Send e-mail to: wmcconne@bellsouth.netNew information would indicate that "Jennie" is actually Mary Jane McConnell. A letter to Mary Jane from her brother James indicates that Murray came from Pennslyvania to live with the McConnell family in Goshen. Apparently James knows little about Murray's family which would suggest that Murray was either not related or was a distant cousin. Accordingly, little is known about Murray except that he served in Company E of the 9th Regiment - Indiana. His death in the war was noted in a book about ElkHart County, Indiana. The date was given as "sometime between 1861 to the pursuit of General Hood 1864-1865." I believe that the Michael Connell referred to in the letter is actually Michael Connal of the Ohio 24th Volunteers since he is show on the company E roster of that regiment.
Letter is exactly as written except where I have added ?'s due to a blot or a missing word.
Transcribed by:
Bill McConnell - 2001
The Letter is headed Camp Andrew Jackson Nashville Tennessee March 15, 1862
Dear Cousin Jenny-
Being here surrounded by all that is picturesque and attractive in nature, with the genial rays of the southern sun to cheer one up, and "drive dull cares away", I have concluded to devote a part of this beautiful day in responding to your truly interesting little letter mailed Feb. 26th. I know that I have proved recreant to my promise, to defer writing as long as I have, but as we are required to drill eight hours per day, besides performing the common routine of camp duties pertaining to a soldiers life, I believe you will not think me unmindful of my agreement to communicate to you anything worthy of note. We left Fetterman Va. on the 20th of Feb., and enjoyed a very pleasant journey of twenty-three days on the cars to Cincinnati: thence on board the steamer Champion to Nashville, where we arrived March the 3rd. We have an army here of one hundred and sixty thousand troops and more are almost daily arriving. I do not know the object of concentrating such a large force here, unless (it may be) the rebels intend making one desperate effort to get repossession of Nashville. The impression here is , they will make one last and great struggle, to drive the union troops from Tennessee, and if they are vanquished here, the war will close soon, and the union be again established upon a firmer basis than before. The days of this rebellion will soon pass away, to be no more remembered. Their highest, and best anticipations are already numbered with the things that were. And upon the fall and ruins of a dark and treacherous rebellion, the stars and stripes of our country's flag will soon flout. That same old flag which has (served?) us proudly through a war of independence, the war of 1812, through all our frontier campaigns; and which was proudly borne over every crimsoned field of Mexico, will soon triumphantly wave on the conquered fields of Secessia.
Cousin Jenny -On March 5 our regiment marched to witness a scene which perhaps was just according to military law, appeared to me to be cruel and an outrage on humanity. Michael Connell a private of Comp "E" 24th Ohio Vol.; was on the 19th of last Jan, sentenced to be shot for the crime of threatening to kill a corporal of Comp K of the same reg,t. His companions told me that he was the bravest and in some respects as good a soldier as the 24th could afford, and at the time he made the threat, was drunk and had previously been provoked, that he had a grudge against him. After the several regiments composing Nelson's divisions were properly arranged in the field, the brass band marched around playing his dead march, and was followed by five? privates bearing his coffin behind which the convict (attended by his spiritual advisors) unflinchingly marched along keeping step to the music of his death. At the hour of 3 P.M., priv Connell marched up beside his coffin and after having the cap placed on his head, he folded his arms - stood in the position of a soldier, and without manifesting any fear of death, by ever the movement of a muscle, received the scorn? out of twelve fatal shots: but this is the army regulations and is the lot of those disposed to be mutinous. Though a soldiers life is a wearied one at best, yet there are times when he is orgetful of all the past, in the enjoyment of the present. Such is the condition of the soldiers here at present (when off duty) as they may be seen lazily lolling upon yon grassy mound shaded by a grove of beautiful evergreen cedars, and apparently careless & unconcerned of everything around them. This is indeed a beautiful country, and to the novelist who would fill the mind with wonders of the sublime and beautiful, here is presented all that can attract, and all that can astonish. Nature is portrayed in all her forms, varied and classified. The terrific and pleasing-the imagination and the real-are all here held forth in bold and striking contrast-The pine clad mountains, the beautiful plains, clothed in carpets of green, with here and there a magnificent grove of cedar, in whose branches may be heard the merry notes of the beautiful spring birds, welcoming the approach of spring, while a little to the right of us flows the waters of the Cumberland, beautifully winding it's way toward the Ohio, on the opposite side of which, giant cliffs of rocks rise up in striking sublimity. But while we are made to admire the beauties of creation, and look with awe upon the works of the Creator as they here exhibit themselves, we cannot but be impressed with the idea that God is just in dealing out to the conspirators of this rebellion, a righteous retribution, for being the cause of a devastating army to lay waste such a beautiful country as this is. Many of our soldiers have been shot by the citizens of Nashville, when performing their duty as patrol guards. There are now two gun boats lying at the wharf, and if there are any more soldiers shot, they have threatened to burn the city. It is considered dangerous for soldiers to be permitted to go to the city which is only a mile distant from our camp, lest they should get into some mob and be killed. I have not been in Nashville since we camped here, and can therefore tell you little about it. There are some splendid buildings here, owned by wealthy planters, who can turn three to seven hundred negroes to cultivate their soil. The people here are planting their corn and occasionally we see fields where corn is coming up. The trees are all in bloom here, and I presume the warmth of a southern sun will soon be realized by the soldiers. Jenny I have not had an opportunity to have my likeness ?, or you would have received it before this. I cannot get a pass to the city, and on our way here the soldiers were not permitted to leave the cars or boat for more than fifteen minutes.
But as soon as the opportunity presents itself, I'll have one taken and sent to you. Your miniature has not yet made it's appearance, it certainly must have been miscarried and may be will yet come.
There are many soldiers in the different companies enlisting for the regular service, and the prospect appears fair for us to be discharged soon, which to me and many others will be a season of rejoicing and then instead of being a regular soldier, I will be a regular civilian. We here don't get the ? reporting the war except what our officers tell us, you can therefore ? ? ? is found in that respect as ?.
Dear Cousin, I have now written all that is of any interest and will therefore close, hoping your will write soon, as the last letter I received from you will soon be worn out by being frequently read - I love your letters dearly, and would be glad to see you all, but cannot - perhaps very soon. Nothing more only excuse one for making these blots and consider me your most devoted friend & Cousin. Good bye! Good bye!
Murray McConnell
P.S. We have now (been?) ordered to prepare for a seven day march. I do not know where we are going, but report says we are going to make? a body search on the border of Alabama. When we arrive at our place of destination, I'll write.
Send e-mail to: wmcconne@bellsouth.net
This web site produced Feb 27 2002