19 January 1862, Kentucky, War Between the States

Letter from Tod Carter, 20th Tennessee Infantry

Camp Beech Grove
January 9, 1862

Dear Dick:

   Without the weakness of expecting a reply, I intend writing to you, and for no other purpose in the world but to kill time. I have just eaten a hearty supper, the second one tonight, and can’t sleep for some time yet. I am in Cliff’s tent. Our Regiment has not finished their winter quarters yet, and if there is not a material change in line of policy they will not until spring sets in, for they are sent out on every little expedition that is made. We have had some bitter cold weather for the last two weeks, interlarded with rain, sleet, snow, and hail, and with freezing wind howling through the ragged cloths. You may imagine that we are at times not as comfortable as we would like to be. We are encamped in the bend of the Cumberland and the ground is a perfect marsh . . .the muddiest hole I ever saw. The enemy, about 8,000 strong, are encamped near Somerset, fifteen miles distant. Our pickets fight every day but have had no general engagement. The enemy marched out in force to attack us about ten days ago. Gen. Zollicoffer had a council of war last night but have not learned what policy was adopted. Lt. McNairy of our Regiment stole out of camp yesterday and went to a little town called Harris and captured the U.S. Mail. Gen. Zollicoffer had a huge time reading letters, two-thirds of which were devoted to him. I suppose you have heard of Alec Vaughn’s death. The cowards that murdered him will be hung, court martialed at the Gap. Gen. George Crittenden has been drunk nearly all the time. He dresses and looks like a dashing French roue and had impressed the entire army with the belief that he is trifling and worthless. He appears in public but little, and exercises but little authority. He has a guard around his quarters and guard over his horses. You will imagine that he will not take like Zollicoffer to the boys. I have five more Yankees but hope that I will not be required to take them to Nashville, for my last trip wore me out completely.

If I keep my health and am not ordered down the river, I will not come home any more until the expiration of my term of service, and will then re-enlist if the War continues. My prisoners say an impression prevails among officers and privates of the Northern Army that the War will continue but little longer. Whether this impression is based upon the expectation of whipping the South into submission or not I cannot say. Nearly all the Brigade are willing to enlist again at the close of the year and I doubt very much whether the present organization is disturbed. If an appeal is made to that effect I have not doubt of its success. I am going in for thirty years, or the war, when my term expires.

Dick, I am building me a shanty on the south side of the river. A Provost Marshal needs quarters. When I finish my house you must come up and spend several weeks with me. You can easily come up the river in a few weeks, with but little fatigue and expense. Phil will come with you, I wrote him to resign. If he does not receive my letter, tell him that Cliffe says he ought to do so. He could not live here a month with such weather as we have had for several days. Present my best wishes to Miss Fanny Park and tell her not to accept Phil until I come, for she will certainly have a chance with me. I brought with me many memories of her, fragrant as spring blossoms with perennial freshness.

If you should be stricken with the miraculous idea of replying to this, do so before the first of June, for perhaps I shall not be here then. Direct your reply in care of Gen. Zollicoffer, Mill Springs, Kentucky, via Knoxville. I will write Phil tomorrow.

Present my compliments to Mr. Cummings and Mr. Marshall.

Yours,

The. Carter.

NOTES:

Theodrick "Tod" Carter enlisted in his brother Moscow Carter's Co. H, 20th Tennessee Infantry, and was promoted to Captain in the Provost Marshall office of the Quartermaster Department.  At the time this letter was written, he was responsible for enemy prisoners of war.  During the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, 30 November 1864, Tod Carter was mortally wounded in front of his own father's house, and died in his own home.

Dr. Dan Cliffe was Regimental Surgeon of the 20th Tennessee.
Lt. Duval McNairy served for a time in Co. C, 20th Tennessee, before transferring to the cavalry.
Lt. Alexander H. Vaughn, Co. H, 11th Tennessee Infantry, was shot and killed in early 1862, near Cumberland Gap, by drunken and insubordinate soldiers of Lt.Col. Brazleton's 3rd Tennessee Cavalry Battalion (Lindsley, Military Annals of Tennessee, p. 305).
Phil Eelbeck was Tod’s first cousin, and was 3rd Lt. in Co. H, 20th Tennessee Infantry.  He resigned his commission in late 1861.
Miss Fanny Park was the daughter of Dr. John Park.  In 1866 she married Dr. James Duvall Wallis.
Mr. Cummings was a tailor in Franklin, TN.
It is thought Mr. Marshall was Mr. John Marshall.

Source: Captain Tod Carter – Confederate States Army by Rosalie Carter, (pp, 1978).
Copy provided courtesy Kevin Mason.