These are letters that Adam Bentz (1842-1886), a Union Civil
War Soldier from Meigs County, Ohio, wrote or received in the Civil War era. Reading them in succession from 1 to 18 gives
an interesting story. William W. Bentz
(1913-2001), Adam’s great nephew and my Dad, found these letters in the family Bible of Adam’s
parents, Michael (1815-1864) and Mary Harpold (1823-1912) Bentz. Emma Bentz Hayman (1854-1934) and Matilda
Bentz (1857-1944), Adam’s sisters, lived together in Syracuse, Ohio and had
custody of the Bible for many years.
Eleventh Letter July 24, 1864
Camp at Winchester July 24, 1864
Dear Sister
This is
the first chance I have had to make a scratch with a Pen since I left Home. I
met our Regt at Martinsburg Va, the Regt was just ready to march and to head off
these Rebels that were into Maryland but our Brigade was a little too late but
the 2d Brigade had a pretty good fight
with them at Snickers Ferry, they took 4 Pieces on Cannon & about 200
Prisoners but now we have been missing them ever since we started after them I
thought we would have a fight with them yesterday but we had good luck &
didn’t have any fight at all I guess we will have a little rest when the Rebels
get out of this part of the Country. I
think we shall either go to Harpers Ferry or to Mankinsburgh to rest. This is a right pretty Place it is a wealthy
one. There are a great many union People
in it. Em I want you to send me them
Post Stamps that I forgot to take from Home; & tell Ana that I cannot find
John & I forgot that mans name in the 23d she told me, let me know what his
name is then I will try to find out where he is. I wish I was out of this you cant imagine how
happy I would be but anyhow the 11th of September we will be
discharged or perhaps sooner. I don’t
know of anything of importance to write at this time so I will close hoping to
hear from you soon as you read this letter without fail. Give my Respects to all enquiring Friends
& accept the same from your Affectionate Brother.
Adam
Bentz
To
Emma Bentz
PS We have not any mail since I left Pomeroy & I have
not heard from Henry yet but I will write to him today. Adam Bentz
Address
Adam Bentz
Camp H 5th Regt Va
Volls Infantry
1st Brigade 2d
Division
Winchester Va
NB
The Boys area all well Bill Barnes too Frank is not here yet.
Wikipedia: Second Battle of Kernston July 24, 1864
The Second Battle of Kernstown was
fought on July 24, 1864, at Kernstown, Virginia, outside Winchester, Virginia, as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War. The
confederate Army of the Valley under Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early soundly defeated the Union Army of West Virginia under Brig. Gen. George Crook and drove it from
the Shenandoah Valley back over the Potomac River into Maryland. As a result, Early was able to launch the
Confederacy's last major raid into northern territory, attacking the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Maryland and West Virginia and burning Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in retaliation for the burning of some civilian
houses and farms earlier in the campaign.
Twelfth Letter July 28, 1864
General
Hospital
Frederick City Md
July 28, 1864
Dear Affectionate Parents Brothers Sisters
I have a little sad news to write
you today, but you must not feel uneasy about me for I’m get well against my
time is out I got a very severe wound at the Battle of Winchester on the 24th
day of July 1864 by a Carbine Ball. I
was shot in the Left Side, it pains me about 3 times a day & you cannot
immajine what pain I have with it, but I am very thankful that it is no worse
than it is. If it had went ½ inch deeper
in I would not have lived this long. I
walked 9 miles after I was wounded. I
keep up with my Company & they took good care of me while I was with
them. I was then put into an Ambulants &
rode to Harpers Ferry then taken into the Cars & landed here last night but
I expect we shall be moved to Baltimore this Evening or tomorrow. So you need
not write me until I write again. We got a good whipping at Winchester this
time there was a good many wounded left on the field & a good many of our
men taken Prisoners our Company was badly cut up. The reason they whipped us was they flanked
us in the start & had a great many more men than we had. Our force is now laying at Harpers Ferry but
the Rebs wont come there. If I can get a
Furlough I will come home. The Doctors
are amputating the limbs today. We have
got new clothes from the Sanitary Commission.
Give my Respects to Ellen Riggs & Family & Mrs Faller & all
enquiring Friends & accept the same from your Affectionate Son.
Adam
Bentz
To Mary Bentz
So good
Bye. I will write often & you must
do the same.
Adam
Bentz
Thirteenth Letter August 2d 1864
Baltimore Md
Patterson Park
August the 2d /64
Dear Mother
I cannot write very much this
time as I am quite unwell & my Side Pains me bad for the past 2 Days, but I
hope & trust that these few lines will find you well when they come to
hand. Mother I & Wm Barnes got here
last Night we left Frederick City yesterday about 2 Oclock. I have made applications for a Furlough but
the Doctor thinks I wont get it signed.
He says it would be better for me to stay here until next Sept 1th then
my time would be out then they would me to Wheeling then get Discharged. Val Savage is here tell his folks that he is
well, excepting his wound in his foot.
Mother I want you to send me Five
Dollars $5.00 as I have no money to get any Paper & Envelopes & Post
Stamps & I cant altogether eat the Victuals they have here. I have had the Diarhe ever since I was
wounded You would know if you was to see me now. Give my Respects to all enquiring friends
& to all the Family. Adam Bentz to
Mary Bentz
Direct your
letters as follows
Adam Bentz
US General Hospital
Baltimore Md
Patterson Park
Fourteenth Letter August 17th 1864
Chester Hospital
Delaware Co Pa
August
17th 1864
Dear Mother
I came to this place last Night
& it is a fine place to stay at. My
wound is getting some better it does not Pain me so bad as it did I think it
will be very near well against I get Home. I wish I was at home now. I would be more satisfied. I have not received any letters from you
since I got wounded. If you have sent me
any money I will get it for it will be forwarded to me. I expect to start for Pittsburgh thence to
Wheeling in about 10 Days. I have only
20 Days to serve yet. You need not
answer this letter. Give my respects to
all enquiring friends. Wm Barnes has a
pretty bad Arm. Him & I sleeps in
one ward.
So nothing more at this time
& good bye if I get to Wheeling I will write. I guess Henry has got home by this time. Tell him for Godsake not to reinlist until I
come home
Adam Bentz
To Mary Bentz
I am 15
miles from Philladelphia Pa
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