Title: Ezra Decker Letter

Date/Date Range :   1865 March 17

Extent: 0.1 linear feet

Abstract:

This collection contains a letter written by Ohio artilleryman Ezra Decker to Job Sweet. Decker was sick when he wrote the letter, which contains rumors about the war coming to an end and speculation as to Confederate troop movements after the impending fall of Richmond.

Call number: MS-2995

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

Aquisition Information:

The University of Tennessee Special Collections Library purchased this letter.

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], Ezra Decker Letter, MS-2995. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

This collection consists of one folder.

Ezra Decker was born in New York in September of 1823. He married Johanna (last name unknown) in about 1843, and the couple had three children: Marcus, Esther, and Clark. When the Civil War broke out, Decker enlisted in Company B of the First Ohio Heavy Artillery Regiment as a Private. He served until May 30, 1865 when he mustered out with the rest of the unit in Cleveland. Decker and his wife later moved to Gratiot County, Michigan. He most likely died there in or about 1904, as his pension was paid to his widow after that year.

This collection houses a letter written by Ohio artilleryman Ezra Decker to Job Sweet. Decker was sick when he wrote the letter, which contains rumors about the war coming to an end and speculation as to Confederate troop movements after the impending fall of Richmond. Decker believes that Robert E. Lee and the remainder of the Confederate Army will raid Knoxville, Tennessee, where his unit was stationed at the time.

• Soldiers -- Ohio -- Correspondence.
• Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Richmond (Va.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
• Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870.