Hey Mike, I am just not getting around to writing the last chapter of the Fifth's history, which deals with postwar adaptation and readjustment. I would very much like to use Ward's last sentence of the letter attached below about how he gave three years not for party but for the cause--what a great quote! In order to accurately quote this, though, I need a copy of the original. Would it be too much trouble to either scan the letter into the computer and send it to me as an email attachment, or make a photocopy and send it through snail mail? Let me know if there are any charges. Thanks again for sharing. Rhonda Kohl [email protected] On Wed, Apr 18, 2007 at 2:04 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > Rhonda, > I don't have a whole lot of information about my great > grandfather's > service but I'll give you what I've got. My great grandfather was Allen > George Ward. He enlisted for three years on September 12, 1861 at > Fairfield, > Illinois and was assigned to Company D, 5th Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. > There > are no surviving letters from his time in the service to give insight into > his > daily duties. According to his application for pension he made in 1883 he > contracted malaria while his unit was at Mill(s) Dale near Vicksburg, > Mississippi in July of 1863. He spent July and August in the Regimental > Hospital then > was furloughed to his home in Carmi, Illinois for thirty days beginning on > September the 6th. He reported back to his unit at Black River, > Mississippi. He > was never well again but yet re enlisted at Clear Creek, Mississippi on > January 1, 1864 for three more years. He was mustered out at Springfield, > Illinois > on October 27, 1865. He entered the service as a private, was promoted to > corporal at his re enlistment then to sergeant on June 23, 1864. According > to > his muster rolls he provided his own horse and equipment. Once he was > docked > $3.00 for losing a saddle blanket and another time $12.75 for losing his > revolver and holster. On June 28th 1864 he was detailed as Orderly for the > Provost > Marshal at Vicksburg. I also have a letter he wrote in regard to his > pension > application. Don't know if you're really interested in it but it does name > some of his officers and gives a little insight into his thoughts on the > war. > It's kind of hard to read so instead of just copying it, I'll type it in > just > as he wrote it. > Trumbull Ills Aug 23rd > Gen. J.C. Black > Dear sir I wish to make a few statements to you concerning my pension > claime > and hope you will pardon my forwardness in adressing you. I was a member > of > Co D 5th reg of Ills Cav Vol. Served frome Sep the 13th 1861 till Oct 27th > 1865. Just after the seige of Vicksburg I was taken down with malaria or > bilious > fever and became so redused and weak I was granted a furlow by order of > Gen > Sherman frome the hospital by reason of sickness on Dr J B Enseys > recomendation. durind that sickness I was troubled with an irregular action > of my heart > and a great deel of palpation at heart. my kidneys was affected. I could > not > pass off the urin without much pain. These disorders are still afflicting > me > frome year to year and I am renderd unfit for any hard work. I can not get > employment many times because I can not make a good hand. I was wounded > slightly in the knee but it dose not disable me frome work. Cap A.G. Payn > was my > last Co Commander. Hoping you will consider my claime favorably when it > comes > before you. My claime was objected to three years ago I think on party > feelings > then. I gave four long years of servis not for party but for the caus I > loved so well. No of claim 483717 > Allen G. Ward > Trumbull > White Co Ills > The document authorizing his furlough is signed by Major A.H. Seley , > Commanding the Reg't. > That's about all I have. Hope some of it is useful! > > Mike Moody > > > > ************************************** See what's free at > http://www.aol.com. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >