American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Ludovico (Ludovicus) Bowles (1838-1865) enlisted in August 1862 at Dearborn, Michigan in Co. D, 24th MI Vol. Infy. 

This lot consists of five of Bowles' letters, three to his sister, Henrietta, and two to his father. 

Oct. 19, ’62 Baltimore – to sister Henrietta. 

“I received the house wife you sent by mail & was glad to get it is the very thing I want. I tel you I have used it to an advantage sewing on buttons mendin pants & many other things….[Y]ou see the old troops that are in this my brigade have inlisted over (likely a 100-day unit becoming a 3-year unit). [T]hey are going home on a sort of ferloow & we are going home to recruit. I wont re crute when I get home & I think that is so about our coming home….”

Nov. 28th 1862 – to sister (with a cover for Henrietta)

“[W]e are done marching at present. [W]e are garding the railroad. [S]ome think we will stay here this winter. [I] hope so but I am frade it wont las long. [W]e are 40 miles from Washington. [T]he cars are going al the time. [I]t looks like home to see the cars  [T]hey will bring us plenty to eat. [T]hat is what we want. [W]e hant had much to eat for some time but now we wil have plenty…. [W]e don’t here of any battles or any thing else. [W]e don’t here of nay news here nothing only what we see and here. [S]ometimes we get a paper.”

Dec. 4, ’63 Patterson Park, Baltimore to sister Henrietta  [parts of letter missing]

“When I get out of the army if a man speakes to me about enlisting I will pick him full of holes although I am not sory that I am in the army but I think they mite let a fellow come home when he can just as well as not… [T]here is no knowing when I shal return but my time is most half out. [T]hat will soon slip.”

Feb. 1, 1864 Camp Distruction – to Father

“I reached here safe & sound….I took a little cold coming back. I came here on Friday some what tired, [S]at. I had to work on the fort in the rain. There I took more sold. {I]t settled al over me. I am so stif that I can hardly walk, but I think I shal have to be more careful.”

Oct. 11, ’64 Head Qrts 1st Brigade - To Father 

“We now begin to see hard times – rain, cold nights & some fighting. [O]ur men advanced the line the other day & the rebs drove them back. But our men drove them back & hold the lies & but its rather hot work. I wished the thing was settled. I think there will be some hard fighting before election. I think the rebs are holding out to see how things are going to turn. I hope that Lincoln will be our next president.”

“…I don’t like it where I am. I am in the rufest company that you ever heard tell of. …]T]hey are the wurst set of fellows that I ever saw. Drunken, swearing, thieving, loafing low lives set of devils…[I]t wont be long before I shal be free then let a man talk to be about enlisting. I will knock him.”

Bowles was wounded at Chancellorsville (or Fredericksburg) in May 1863 and returned to the field July 3. He died April 11, 1865 of disease, two days after Lee's surrender in Springfield, IL.