George W. Hoel, Company C
Letter: Chattanooga, March 20, 1864

George Hoel wrote the letter which follows to his sister Amy and her husband Isaac Anderson at the time of the regiment's reenlistment furlough in February-March, 1864, when the regiment returned to Chicago for thirty days. The letter is first presented with changes in punctuation and spelling, for ease of reading, and then, with copies of the letter itself, and exact transcription of it.

  [Page 1]. Chattanooga, Tennessee March the 20, 1864
Dear brother and sister, it is with pleasure that I take my pen in my hand to let you know that I am in moderate haelth and hope that those few lines will find you all well when they come to hand. We are in Camp close to Chattanooga. We are a going to leave today or tomorrow. We are a-going to Cleaveland [Tennessee]. That is about 30 miles. We had to march from Nashville. We was 2 weeks a-marchin thru it went pretty hard with me. I had the ague and a pain in my head, but I feel a good deal better today. It has been very damp and cold

[Page 2]. ever since we left, but this is a very nice warm day. Everything is vary quiet at this time, but I don't think it will last long. There was 6 new In regiments just passed us a-going front. I think there will be a big move before long. Isaac, I think this summer will wind up the war if we elect our old president. If they don't let us vote in the field, we will try to come home to vote. I understand that they won't allow Illinois troops a vote in the field. We don't like to stand that if we can help it. Well, I haven't time to write much for we have to clean our guns and fix to go to work.

[Page 3]. This makes 8 letters that I have wrote since we started, but I have not heard from home yet. Our mail has gone a-past us. I think we will git it today. Well, Amy, I am homesick yet I feel very uneasy about home. Lotry was vary unwell when I left home, but we must do the best we can. I hope time won't be long, if the Lord spares our lives, till we can return to our friends and families. Well, I must come to a close, so no more at present—but remain your brother on till death. Give my love to the children. G W Hoel to Isaac and Amy Anderson

[Page 4]. Write as soon as you get this. Direct your letters to Chattanooga. Write often. I will have to send this without a stamp, for I can't git to town to git any.		  

panels of G. W. Hoel letter

[Page 1] Chattanooga, Tennessee
March, the 20, 1864
Dear brother and sister,
it is with pleashure that I
take my pen in my hand to
let you no that I am in
moderate helth and hope that
those few lines will find you
all well when tha com to hand
we are in Camp close to Chattanooga
we are a going to leave to day
or to morrow we are a going
to Cleaveland that is a bout
30 miles we had to march
from Nashville we was 2 weeks
a marchin thru it went prety
hard with mee. I had the ague
and a pain in my head but
I field a good deal beter to day
it has bin vary damp an cold

[Page 4]. write as soon as you get this direct your letters to Chattanooga write often.

I will have to send this with out a stamp for I cant git to town to git any.

Panels G. W. Hoel Letter [Page 2]. every since we left but
this is a vary nice warm
day everything is vary quiet
at this time but I don't think
it will last long. Thare was
6 new In reigments gest
past us a going front
I think theire will bee a big
moove before long Isaac
I think this summer
will wind up the ware if
we elect oure old president
if tha don't let us vote in
the field we will try to
come home to vote. I under
stand that tha wont alow
Ill troup a vote in the feld
that we dont like to stand
that if we can help it
Well I havnt time to write
much for we have to draw
new guns and fix to
go to work.

[Page 3]. This makes 8 letters
that I have wrote since
we started but I have
not heard from home yet
our mail has gon a past
us I think we will git
it to day well Amy I am
home sick yet I field vary
on easy a bout home lotry
was vary onwell when I
left home but we must
do the best we can I hope
time wont bee long if the Lord
spares oure lives till we
can returne to oure friends
and famleys well I
must com to a close so
no more at presant but
remain your brother on
till death give my love to
the children.

G W Hoel to
Isaac and Amy Anderson

Sources and Notes:
Letter scans, courtesy of Peter and Margaret (Anderson) Knoess. Margaret is from one of the descendant Hoel lines; she transcribed the letter.