling Price (1809-67) commanded the Mis­ ding that the Confederates made a leisurely with­ ... John W. Davidson (1824-81) commanded the souri State Guard during the early part of the war Army of Southeast Missouri, Department of the drawal. Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Union, 172; and later commanded regular Confederate forces. Missouri, from October 1862 until February 23, Faust, Encyclopedia, 332. He was at the Battle of Wilson's Creek and subse­ 1863. After the war he commanded cavalry in the 34 The Confederate stronghold at Island No. 10 quently his troops captured the Union garrison at West, including the Second U.S. Cavalry and was blocked the Mississippi River until it surrendered Lexington. He led a major raid into Missouri from It. col. of the Tenth U.S. Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers). to Union naval and army forces on Apr. 8, 1862. Arkansas in late summer and fall of 1864. Sifakis, Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Union, lOS; Homer K. Memphis surrendered on June after a na­ Who Was Who in the Confederacy, 231-32; Faust, 6, 1862, Davidson, Black Jack Davidson: A Cavalry Com­ val battle in which Union gunboats destroyed a Encyclopedia, 601-3. mander on the Western Frontier (Glendale, Calif.: Rebel fleet. Faust, Encyclopedia, 386, 486. The Arthur H. Clark Co., 1974). 54 Daniel Marsh Frost (1823-1900), a New York 35 This situation was soon to change. By Sep'tem­ native and Mexican War veteran living in St. Louis ·.5 William Plummer Benton (1828-67), com­ ber, correspondents writing to the Nebraska '$¢ws­ when the Civil War began, had been ,dormer mander of the first division, Army of Southeast papers were reporting that many men of the First member of the Missouri Legislature and became a Missouri, October 1862 to March 28, 1863. Sifakis, Nebraska had "the prevailing malaria of this re­ Confederate brigadier general. In he joined Who Was Who in the Union, 30. 1863 gion." G. H. T., Sept. 27, 1862, letter to Nebraska his wife in Canada after she was expelled from SI. Advertiser, published Oct. 18, 1862. Reynal Noyes •• Eugene Asa Carr (1830-1910) commanded a Louis. Frost was dropped from the Confederate in an Oct. 1, 1862, letter noted that ten members division in the Vicksburg campaign and later rolls on Dec. 9, 1863. Sifakis, Who Was Who in the of the regiment had died since they arrived in Hel­ served in Arkansas. In July 1869 he led the Fifth Confederacy, 97; Faust, Encyclopedia, 293-94. ena. Ibid. Keen's Sept. 27, 1862, letter from Helena U.S. Cavalry in defeating the Cheyenne Dog Sol­ Correspondence relating to the expUlsion of

168 Civil War Letters of Thomas Edwin Keen

these civilians from St. Louis is found in OR, s. 2, v. Sgt. William Polock's letter of Jan. 19, 1862, pub­ Pittsburgh at 715 Carson Street, S.S.(South Side, 5,320-21; 515, 537-39, 599-600, and 954. Capt. lished in the Nebraska Advertiser, Feb. 6, 1862, i.e. that portion of the city lying south of the William IVOlY, in a manuscript history of Company shows that Ivory had never been well-liked in the Monongahela and Ohio rivers), indicating that he H, First Nebraska, mentioned that thirty-two men regiment (see note 5). had returned to the same area of town where he of the company formed the military escort for the had lived before the war. 61 Thomas W. Tipton (1817-99) of Brownville banished civilians. The Confederate sympathizers was a lawyer and Congregational minister. He 70 As noted in the introduction, Keen lived with included "Mrs. Gen. Frost, Mrs. Dr. Pallen, Miss served in the territorial legislature and as chaplain Ed Brown and his mother, Silvina, in Otoe County Lucy Hutchison, Dr. Moses, Dan H. Donovan, Mr. of the First Nebraska Regiment for the duration of shortly before the war. Dale, "Otoe County Pio­ Kennett, Hart family, and other well known citi­ the war. In 1867 Tipton, as a Republican, was neers," 1:342; 1860 census of Otoe County. zens." "History of Company H," RG18, Nebraska elected one of Nebraska's first two U.S. senators Military Department, sg I, s. 7, NSHS. 71 A Civil War infantry company at full strength and was reelected to a full term in 1869. He later Mrs. Pallen was probably the wife of Montrose would have eighty-two privates. became a Democrat, running unsuccessfully for A. Pallen, who had been medical director for Gen. governor of Nebraska in 1880. 72 This was Thomas H. Price, who had been dis­ Earl Van Dorn's Confederate Army of West Ten­ charged on Sept. 24, 1863, to accept a commission nessee. Dr. Pallen was in Montreal, Canada, by 62 Fort Davidson was an earthwork being built by as second lieutenant in the Fourth U.S. Colored December 1863, probably with his wife, from the Union troops. President Lincoln had pro­ Regiment. Dudley, Roster, 90-91. where he wrote Union officials about the treat­ claimed Aug. 6 as a day of national Thanksgiving ment of Confederate prisoners of war. OR, s.I, v. for the recent Union victories at Gettysburg and 73 According to Dudley, Roster, 98-99, Keen had 17, pt. 2, 900; s.2, v. 6, 718. Dr. Moses was S. Gratz Vicksburg, and as a time to reflect upon wartime been appointed corporal on Oct. 14, 1862, and re­ Moses, a St. Louis physician who supported the sacrifices. See the proclamation in Nebraska Ad­ duced to the ranks on Mar. 30, 1863, but no reason Confederacy. Howard R. Conard, ed., Encyclope­ vertiser, July 25, 1863. was given for his demotion. dia ofthe History ofMissouri, 6 vols. (New York: 63 Clinton Bowen Fisk (1828-90) commanded 71 The outcome of the "love scrape" is unknown. Louisville, St. Louis: The Southern History Co., the District of Southeastern Missouri. After the war There are no extant letters until Jan. 19, 1864, a pe­ 1901),4:495. he served as the assistant commissioner of the riod during which Keen evidently had an acute at­ 55 Thomas Irving McKenny had been a first lieu­ Freedmens' Bureau and founded Fisk University at tack of rheumatism and was hospitalized. Nashville. Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Union, tenant in the Second Iowa Infantry, and was ap­ 137; 75 As indicated in note 65, Brown did marry Miss pointed additional aide-de-camp on Apr. 17, 1862. Faust, Encyclopedia, 26. Bishop. Keen misattributes and slightly garbles the He later rose to the rank of brigadier general of 6' These are the Colorado gold fields. Keen's "frailty" quote, which is from Shakespeare's Hamlet. volunteers. Frances B. Heitman, Historical Register Aug. 21, 1862,letter noted, "Ed has gone to Pikes (Washing­ 76 The soldier is possibly William P. Wiley, dis­ and Dictionary ofthe United States Army Peak." ton, D.C.: GPO, 1903),672. Captain Adams has not charged from the regiment on Feb. 27, 1864, to ac­ been identified. 65 Brown married Julia E. Bishop, daughter of cept a commission in the Sixty-fifth U.S. Colored Rev. James and Julia (Allen) Bishop, on May 24, Regiment, according to Dudley, Roster, 90-91. 56 Adj. Gen. Lorenzo Thomas (1804-75) did not 1864. The couple had five children and remained Frederick Steele (1819-68) commanded the Sev­ get along with Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in Otoe County until 1906, when they moved to enth Corps, Department of Arkansas, from Jan. 6 and in March 1863 Thomas was assigned to duty Phelps County. Julia Bishop died at Wilcox, Ne­ to Dec. 22, 1864, and led the capture of Little in the West, where he was involved in raising braska, on Apr. 26, 1906. James E. Brown later Rock. Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Union, 388-89; black troops and conducting inspections. Sifakis, lived with a son in Valentine, Nebraska, where he Faust, Encyclopedia, 715. The First Nebraska veter­ Who Was Who in the Union, 411; Faust, Encyclope­ died Apr. 14, 1914. Dale, "Otoe County Pioneers," ans were furloughed on June 10, 1864. 754. dia, 1:247, 342-43. 77 The best source on guerrilla warfare in Mis­ 57 William Vandever (1817-93) commanded a 66 This reference suggests that Lyman Keen had souri is Fellman, Inside War. brigade in the Army of the Tennessee, June and responded when Pennsylvania Governor Andrew July 1863. Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Union, 426. 78 Alfred Sully (\821-79) led campaigns against Curtin called out the militia upon news of the Con­ the Sioux in Dakota Territory in 1863 and 1864. 58 On June 24, Company H was issued forty M. federate invasion of the North, which culminated The latter expedition occupied four months and 1842 Springfield .69 cal. rifle-muskets. Ordnance with the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. The reached the Yellowstone River. Dan L. Thrapp, Invoices, 1863, b. I, s. 2, MS 129, Robert W. term of service was only for the duration of the Encyclopedia ofFrontier Biography, 3 vols. (1988, Livingston Papers, NSHS. The Sibley was a conical emergency. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1991), tent that could accommodate twenty soldiers and 67 The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia un­ 3: 1388-89. The Second Nebraska Volunteer Cav­ a stove. "Dog" or "pup" tents were more com­ der Gen. Robert E. Lee was defeated at Gettysburg alry accompanied the 1863 Sully Expedition. After monly used in the field. on July 3, 1863. The Confederate stronghold at its return to Nebraska in June 1864, The First Ne­ braska Veteran Cavalry guarded the Platte Valley 59 William J. Hardee (1815-73) commanded the Vicksburg, on the Mississippi River, was surren­ overland route until being mustered out in 1866. Upper District of Arkansas, Department No.2, July dered on July 4.

22 to Oct. 1861 and led Confederate troops at 68 The reference to Copperheads may pertain to 79 This was the Mississippi Valley Sanitary Fair, Shiloh and in the 1864 Atlanta campaign. He is the banishment to Confederate territory of Ohio which opened in St. Louis on May 17, 1864. Sani­ perhaps best known for his book of tactics and the Copperhead Clement Vallandigham in May 1863. tary fairs were held in several cities in 1863-64 to Hardee hat, both developed before the war while Faust, Encylopedia, 775. Confederate Gen. John help finance the work of the U.S. Sanitary Commis­ he was in the U.S. Army. Sifakis, Who Was Who in Hunt Morgan's raid into Indiana and Ohio in July sion and its branches located in ten of the largest the Confederacy, 119; Faust, Encylopedia, 338. 1863 resulted in his capture, though he escaped Northern cities. The commission had been orga­ from the Ohio State Penitentiary on Nov. 26. He nized by civilians in 1861 to help care for sick and 60 William W. Ivory enlisted from Nebraska City. wounded soldiers and aid their dependent fami­ He was a Mexican War veteran who had served as was killed at Greenville, TN, Sept. 3 or 4, 1864. lies. The St. Louis fair raised more than half a mil­ register of the U.S. Land Office at Dakota City, N.T. Sifakis, Who Was Who in the Confederacy, 203-04; lion dollars to support the work of the Western and in the office of the surveyor general for Ne­ Faust, Encyclopedia, 510-11. Sanitary Commission. Faust, Encyclopedia, 656-57; braska. Dale, "Otoe County Pioneers," 5:1335-36. 69 According to his pension record, Keen lived in Conard, Encyclopedia ofMissouri, 4:415- I 6.

169