Letter, Simon Philbrick to his wife
Object number1998.055.35
DateNovember 5, 1863
Mediumpaper and ink
DimensionsOverall: 10 1/8 x 7 7/8 in. (25.7 x 20 cm)
Credit LineOld State House Museum collection
Terms
Contents of Letter: Personal Letter from Simon Philbrick to his wife. The letter was penned during a Civil War march. The letter describes and discusses the financial affairs and family concerns.
Philbrick was a private in Co. A of the 18th Illinois Infantry. He enlisted on Aug. 15, 1862 in Murphysboro, IL and mustered out on Jul 8, 1865.
He was born Feb. 9, 1838 in Dubuque, Iowa. He died on Jan. 1, 1914 in Howard County Iowa and is buried in New Oregon Cemetery in Cresco, Howard County, Iowa.
Philbrick was apparently unable to write as this letter is written by W.M. Smith on behalf of Philbrick (according to the last page of the letter).
Camp: Little Rock
November 5, 1863
Dear and loving companion
I againe [sic] take my pen in hand to drop you a few lines in answer to yours of the {?} which came to hand on the 4(?) of this month and I am(?) glad to get it and am(?) truly glad to hear that you and the children are all and your kind letter came hand and found me in good health and this leaves me well at this time and I sincearely [sic] hope that this letter will {?} hasten to your kind hand find you and the children in the best of health at this time for good health is the best blessing that one can sea [sic] on earth. Well my dear you stated in your letter that you didn't want me to think hard of you for not riting [sic] no {?}. I don't think hardof you, no not by no {?}. Well darling, you stated in your letter that you wanted me to send you some money for you are in need of sum [sic]. I will send you some money just as soon as we draw it and we {?} for by the 30 of last month and I think that we will get paid off next weake [sic] and if we do I will send you some money there. You stated your letter that you had moved to Alexander. I am very well satisfied with the move and I am in hope that you bee [sic] and can yet to stay there until I come home againe [sic]. Well dear we have taken a rather hard march. We left the camp on the 26 of last month. We went out to a little town by the name of Benton and staid [sic] there one day and knight [sic] and then we went out to a little town by the name of Rockford and it was 25 miles to Benton and 26 miles to Rockford and we staid [sic] at Rockford one knight [sic] and it rained all knight and one day on us and then we came back to Benton and we staid there one knight and then we started back camp and got in camp about darke [sic] wet and tired too. Well dear I will tell you about hour [sic] moving in hour [sic] houses to stay in this winter. We live in a fine house. We have got a {?} house to stay in this winter. We have gon [sic] in {?} and I will give you the names of my mess, there is: Wm. M. Smith and {?} {?} and three of the Killion boys and {?} {?} and James Madgline(?) and myself and we have got the best mess in the co. and the best cook too and tell M.{?} that the black eyed one is well and he hadn't received by one letter since he left Vicksburg and he said he had rote [sic] two letters and hasn't got no answer to them yet and when he gets a letter he will answer it. {?} will fetch my letter to a close by asking you ritw [sic] some and often and I will do the same. So good by but still remaine [sic] as ever your affectionate husband until death.
Simon Philbrick to his wife Rosann Philbrick
Riten by William M. Smith
Status
Not on view
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