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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02596.07 |
| From Archive Folder | Collection of William H. Bettes, L company, 6th regiment, Ohio, cavalry |
| Title | William H. Bettes to Lodema Bettes discussing general news |
| Date | 9 December 1862 |
| Author | Bettes, William H. (fl. 1862-1865) |
| Recipient | Bettes, Lodema |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Writes from Chantilly Camp. Experiencing extreme winter weather, such as snow, but are surprisingly comfortable. Has no war news to report, there is more information in the papers. S. Z. Dickinson is still in the Regimental Hospital and very sick, he does not want to go to Washington if he can help it. Received a letter from Wellington yesterday; will send it with his letter so that mother will know how he is getting on. Applied for a pass to go down and see Wellington, but he failed to obtain one. Has written to Edgerton to have him go down and see Wellington. His wife has written two or three times to know if he has received his overcoat; it arrived in good condition. Also received two pairs of drawers the day before the cold weather commenced. Writes that he is alright because he was "born under a lucky star, which is much better than to have been born rich." There is a chance that he will not get paid before the end of January. If he runs out of money, he will need his wife to send him some; he has enough to last him until New Years. If S. Z. Dickinson does not get better, Bettes will give him some money if he needs it. Needs his wife to send him postage stamps since he is nearly out and has no chance to get more. They have had little duty to do during the cold weather but this morning they are sending out all the available men; Bettes has not yet been called on and nearly all the men have gone, so he will probably not be detailed. Wants his wife to send him the County paper because he misses it so much. Wrote some letters to the paper and wants to know if they have been published. The Colonel has gone to Columbus, Ohio. Thinks they will be kept in the field until New Years and then go into winter quarters. Expects to have more news to write next time. Writes that Eddy [Litedman] is here and has never looked better; camps life definitely agrees with him. |
| Subjects | Soldier's Letter Civil War Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Military History Cavalry Children and Family Health and Medical Hospital Extreme Weather Military Camp Soldier's Pay Clothing and Accessories Post Office Journalism |
| People | Bettes, William H. (fl. 1862-1865) Bettes, Lodema (fl. 1862-1865) |
| Place written | Chantilly, Virginia |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Women in American History; Health & Medicine |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | Folder Information: This collection consists of fourteen letters written by William Henry Bettes. Eleven of these letters are written to Lodema Bettes, his wife, one letter is written to Charley Bettes, his son, one letter is written to Carrie Bettes, his daughter, and one letter is written to Lieutenant W. H. Betty. William H. Bettes enlisted on 5 October 1861 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was commissioned into Company L 6th Regiment Ohio Cavalry on the same date. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 16 December 1861 and was discharged for disability on 23 March 1863. Selected highlights include: Bette's thoughts on the Battle of Fredericksburg (11 December - 15 December, 1862) and his descriptive accounts of the war generals and their tactics. Further highlights include the touching letters to his children, and his genuine concern for the men that are sick in the hospital. Eleven of the letters have original postal covers. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Wife |
| Civil War: Theater of War | Main Eastern Theater |
| Civil War: Unit | 6th Ohio Cavalry, L Company |