DeSilva Letters

Item	Date	Location	From	To	Description
90 Day Regiment - April through August, 1861
Letter 1	May 5, 1861	Camp Jackson, Columbus, Ohio	Sgt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Describes his Company's trip from the place of its formation, Millersburg, Ohio, to Camp Jackson in Columbus, the state capitol of Ohio, where troops from all over the state were gathering and forming into regiments; describes the camp layout in detail and tells stories of camp life.
Letter 2	May 13, 1861	Camp Jackson, Columbus, Ohio	Sgt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Provides an update on life at Camp Jackson; includes the names of three men who deserted the regiment and speculates where the regiment may be headed.
Letter 3	May 14, 1861	Camp Jackson, Columbus, Ohio	Sgt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Troops are sworn in to the military; soldiers "acquiring" utensils and useful items; what to do with money donated to troops by citizens.
Letter 4	May 24, 1861	Camp Jackson, Columbus, Ohio	Sgt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Description of "messes" and how soldiers are equipped for and prepare their meals in camp; debate over potential three-year enlistments; last minute note on the regiment receiving orders to be deployed to Bellair, Ohio, on the border with Virginia.
Letter 5	July 17, 1861	Camp Belington, Belington (West) Virginia	Sgt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Describes the actions and movements of the regiment after the Battle of Philippi as they maneuver through western (West) Virginia, including the death of Pvt. Andrew Louther, killed by ambushers while guarding a supply train near St. George.
Three Year Regiment - September, 1861 through October, 1864
Letter 6	November 26, 1861	Camp Tiffin, Wooster, Ohio	1st. Lt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Describes cold and snowfall at Camp Tiffin; talks about the predominance of Wooster and Wayne County soldiers over other counties; describes a supper where remarks were made insulting regiment's new commander, Col. John F. DeCourcey.
Letter 7	December 10, 1861	Camp Dennison, Cincinnati, Ohio	1st. Lt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Describes move from Camp Tiffin, Wooster, to Camp Dennison, Cincinnati, Ohio; describes guard duty in terrible rain and mud, being camp guard and elaborate dream about mud.
Letter 8	December 15, 1861	Camp Dennison, Cincinnati, Ohio	1st. Lt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Weather has improved; regiment is trained and performing well; new dress uniforms and rifles; sickness; location of first deployment; sword lessons from Colonel DeCourcy; humorously describes drunk soldier.
Letter 9	January 8, 1862	Camp Clay, Lexington, Kentucky	1st. Lt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Describes the regiment's departure from Camp Dennison, travelling through Cincinnati, Ohio, Convington, Kentucky and on to Camp Clay in Lexington, Kentucky; also describes Camp Clay and several events that occurred while there.
Letter 10	January 30, 1862	Camp Duncan, Somerset, Kentucky	1st. Lt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Describes in interesting detail the regiment's march from Lexington to Somerset, Kentucky, just missing the Battle of Mill Springs.
Letter 11	February 25, 1862	Camp Cumberland, Kentucky	1st. Lt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Describes the regiment's march from Somerset to Sublimity Springs, London and Camp Cumberland, Kentucky; heavy rain, flooding, camp is surrounded by water.
Letter 12	April 9, 1862	Camp Cumberland Ford, Kentucky	1st. Lt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Describes regiment's scouting mission of March 22; comments about election of a regimental Chaplain.
Letter 13	May 28, 1862	Camp Cumberland Ford, Kentucky	1st. Lt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Describes mission toward Cumberland Gap with the intention of capturing a Confederate force that may have been trying to attack Union forces at Big Creek Gap.
Letter 14	June 20, 1862	Cumberland Gap, Tennessee	1st. Lt. Manuel B. DeSilva	Holmes County Farmer	Briefly informs the newspaper of the taking of Cumberland Gap from Rebels.