Civil War Letters

John Boyd senior went to the Civil War as an old man.  Why?  His son, Robert Cabeen Boyd, had joined his brothers Horatio, George and John in signing up to serve in the Union Army.  

Upon arriving home to tell his parents what he had done, he was told that he would not be going to war.  He would be staying home to take care of the farm and his family.  

His father, John Boyd senior, aged 61, went and checked in in his son's place.  

We have a number of letters that father John wrote home to his family over the time he served in the military.  There are time "gaps" in these letters.  It makes me wonder if others in the Boyd clan might have additional letters to add to this story??  If you read this and do have some of these precious letters, please let me know and we'll add them to the blog so that this part of our family history can be shared and not lost to time. 

Current known letters:

February 24, 1863 - Lexington area
March 1, 1863 - Lexington, Camp Ella Bishop
May 25, 1864 - Kingston ? County Georgia
November 6, 1864 - Atlanta
March 18, 1865 - Susan Yardley Boyd dies while her husband is away
April 1865 - Furlough Affidavit
May 2, 1865 - Washington, DC
May 3, 1865 - On Board Gov't Boat - Fortress Monroe
May 3, 1865 - Pass
May 18, 1865 - Greensboro, North Carolina
May 29, 1865 - Greensboro

 

March 1, 1863 - Lexington, Camp Ella Bishop

 

May 25, 1864  Kingston, Georgia

 

November 6, 1864 - Atlanta, Georgia

Furlough Affidavit - April 1865

May 2, 1865 - U.S. Sanitary Commission

 May 3, 1865 - On Board Gov't Boat - Fortress Monroe

Pass

May 18, 1865 - Greensboro, North Carolina

May 29, 1865 - Greensboro

 

Boyd Cousins

We had the pleasure of meeting some new (to us) Boyd cousins this past weekend.  It was great to get to meet descendants of Edith (Boyd) and Otto Johannes.  Lots to learn and share with each other.  

Bob brought some interesting Boyd history documents to share.   Here's a great letter written by R.C. Boyd giving a little about his life after the birth of their first child, John Thomas Boyd.  He refers to "RYE" who I believe is his wife, Maria Briggs Boyd.  The letter also refers to a George Briggs who is Maria's older brother.  They are living at Van Meter, IA at the time of his writing.  The letter is sent to RC Boyd's sister Susan Yardley Atwater in Cambridge, Illinois.

Van Meter, IA 6   1879

 My Dear Sister
Your kind letter was received a few days ago but this is the first chance I have had to answer it since I got it.  we are well a present that is the Boy & My Self  Rye is not feeling very well has not done any thing for a month  I mean any work!  Last week our Girl left us She stayed eight weeks then thought she must leave.  Rye was not able to do her work so we came up to George Briggs & Rye is staying here I am out of a job in Van Meter.  As my time was out

here last Wednesday I commenced on another job at Desoto the next morning at Thirteen dollars a week.  He is running two shops one in Desoto and one in Winterset.  He gave me my choice in the two places & I take Winterset.  It is about seventeen miles from here & is as lively a place as there is in the west.  We will not move until after Election.  I think Rye will be in traveling order by that time.  I will have to go over to Winterset tomorrow.  I sold my house here at just what it cost So I saved the rent but had to sell my ? Will get him for A ? My cow pigs & calves for eighty dollars.  They cost me fifty dollars.  They got me this far & I had to stop & get supplies as Mrs. Briggs was away with a sick woman went last night at eleven & it is almost that time now.  Twenty four hours she is having a fearful time there has been three other nurses there & a Doctor all the time.   I got up a husky supper & then washed up the dishes like a little man.  I had a letter from H the other day he said they had bought a school house to put on my land it cost 340 They bought it for 110 George will live in it this winter You said in your last you did not think you would come out this fall  I wish you would it will be quite a disappointment to us not to have you come Do you want me to pay you anything on that note

this fall if you do I will pay it but if you are not neading it I would like to keep it  I got my house paid for a little over 200.00 I saved that much out of my wages I think that is doing very well But would not do so well if it was not for Rye
You wanted to know what we called the boy & if he ? his Father Mother & Aunt ?  He looks very much like ? & we call him John Thomas after his two Grandfathers.
But I must close Hoping to hear from you soon I am as ever your affectionate Bro RC Boyd Rye sends her love to all excuse these hurried lines Bob
Write soon