Alonzo Frink Letters

Finding Aid for the Alonzo Frink Letters, 1863-1864

MS-2212

University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Encoded by: Erin Lawrimore, May 10, 2006

Summary Information

Title: Alonzo Frink Letters

Date/Date Range : 1863-1864

Extent: 0.1 linear feet

Abstract:
In twenty letters between 1863 and 1864, Alonzo Frink, a Union soldier with the 32nd Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company B, describes camp life and news of military successes in the Civil War to his wife Emily in Mason City, Iowa. The letters from early 1863 were written from Fort Pillow in Lauderdale County, Tenn., while those from the second half of the year were from Columbus, Ky.

Call number: MS-2212

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

Access and Use

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], Alonzo Frink Letters, MS-2212. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Arrangement

Collection consists of a single folder.

Biography / History

Born in New York, Alonzo Frink lived with his wife Emily in Mason City, Iowa. On August 21, 1862, Alonzo Frink enlisted in the 32nd Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company B as a 4th Corporal. After serving briefly in New Madrid, Mo., Frink's company was relocated to Fort Pillow, Tenn., in late December 1862. After serving six months at Fort Pillow, Frink was reassigned to Columbus, Ky., in June 1863. From January through March of 1864, Company B was relocated to Vicksburg, Miss. Company B then participated in the Red River campaign as a part of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Army Corps, under the command of General A.J. Smith. Frink was wounded and captured at Pleasant Hill, La., on April 9, 1864. On July 15, 1865, he was mustered out of military service in Montgomery, Ala.

Collection Scope and Content Note

The Alonzo Frink Letters, 1863-1864, were written by Frink, a Union soldier with the 32nd Iowa in the Civil War, to his wife Emily in Mason City, Iowa. In these twenty letters, Frink describes camp life in detail, passing on tales of army successes and noting the arrival and stories of Confederate deserters and former slaves. Much of the rumors passed on by Frink concern Grant's actions in Vicksburg. He also reports on the celebration in camp following the receipt of the official dispatch of the surrender of Vicksburg.

Nine of the twenty letters, dated in early 1863, were written from Fort Pillow in Lauderdale County, Tenn. Another five letters were written from Columbus, Ky., during the latter months of 1863.

Subject Terms

Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.

Kentucky -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.

United States. Army. Iowa Volunteer Infantry, 32nd (1862-1865).

Fort Pillow (Tenn.) -- History.

Contents List

Folder 1	Item 1	Letter from Frink at Fort Pillow to his wife Emily, 1863 February 8 Scope Note: Discusses the capture of "Cushman," the leader of a guerilla band in the country. Also talks of the treatment of blacks and gives his opinion of emancipation.
Folder 1	Item 2	Letter from Frink at Fort Pillow to his wife Emily, 1863 February 20 Scope Note: Talks of deserters coming into camp. Also discusses food, including a pie he bought in town.
Folder 1	Item 3	Letter from Frink at Fort Pillow to his wife Emily, 1863 February 21 Scope Note: Tells of newspaper reports of deserters "coming into Rosecrans' army by the hundreds" and notes the arrival of deserters from Bragg's army at his camp.
Folder 1	Item 4	Letter from Frink at Fort Pillow to his wife Emily, 1863 February 26 Scope Note: Talks about his camp's location and the weather. Also describes camp life, including beds, tents, and food.
Folder 1	Item 5	Letter from Frink at Fort Pillow to his wife Emily, 1863 March 1 Scope Note: Reports news about the Queen of the West, a ram boat attacked near Vicksburg, saying that some of the soldiers on board may have been traitors. Also talks about confiscating molasses and other goods.
Folder 1	Item 6	Letter from Frink at Fort Pillow to his wife Emily, 1863 April 19 Scope Note: Describes excitement in camp caused by a report of the fall of Vicksburg. Also talks about a former slave who he would like to work for him at home.
Folder 1	Item 2	Letter from Frink at Fort Pillow to his wife Emily, 1863 May 8 Scope Note: Talks about newspaper reports of Grant in Vicksburg.
Folder 1	Item 8	Letter from Frink at Fort Pillow to his wife Emily, 1863 May 24 Scope Note: Includes more news of Grant in Vicksburg. Tells his wife that he is proud of the work she had done while he is gone, but he feels guilty about leaving her alone. Notes that he has given up the bass drum and is now in charge of the "tennor [sic] drum."
Folder 1	Item 9	Letter from Frink at Fort Pillow to his wife Emily, 1863 June 6 Scope Note: Tells of rumors of a sunken boat nearby that may have carried whiskey. Also tells of a soldier's accidental drowning.
Folder 1	Item 10	Letter from Frink at Columbus, Ky., to his wife Emily, 1863 July 8 Scope Note: Talks of the surrender of Vicksburg. Also notes the resignation of "Old Stansberry," their commander.
Folder 1	Item 11	Letter from Frink at Columbus, Ky., to his wife Emily, 1863 July 19 Scope Note: Describes rumors that the Union has taken Charleston. Discusses the importance of Charleston. Asks about people at home.
Folder 1	Item 12	Letter from Frink at Columbus, Ky., to his wife Emily, 1863 July 20 Scope Note: Tells of gifts he has sent home and things he has bought for himself.
Folder 1	Item 13	Letter from Frink at Columbus, Ky., to his wife Emily, 1863 September 4 Scope Note: Talks about the hanging of three Negroes who were charged with killing a white family. Discusses the crowd, saying "people turned out as though they thought such things were a pleasant sight." Also asks about the grain harvest at home.
Folder 1	Item 14	Letter from Frink at Columbus, Ky., to his wife Emily, 1863 September 19 Scope Note: Talks about news from home. Also says that he does not know when he will be able to return home, saying "the way may close up very sudden and it may linger a long time. Our government might finish it up in 3 months if they had a mind to, but the question is will they do it."
Folder 1	Item 15	Letter from Frink at Vicksburg, Miss., to his wife Emily, 1864 January 19 Scope Note: Describes his trip from Columbus to VIcksburg, including all of the destruction of land and buildings in the area. Says Vicksburg "is a large city, with more natural advantages for fortifying than any other place in America." Also notes that black soldiers have been performing most of the guard duty in town.
Folder 1	Item 16	Letter from Frink at [Farencam?] to his wife Emily, 1864 May 10 Scope Note: Talks about the importance of taking the Mississippi River. Also tells of capturing a plantation owner and his slaves, making the plantation owner swear the Oath of Allegiancve, and freeing the slaves. Describes how he has earned extra money by selling beer, saying "if I had any thing to make it in I could make more selling beer than I could soldiering."
Folder 1	Item 17	Letter from Frink at [Louisiana?] to his wife Emily, 1864 May 19 Scope Note: Discusses "brushes with the Rebels" during their trip from Alexandria. Notes that he does not "know the name of the place. Some French name."
Folder 1	Item 18	Letter from Frink [no place] to his wife Emily, undated Scope Note: Talks of Confederate deserters and rumors of where the company will go next. Also describes the women in town, saying that "they got themselves up in Stile [sic]."
Folder 1	Item 19	Letter from Frink [no place] to his wife Emily, undated Scope Note: Notes the discovery of an "abundance of walnutes and butternuts" by some of the men in the company. Also describes the growth of Columbus as "heaps of business down their [sic] now and ... built up at all the River."
Folder 1	Item 20	Letter from Frink [no place] to his wife Emily, undated Scope Note: Describes the arrival of the official dispatch of the taking of Vicksburg and the ensuing celebration in camp.