Title: Emmanuel Cave Letter

Date/Date Range :   1862 June 19

Extent: 0.1 linear feet

Abstract:

Collection consists of a letter dated June 19, 1862, from Emmanuel Cave of the 69th Ohio Infantry to his wife Susan. Cave writes of the eight-day march that his regiment just completed.

Call number: MS-2158

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], Emmanuel Cave Letter, MS-2158. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Collection consists of a single letter.

Emanuel Cave was born in August of 1839 in Ohio. In 1861, he married a woman named Susan, and they eventually had two children. Shortly after his marriage, he enlisted in the Union army. He served as a private in Company H of the 69th Ohio Infantry Regiment between 1861 and 1865. This regiment saw extensive action in Tennessee and Georgia, including the Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign and the Atlanta Campaign. After the war, Emanuel Cave returned to his family in Ohio. He died in Circleville (Pickaway County), Ohio on May 15, 1916.

Emanuel writes of the march that his regiment, the 69th Ohio Infantry, just completed along with the 74th Ohio, 3rd Minnesota and 11th Michigan Regiments: "about 400 cavalry. And two batteries of Artillery, all under the command of Brig-Gen Dumont." The expedition was hurried into an eight-day march with only five days of rations. Missing his dear wife, Emanuel hopes that she will write to him soon. Sometimes he feels "despondent" and tries "to keep a brave heart, however, and look forward to the end of this war (which I believe is nearly approaching) with feelings of joy- -and joy because this unnatural, and bloody war of brother against brother, countryman against countryman will cease, and cease forever."

• Soldiers -- Ohio -- Correspondence.
• Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal Narratives.
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal Narratives.
• United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 69th (1861-1864).