CIVIL WAR LETTER - 105th Illinois Infantry - Atlanta & Macon Railroad "Cut" !

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
CIVIL WAR SOLDIER LETTER - 105th Illinois Infantry
John Thomas Becker (1838-1917) was a young teenager when his father, Richard Becker (1813-1881) moved his family from New York State to the undulating Illinois prairie in 1852, settling in South Grove township, DeKalb county. Here, near Owen’s Creek and not far from the town of Franklin, John grew up working the land, raising wheat and livestock, hoping one day for a farm of his own. The family’s means were meagre and John’s opportunity for education severely limited in this rural farm community where most children attended school only when they weren’t needed in the fields. We learn from John’s letters, however, that he gained sufficient knowledge in the “three R’s” to teach younger children part-time for at least three years prior to 1861 but he readily acknowledged his own limitations.
A CDV of John Thomas Becker (1838-1917) taken after his discharge from the 105th Illinois Infantry
Sometime in the late 1850’s, John had an occasion to meet a young green-eyed, red-headed teen named Eleanor Belt (1840-1932) of Sylvester, Green county, Wisconsin. Eleanor—or “Ellen” as he called her—was living with her Aunt Amelia Wood in nearby Hicks Mills, Franklin Township, DeKalb county, Illinois. Perhaps she was teaching school there when they met. In any event, they became fast friends and developed an understanding between them that set them apart from other acquaintances. It seems clear they considered marriage before the Civil War erupted but Ellen thought it best they wait until the war was over. It would not last much longer, she contended, and she didn’t want to risk being a “war widow.”
CDV of Eleanor Belt (1840-1932) taken by Wm. H. Owen who opened a studio in Evansville, Wisconsin in 1866. Eleanor married Sgt. John T. Becker on 24 August 1865 just weeks after he was discharged from the 105th Illinois Infantry.
And so John enlisted in
Co. G, 105th Illinois Infantry
in August 1862 after the failed Peninsula Campaign convinced the North the rebellion could not be suppressed without a surge of troops. John was 24 years old when he enlisted, his induction record stating that he stood 5′ 10″ tall with black hair and black eyes. When he left home to join his regiment at Dixon, Illinois, John and Ellen pledged to write each other faithfully and, for the most part, John lived up to his end of the bargain.
John survived the war though he did not escape unscathed. He took a bullet in the arm at the Battle of Taylor’s Hole Creek in March 1865 and then contracted painful erysipelas in the military hospital at Fort Schuyler in New York before his discharge in July 1865. He then returned home to Illinois, married (24 August 1865) his beloved Ellen, and enjoyed a life in farming.
NOTE - The images shown in this description do not come with the letter.
A Ruby Ambrotype of John Beck and Eleanor Belt which is presumed to be their “wedding photograph.” The couple standing behind them may have been their older siblings who stood up with them at the wedding?
Transcription
Near Atlanta, [Georgia]
August 23rd 1864
Dear Nellie,
Why don’t you write? Are you sick? or do you suppose Becker dead? If the latter is the reason, then I am happy to inform you that he still lives & is waiting anxiously yet hopelessly for a letter. It has not come, nevertheless I will not wait for it any longer but will proceed to fulfill my part of the contract and wait till next mail before I give up you up. It really seems to me sometimes as though I had no friends & if they are not more prompt in future in writing to me, I will erase their names of my list though yours in that line, I will be apt to tarry on some time yet as it is on the last page though the first in my heart. But enough of this. I have a little time to write before dark so I will tell you all the news I know.
Byron Patten was wounded in the shoulder last Wednesday—not dangerous. William Foss (the boy that cut wood for Charles that winter) was shot through the head and killed instantly [on the 16th], so you see our numbers are steadily decreasing. We only have fourteen privates for duty in our company & the whole regiment is reduced in the same proportion. What a contrast there is when we get in line or to when we were at Dixon. There we had nine hundred and fifty-five men. Now our regiment would not make over two whole companies. But such is war!
Atlanta is not yet taken but we have the Atlanta and Macon Railroad cut and if we can hold it, we will soon force them to evacuate as that is their only source for supplies. I think when we get into Atlanta this campaign will end for awhile though am not certain. Our forces have bombarded the town until they have nearly ruined it.
I have not seen nor heard from your brother yet. He in on the right and it is so far there I can’t go to see him. If you hear from him, let me know. Has our folks written to you yet? If not, I guess I shall have to make a bargain for you—that is, if you intend to teach for I should like it much to have you teach there if you teach at all. Well, I declare, it is getting so dark I can’t possibly see the lines so goodnight till morning.
Good morning Nellie. How do you do this fine morning? I was up before the sun. I had some hard tack and tea for breakfast & have sat down to finish this letter. [remainder of letter hard to read due to faded ink]
TERMS
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