Listmates - Just thought I would share this letter with you (written in 1864) from one brother to another....both fighting for different Illinois regiments. It has some historical and military significance...and, if you interested in some of the surnames included (GUENTHER, MIHALOTZY, WIEDENKELLER AND FATZER)....some genealogical interest. If anyone on the list can tell me about the "Rathgever" (suspect a German language newspaper based in Sangamon or Christian County), I would appreciate it. My interests are the surnames WIEDENKELLER and FATZER. Enjoy! - Tom Wilson (cut and pasted letter below) Letter from John Samuel WIEDENKELLER to Johan Jacob FATZER (1864) About the letter: q The writer is John Samuel WIEDENKELLER, a Swiss immigrant whose residence during the Civil War was Greenville, Sangamon County, Illinois. John fought with Company G., 14th Illinois Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Division. q The letter is written to John's half brother, Johan Jacob FATZER, who was, at the time, serving with Company E, 24th Illinois Infantry. Jacob would finish the war in the service of the 1st Division, 14th Army Corp. of the Army of the Cumberland under General Sherman, as an engineer.. John's mother married Ulrich Paul FATZER after her first husband died in the late 1830s. Jacob was born in Hertten, near Romanshorn, Switzerland in 1841. Jacob was a resident of Alton, Illinois during the Civil War. (Jacob is my great great grandfather). q The letter was transcribed from German to English in 1986. q Maria, mentioned in the letter, is a sister of Jacob and a half-sister of John. q Rudolph is a brother. q The interpreter believes the "Rathgever" is a newspaper…don't know where it was in operation at the time….Sangamon County? Christian County? Apparently, Rudolph worked there during the War. q The letter was written from a camp at Big Black River on April 12, 1864. q Both men settled in Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois after the war (source: 1870 census of Taylorville) q Hopefully, any military secrets conveyed by this letter are moot by now! (letter as follows) Dear Brother: I received you letter last night on the 11th and with fear, I waited for it the last two days. There is a man, George Guenther, who received a letter from his brother, Phillip Guenther, who is in the same regiment as you. Something must be wrong with the mail as your letter got here the same day I got to the company. I know you have a reconnaissance in force and Colonel Mihalotzy got killed. You buried him in Chattanooga, therefore, I lived in fear that something happened to you. I am happy about the association with Phillip Guenther because if something happened to my brother, I could hear from him. Right now, George (Guenther) writes a letter to his brother, too, and his letter will reach him the same time my letter reaches you. We are still at camp on the Black River. The lines have moved back and we are very thankful for it. Our army corps are banked on the river. On the 16th, we will go north and meet with the Cumberland Army of the Potomac. It is sure that we from the 14th and 15th Illinois Volunteers that didn't enlist won't go. Write me when the regiment is mustered because I think you will be released with them. >From Maria, I had a letter the 6th of this month, and I am waiting for another answer. I had addressed the letter to all in the house and not just Maria, but Maria answered alone and not the others. I will write another letter to Mervin and then I will write a letter to mother and address one to Rudolph in care of "Rathgever" (newspaper?) because Rudolph works there. I think it is quite amazing that when you write to one member of the family you don't get an answer from him, but you get an answer to someone else. I guess you move around a bit and have a lot of work. Sometimes, I am only capable of sending you greetings from someone else. When I have written some letters from Tennessee and as well as Missouri, I will tell you more about it. I still have to write a couple of letters. There are other people who will be happy about hearing from us. Your brother, John S. Wiedenkeller Co. G. 14th Illinois Regiment Infantry, 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 17….. (end of letter)