A Perplexing Civil War Soap Opera?

[TerryB]

While trying to figure out who John Myers might have been (there were dozens), I found this. He's not the John Myers I have a CDV of, but this is pretty cool. This is a list of stuff his father uncle took him while in prison at Point Lookout.

 

[TerryB]

Letter from mom, saying Richmond has fallen Lee and his whole army is taken, and you need to take the oath.

 

[TerryB]

Page 2 of letter;

 

[TerryB]

His release order;

 

[Custers Luck]

that was a great find, their hand writing and how they word their letters always amazed me.

 

[lovingcomradetim]

Killer, what a great find! I have to agree with custersluck, I am always awestruck at the penmanship.

 

[TerryB]

His mother writes of just having arrived from Savannah, Ga., after it fell. Apparently, J.K. Myers, who took the carpet bag to him in prison, was his uncle.

 

[TerryB]

Still can't be sure what unit he was with. Probably a Georgia outfit.

 

[lovingcomradetim]

His mother writes of just having arrived from Savanah, Ga., after it fell. Apparently, J.K. Myers, who took the carpet bag to him in prison, was his uncle.

I ask this supposing you are more knowledgeable than myself in this. Would you say from the lengthy and varied list of contents that this was a somewhat wealthy family? It seems rather hefty from a conquered family. Especially one which seems to have been refugeed in a way, but that's a pure guess on my part.

 

[TerryB]

I ask this supposing you are more knowledgeable than myself in this. Would you say from the lengthy and varied list of contents that this was a somewhat wealthy family? It seems rather hefty from a conquered family. Especially one which seems to have been refugeed in a way, but that's a pure guess on my part.

They were probably middle class. Since the mother was, or seems to have been visiting relatives in Northampton, Mass, and trusted her letter to a clergyman from there [her father], it may have been a collection taken up by her relatives there. [edit] A look at census data shows the family had some means as early as 1860.

 

[TerryB]

John's military status remains murky. One record says that a man by that name, a citizen and prisoner, claimed to be in Imboden's Cavalry. John wrote a note in which he signed it, citizen and prisoner. [edit] Not him.

 

[lovingcomradetim]

They were probably middle class. Since the mother was, or seems to have been visiting relatives in Northampton, Mass, and trusted her letter to a clergyman from there, it may have been a collection taken up by her relatives there.

Thank you for the answer, makes good sense. Just checked out your blog, very cool. Would love to inquire sometime about being a postmodern Christian and the Iraq chaplain, I'm scratching my head on that

 

[TerryB]

Thank you for the answer, makes good sense. Just checked out your blog, very cool. Would love to inquire sometime about being a postmodern Christian and the Iraq chaplain, I'm scratching my head on that

The chaplain said an LT in Iraq used a word he didn't want to repeat, saying "Chaplain, I want to know for sure that Jesus will be riding with me in my f-ing Humvee." I don't express myself that way, but I totally get it. Not your standard congregation.

 

[lovingcomradetim]

The chaplain said an LT in Iraq used a word he didn't want to repeat, saying "Chaplain, I want to know for sure that Jesus will be riding with me in my f-ing Humvee." I don't express myself that way, but I totally get it. Not your standard congregation.

That's one way to put it alright!

 

[TerryB]

Here's an expense account that I have no idea what John was being paid to do; [edit] Obviously not him.

 

[TerryB]

Another letter from mom;

 

[TerryB]

And one more;

 

[TerryB]

Since his mother was at Northampton, Mass., now I understand why his release order says he will be taken to Baltimore, where he will be allowed to travel to New York.

 

[reading48]

Good interesting finds,,,,

 

[msimmons]

Thanks for posting.