McClelland Letters

Web Author's Notes:
Images of the following letter were provided by Bob and Judi Hill. They were found in a box of papers owned by Judi's mother. The letter is from Judi's ancestor, John F McClelland, a private in Company B of the 16th OVI, to his wife, Rachel Lockhart of Millersburg, Ohio. The letter was written from an encampment near London, Kentucky, where the 16th OVI and other regiments were preparing to attack and occupy the Cumberland Gap. Note the date on the letter is January 8 but the date on the envelope is February 9. Based on the descriptions within the letters and known route of the 16th OVI, it is my opinion the author mistakenly wrote &Jan on the letterhead when he actually meant to write Feb.

Additional history tells us the letter's author, sadly, was later captured during subsequent action at Cumberland Gap and died of disease on September 20, 1862, probably as a Confederate prisoner.

Below the images of the letter is my attempt at transcription to the best of my ability.

Thanks to Bob and Judi Hill for sharing these precious artifacts from the colorful and poignant history of the 16th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and the American Civil War.

Please note the contrast of the letter images has been enhanced to make them more readable. Spelling is transcribed as near as possible to match the original author's and end of sentence periods were added, when necessary, to make reading easier.

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Jan [Feb] 8th 1862 London, Kentucky Dear wife I take this opertunity to inform you that I am well I have not reseived any word from you for some time and would like to hear from you as soon as possible. I hope you are not fretting about me. I lay down at night and sleep well. I then a wake and spend an hour or so thinking a bout you and the we ones. we have stopet hear only for a few days then we shal move on to Cumberland Gap. after we get thare and setled	I shal send a letter to you of satisfaction. it is of no use to attempt to give you a history of the hard ships that we endured the last 45 miles we traveled but I shal some futur time if spared. we espect a battle at cumberland gap sure and sertain and if I live to see it over I shal tell you all about it. If I do not some of the rest will. I have not time now to write to you much. I thought it would add to your cumfort to hear that I am well. If you do not get letters often do not think I am grown forgetful of you. we are across rivers and over mountains and it is a slow oporation for letters to go and come. I hope that theas lines will find you well
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tell father to write me a letter. write to me as soon as you get this letter. nothing more at present. I still remain as before your affectinate Husband John McClelland Direct to London Laurel Co Kentuckey Co. B 16th regt OVUSA
This is the original envelope which contained the above letter sent by John McClelland to his wife, Rachel:
Mrs. Rachel McClelland Millersburg Holmes Co Ohio London Ky Feb 9th 1862