Title: John McNickle Laird Collection

Date/Date Range :   1863-1864

Extent: 0.1 linear feet

Abstract:

John McNickle Laird, Jr. of the Ohio 124th Infantry Regiment (U.S.) writes to his mother, Julia Laird, from a camp near Knoxville, Tennessee and from Marietta, Georgia.

Call number: MS-2130

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Aquisition Information:

Collection was purchased by Special Collections in March 2004.

Access Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Copyright:

The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of Item], John McNickle Laird Collection, MS-2130. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Collection consists of a single folder.

Serving in the 124th regiment Ohio, Infantry, John M. Laird was present at the following list of duty according to the National Park Service: Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Systems website at http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.htm: Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 28-December 8. Operations in East Tennessee till April, 1864. Operations about Dandridge January 16-17. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton, Ga., May 8-13. Battle of Resaca May 14-16. Adairsville May 17. Near Kingston May 18-19. Near Cassville May 19. Advance on Dallas May 22-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Pickett's Mills May 27. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Ruff's Station July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30.

Marching 130 to 140 miles in ten days is the pace which John Laird's company sustained in order to arrive within two miles of Knoxville, Tennesee by December 8th, 1863. John writes to his mother concerning the war and how the soldiers took chickens, sheep, cattle, flour and more from those who had seceded. In his letter, he refers to these traitors as "Secesh."

From Marietta, Georgia, John Laird tells his mother that the Union has driven the Confederates "to this place" and they have "a very strong position." He does not know if Sherman is going to attack them or try "to flank them out." Laird tells his mother that he has not received any pay in six months. He closes the letter with "I still remain your Soldier Boy."

• Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal Narratives.
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal Narratives.
• Knoxville (Tenn.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
• United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 124th (1861-1864).
• Soldiers -- Ohio -- Correspondence.