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Web Author's Notes:
The following images of these 23 letters, envelopes and maps were submitted to this website by Bob and Judi Hill, descendants of John McClelland and by Valerie Davison, great great granddaughter of John McClelland. My thanks to these donors for sharing their family's precious and intimate relics with the 16th OVI website and all who visit. This is our largest collection of documents pertaining to a particular soldier and provides wonderful insight into the life and activities of a Civil War soldier. |
John F and wife Rachel Lockhart McClelland |
| Item | Date | Location | From | To | Description |
| Letter 1 | May 12, 1861 | Keokuk, Iowa | brother Joseph McClelland | John McClelland | John's brother describes his trip from home in Cedar Rapids to Keokuk, Iowa, where his 1st Iowa Infantry is forming up; heavily loaded boat on Mississippi River; attends church, sees brass band. |
| Letter 2 | November 24, 1861 | Camp Tiffin, near Wooster, Ohio | John McClelland | wife Rachel | Cold & snowy in Camp Tiffin; Uncle Joseph buys dinner for him and fellow soldier Newt Gorsuch; affections to his little girls; what to do with the sow, pigs and oats; hand drawing of John McClelland and his military tent. |
| Letter 3 | November 28, 1861 | Camp Dennison, Ohio | John McClelland | wife Rachel | leaving camp Tiffin; description of busy Camp Dennison, barracks; body lice |
| Letter 4 | December 11, 1861 | Camp Dennison, Ohio | John McClelland | wife Rachel | description of soldier's diet; instructions on business affairs at home; telling about the sickness in camp; description of guard duty and avoiding the sick. |
| Letter 4b | December 15, 1861 | Camp Dennison, Ohio | John McClelland | wife Rachel | received dress uniforms and parading; informed of upcoming move to Kentucky; preparing for war; notes to children |
| Letter 5 | January 10, 1862 | Camp Clay, Ohio near Pendleton | John McClelland | wife Rachel | rumors of battle at Bowling Green, Ky; issue of ammunition; description of duty as orderly |
| Letter 6 | January 26, 1862 | Somerset, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | camp life, cleaning guns, inspections; describes daily rations; plans for regiment to go to Knoxville, Tn, via Cumberland Gap; sees horses from Confederate General Zollicoffer's troops just defeated at Mill Springs; tells Rachel about his dream of being home. |
| Letter 7 | February 8, 1862 | London, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | Preparing to march on Cumberland Gap; 45 miles of hardships |
| Letter 8 | February, 1862 | unknown | John McClelland | wife Rachel | letter fragments: sends children Valentines; Major makes note of his large belly. |
| Letter 9 | February 16, 1862 | encampment on Cumberland River, Ky | John McClelland | sister-in-law Jane Lockhart | 18 miles from Cumberland Gap; Union cavalry captures some Rebels; anticipation of battle; describes meager rations and hunger. |
| Letter 10 | February 25, 1862 | encampment on Cumberland River, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | describes camp being flooded; money sent home |
| Letter 11 | March 6, 1862 | Camp Cumberland, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | closer to The Gap; river floods; Rebel force increases; two burials; measles; sent money home via express |
| Letter 12 | April 15, 1862 | Cumberland Ford, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | a probe toward "The Gap"; pickets , a moldy slapjack and fresh "pone"; anticipating the battle |
| Letter 13 | April 19, 1862 | Cumberland Ford, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | "full of fight ..and crackers"; Newt Gorsuch reported "fat as a china pig"'; dinner with Major Kershner; half rations due to bad roads |
| Letter 14 | April 25, 1862 | Cumberland Ford, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | out of provisions; trip to Flat Lick for food; a Colonel promoted to General?; assigned as courier for the new General |
| Letter 15 | May 4, 1862 | Cumberland Ford, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | Colonel (DeCourcey) gives his couriers a Sibley tent; how to avoid bedbugs; answering to the General's silver whistle; good food from the General's cooks;; John's wife being pursued?; finding a husband for sister Jane; the brigade's beautiful drill; |
| Letter 16 | May 14, 1862 | Cumberland Ford, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | Colonel's orderly; full brigade drill; paymaster coming; sister Jane wants to see a battle |
| Letter 17 | May 21, 1862 | Cumberland Ford, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | 22 cannons; attack on Cumberland Gap tomorrow; has a horse to write and will stay close to the General |
| Letter 18 | June 5, 1862 | Cumberland Ford, Ky | John McClelland | wife Rachel | scouting with the General toward the Gap; capture of a kitten; riding five miles for milk each day |
| Letter 19 | July 13, 1862 | Cumberland Gap, Tn | John McClelland | wife Rachel | health is failing; sending money and a "miniature" to wife with Lt. Liggett; losing weight. |
| Letter 20 | July 30, 1862 | Cumberland Gap, Tn | John McClelland | wife Rachel | recovered from sickness; describes contents of box of "provisions"; sent home picture of himself made at Cumberland Gap; brought milk by two little girls while sick in hospital |
| Letter 21 | August 8, 1862 | Camp Virginia, Cumberland Gap, Tn | John McClelland | wife Rachel | John McClelland describes The Battle of Tazewell, Tennessee; capture of a Confederate Colonel; death of his Captain, Joseph Edgar; lists names of missing soldiers he knew; last known letter from Private McClelland |
| Letter 22 | December 5, 1862 | Memphis, Tn | Josiah Martin | Rachel McClelland | John's friend writes to Rachel about John's illness, taking medicine, bed under a shade tree, riding away in ambulance, getting sicker, money matters; John in hospital too weak to speak. |
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