Gilbert Stark Enlists in the 32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August 1862

Letter from Gilbert J. Stark to His Family at Perry, Kansas (Part 2, August 1862)

Note: These old letters are part of the Stark family heritage and were shared with us by Irene Gordon of Ozawkie, a Stark descendant. The letters are 127 years old [in 1990], written in long hand by Gilbert Stark to his family. As we copied them we typed as nearly as possible the spelling and punctuation as he used it. A soldier in the Civil War, Gilbert Stark paints a picture of his times, which we now share.

[Gilbert Stark married Maria Connor in Union County, Ohio, in 1860. Their daughter, Kittie, was born in December 1861. He enlisted in Company B, 32^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August 8, 1862. Company B was recruited mainly in Union County, Ohio. Stark was promoted to Corporal on January 1, 1863. “U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865,” gives his age at enlistment as 27.]

Fort Segil

August the 29^th, 1862

Dear Father & Mother,

I avail myself of the oportunity to i[n]form you of my health & whereabouts. I hope this will find you all well & happy  I have inlisted into the service of my country. I thought it my duty. It was the ha[r]dst trial of my life. I had just setled down and was prosperous  I had a Wife & one child & to leve them was hard  it tried my iron will fore once.

Mother  Kitty is the handsomest child I ever saw & I never knew how well I loved them untill I left but such is the fate of man; I thought that Maria could not stand it  it was hard fore her. . but all should be ready to make the sacrifice let it be litle or grate. her health is better this sumer than I ever knew it. she lives at squaire Reeds & will untill I return  she will come up & make you a visit if you will let her know wheather you can meet her at the cars.

I sold my corn and hogs 1 yourk of oxen fore 7 hundred dolars  I left 9 good horses & 2 cows — [?] head of young cattle & 1 hundred dolars worth of farming utensils untill I get back — I only got 50 dolars down; don’t give yourself any unease about that note that you seinged with me fore I have left a plenty to pay all my debts and leve Maria 1 thousand dolars  tel Lucina that she must wait a little until I collect some of my pay but Maria will pay the Interest this fall. I left Maria a plenty to do here while the ware wil last  yesterday the booming of distant cannon around our camp; all is anrzty here. it is rumored that a battle is going on between Jackson & Pope  we hope fore the best but no nothing as yet; a horsman has just arived; the blood stained sides of his panting steed shows that he has come at a fearful pase; the Artilrey horses is just hitched; now they go of[f] as hard as they can whip  the Cavelry has just ben drawn up in line, the order is forward & away they go. we are not to go away from our post.

The people of this country is ful of sech but few union people in this place; Virginia is ful of mountains & hills  it looks a good deal like the state of Neyork  whear we are is very healthy  we have splendid watter; it is very cold here nights. it is very dry and has ben ever since early in the season. I should like to have Maria come up their & see you  I want her to spend the time as pleasently as she can while I am gone  Lon Wilson & Joseph Ault is here with me  they are both good boys  we are both in one company; Jack is in the 96 Reg. Please write often to me fore a leter is a prise. Yours truly, from your affectionate son,

            Gilbert J. Stark

(To be continued)

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 1990.