When I was a boy I found an old rag that was rapped around a bunch of letters. Mom said they were from the Civil War and she put them away. Many years passed, I had a family of my own and for some reason the thought of those letters came to mind. Mom was getting old and I asked about those letters. She dug them out and gave them to me. I was born in Southern Illinois (Effingham), my parents are from Illinois but our relationship to the person who wrote the letters is still a mystery to me. I am a veteran (Viet Nam 66-67, USMC) and the thought of reading a first hand account of the Civil War peaked my interest. One day I returned from work and broke the letters out. I sat in a room by myself and started to read. It was tough at first, words like "fit" ment "fight", "rit" ment "write" and so on. Slow at first, it became easier through time. I was hooked, almost obsessed, every day after work I would go to my room and read (away from the wife and kids). The soldiers name was John Thompson who went to Springfield in 1861 along with his brother Joseph, to enlist in the Union Army. They were in the 38th Illinois Volunteers. He talked about their movements, their battles, how it couldn't last long and how he would be home for spring planting. He mentioned about seeing piles of arms and legs that had been cut off by the surgeons, seeing 1000's, tens of thousands of bodies after the battles. Having his Nap Sack shot off as they had to retreat across an open field, or the grape and cannister rounds exploding overhead. Standing picket guard within sight of the rebel forces. The long marches from one state to another. In between, there were letters to his wife, and how much he missed her. He talked of his memory of her in her gingham dress. Of his horse and colt, all along telling her that this can't last much longer and he would be home soon. In November, 1863 came the letter from his brother Joseph telling his dad they John had been killed at the battle of Chickamauga. I got to tell ya, here I sat, by myself with tears running down my face. I have seen my share and am not easily moved, this hit me hard ! There were a few more letters, one from his Captain confirming that John had been killed. Joseph was wounded and sent to a St. Louis hospital. There are a total of 54 letters in all and are one of my most prised possessions. I take them out from time to time, the thought they were penned by a man who lived 147 years ago and died serving his country touches me. I rewrote them and have the originals put away in acid free sleeves. Hopefully to pass them down to my kid. I have loaned out the ones I transcribed and the reaction is always the same, "Amazing".....