American Historical Ephemera & Photography

30 letters, many with original covers, written by Captain Lafayette Twitchell to his wife Harriet Angeline "Angie" Steele (1836-1915) during his three month enlistment. The 136th IL was among scores of regiments that were raised in the summer of 1864 as Hundred Days Men to augment existing manpower during a push to end the war within 100 days.

Twitchell's letters are well-written and detail the troop movements as well as his duties as a captain of the regiment. He frequently writes from Columbus, KY, describing fears of impending attack, as on 23 June 1864: "We have frequent alarms here in consequence of the anticipated approach of Forrest. Our pickets fire more or less every night causing us to get out in line of battle on double quick. There was a guerilla killed yesterday by the picket." He notes as well other happenings near Columbus such as tensions with secessionist civilians. He writes on August 8: "We have had a good deal excitement hear among the citizens of this place in consequence of the arrest of a number of them by orders of General Pane [Paine]. Some 10 or 12 of the most wealthy of the citizens 'some of them merchants' were arrested, & their property confiscated and fined from 800 to 1100 dollars and ordered to go south of the lines or to Canada." As the regiment moved to Missouri, Twitchell describes anticipation of Confederate General Sterling Price's movements. On 5 October he writes from Fort No.7 at  St. Louis: "The prospect at present is that we will remain hear [sic] until Price is driven back or changes his threatening demonstration on this place. The citizens of this place have ben a goodeal alarmed for the safety of their city. Rosey [Rosencrans] has had the stores & shops closed a portion of the day in order that the citizens may Drill and live the duty of soldiers. They are getting pretty well driled and if they should be attacked the city would turn out a very good army." 

HDS indicated that LaFayette Twitchell of Elizabethtown, Illinois, enlisted as a captain on 5/20/1864 and commissioned into Co. I, IL 136th Infantry for a three months enlistment. The Union Army Vol. 3 indicates that shortly after muster the regiment received marching orders and was sent by rail to Cairo, Ill., and there placed on a boat, with Fort Pillow as its probable destination. When it arrived at Columbus, Ky., word was received that Gen. Forrest was making a feint on Fort Pillow but would attack Columbus and the regiment was consequently landed there, where it remained doing garrison duty during the months of June, July, August and September. While at Columbus, the regiment marched towards Mayfield, Kentucky, in anticipation of an attack by General Forrest at Paducah, KY, but the attack never materialized. Prior to mustering out, the 136th was diverted to Missouri to reinforce troops there against General Sterling Price's raids. Twitchell was mustered out on 10/22/1864.