American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Hawkins was a native of Benton County, in west central Indiana. He frequently mentions towns(hips?) of Gilboa and Pine. The letters are addressed to Cinderilla Owens, Carpenter’s Creek, Jasper City, Indiana. 7 Sept 1862-25 August 1864. 

The first letter is dated Sept. 7, 1863 from Nashville, Tennessee. One can pretty much follow the unit’s movements from his letters. He tells Cinda (as he calls her) that people are awaiting the “…return of there[sic] friends and brothers, which I hope will not e long, but I am fearful will be much longer than the people think … at the present time.” One of the early realists. Most of the next letter, Nov. 21, 1862 (Heartsville, TN) is personal.

Jan. 10, ‘63, Gallitin, Tenn. “Our Regt. Has been in a scouting expedition up in Ky. For the past two weeks after that notorious Morgan.” He never says if they got close. Jan. 31, ’63, Camp on the Stewards Creek, Tenn. “We are now encamped about 10 miles west of Murfreesboro…at present the main portion of the army is at and be[y]ond Murfreesboro about three miles. I am not military enough to know what is Gen. Rosecranse [sic] plan at present The [He] is building very strong fortifycations [sic] at Murfreesboro and vicinity he is working from 4 to 6 thousand men daily in the entrenchments what his intentions are I am unable to say. It may be possible that he is expecting an attact ]sic] and is preparing to make a heavy resistance. Which he understandably will do as he is a fighting man… Just the man that is wanted in this part of rebeldom. If we had two or three such men in the eastern department I think this war would soon be brought to a close. But the way they are carrying on in Va., I think it will be likely to last from time to eternity unless there is a change soon.” About this time Rosecrans formed the Pioneer Corps and Hawkins was selected from his unit. He tells Cinda to write to him at the 1st Battalion Co. H, Pioneer Corps.

Mar. 1, 1863 (Stewart Creek) letter is mostly personal. Mar. 30 (Murfreesboro) he writes “We are making preparations here for a heavy battle in case the rebs evacuate Vixburg [sic] and mass there [sic] forces against Roscranse [sic].” April 25 (Murfreesboro) is mostly personal. In the letter of May 31 (Murfreesboro) he mentions in passing that Grant is still at Vicksburg. June 15, ’63 (Murfreesboro) is also personal. July 16 finds them at Elk River, Tennessee, “50 miles south of Murfreesboro on the Chattanooga & Nashville R.R.” Aug. 2 they are still at Elk River and Aug. 30 they move to Shellmound, Tenn.

Oct. 1, 1863 they are back at Chattanooga and have been engaged in “one of the most terrific battles” of the war. There were over 200 killed and wounded. His company lost 24 killed and wounded. He gives her names of the dead that she would recognize. He also mentions the death of their Colonel (Carroll) and wounding of several other officers. This is most likely a reference to Chickamauga, fought Sept. 18 – 20, 1863. This became the battle that would effectively end Rosecrans’ career as a field general.

Nov. 20, 1863, Chattanooga. “The army is in good condition here at present and are making preparations to make a move in a short time. Gen. Sherman’s advance has already arrived. And you may expect to hear of something taking place here of a serious nature before many days….”

Dec. 20, ’63. Chattanooga. Mostly personal but one work he consistently misspelled in the early letters has been corrected. “Dicsey” is now “dixie”!

The letters of Jan. 25, Feb. 20, Mar. 18, April 15 and May 29, 1864 were all written from Chattanooga. By the last, the army is pushing to Atlanta. June 24 they are at Lookout Valley, Georgia, and back to Chattanooga by July 24. August 25 they moved to Marietta, Georgia and he tells Cinda that he thinks they will be mustering out by the end of next month. They are back in Indianapolis by mid-September to muster out on the 19th.