This letter was written by John Alexader Ritter (1819-1891) was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, the son of John and Agnes (Butler) Ritter. John came to Indiana about 1839 where he received an ordinary education, studying medicine from time to time until he eventually took a course of medical lectures at Louisville. In October 1845, he married Margaret Carter (1826-1909) together they had nine children.
In October, 1861, John enlisted as a private in Co. G, 49th Indiana Infantry, but he was promptly chosen as its Captain. A year later, he was promoted to Regimental Surgeon and was in the service two years, participating in a number of important engagements, and was discharged on account of disability on 31 August 1863.
Beginning its first march by crossing the Ohio River on the 11th of December, it marched through Louisville, Ky, into the interior of Kentucky, reaching Bardstown on the 13th, where it entered into a camp of instruction.
On the 12th of January, 1862, under orders to reinforce General Thomas, who was watching the movements of the rebel General Zollicoffer, who seemed to threaten another invasion of Kentucky. The 49th reached a point five miles south of of Lebanon, when it received the news that General Thomas had defeated the rebels at Mill Springs, Kentucky, where the southern General Zollicoffer was killed. The Regiment proceeded through Lebanon, Crab Orchard, Mt. Vernon, London, and Barboursville, to Cumberland Ford, Kentucky, arriving there on the 15th of February.
On the 14th of March a part of the regiment was engaged in a skirmish at Big Creek Gap, Tennessee, and on the 23rd of March, took part in an ineffectual attempt to take Cumberland Gap.
It remained at Cumberland Ford for the remainder of the winter, until June, 1862. While at that place the regiment was severely scourged by disease, losing by death a large number of its members. For a time scarcely a hundred men could be mustered for duty.
[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Richard Weiner and is published by express consent.]
TRANSCRIPTION
Camp Cumberland, Kentucky
February 16, 1862
My Dear Wife,
As this is Sunday morning and I have a few moments leisure, I will improve the time in writing you a few lines. We struck tents early yesterday morning and moved up the Cumberland River to the ford six miles. It was a bad day to move yet we went at it in good spirits. The snow fell about 4 inches deep night before last. We shook the snow off of our tents as best we could loaded our wagon, and was ready to move by 7 o’clock. At our new camp we had to scrape off the snow. We went up on the side of the mountain, got a lot cedar brush and put over the ground which looked very well.
Some cavalry came in to see us. They came into my quarters and was much pleased at what they termed my Lucky carpet. I was officer of the day yesterday. I had but little sleep last night. Pearson has resigned his position as surgeon of the regiment. A large majority of the men and officers want me to get his place. I have told them that I would take it but I do not expect to get is as [ ] favor and my company will oppose me leaving them. The field officers will also oppose me—that is, if they do as they always have done, except Major [Joseph H.] Thornton & Capt. [James M. Gwin] Quinn; they are my fast friends. I am easy however, very easy about it except that I do the business and Someone get the profits, &c.
We are within 14 miles of Cumberland Gap where the enemy is in force. If that place is taken, East Tennessee is reduced. There are Tennesseans coming in by the 10 & 20 making their way through the mountains. Robert Johnson ¹ made a speech to our regiment day before yesterday. They are the most barbarous, wicked savages that God permitted to live. The Rebs beats all. He met many of his old friends from Tennessee. They would ask him questions while he was speaking about their friends. He would tell the name and the place where this friend was hung and by whom. My heart grew sick at the recital. Women were robbed of all that they had to eat or wear. Their shoes & stockings were taken. The children’s shoes were taken in many cases [and] cut to pieces and thrown away worthless. Bed clothing [too]—in fact, everything is being taken for no other crime than being loyal.
If there is a just God, the day of vengeance is not far ahead. But woe be to the Rebels that fall into the hands of the Tennesseans. Johnson was in prison 6 months. He and two others made their escape and the first free breath that he drew for six months was when he was taken prisoner by the pickets of the 49th Indiana Volunteers. The tenth part has never been told. Men have been hung with the permit of seeing their wives & children when they were in the same town. One man was hung and his son was compelled to sit on the scaffold and witness the scene. Women have been shamefully treated. When oh when shall these things cease? My prayer is for my country that I love. But will these people ever live in peace? I think not. One or the other will have to be exterminated or move.
Col. Munday’s Cavalry went day before yesterday to the Gap. It was said that the Rebel cavalry were in the habit of coming down to the ford where are now encamped and a trap was laid to catch them. Our infantry was in ambush. Col. Munday was to go up and get them [to come] after him and lead them to our infantry and then take the whole force of the enemy but they would not follow. He charged on their pickets with ten men, took two prisoners, killed 7 wounded so that he thinks will die too. He went up in face of the Rebel battery, took 8 horses, 7 guns, 9 sabers. They shot their cannons at him. He shook his fist at them and said he would see them in hell before he would leave till he got the horses of the dead Rebels. He caught their horses, cut up their saddles and galloped off whilst the dust and sand was flying at them being kicked up by the enemy cannons and not a man of ours hurt.
A little boy killed one. The Colonel [Munday] killed one. The Colonel says that he never hated to do anything so bad as to kill the fellow but it was to save himself. The Colonel had his carbine cocked. He called on the fellow to surrender. He turned and in the act of cocking his gun, the Colonel shot him through the head. He found another one that he took prisoner in the water of a creek. The Colonel asked him what he was going to do. Nothing was the reply. Then turn the muzzle of your gun from me and come out at this time. One of Monday’s men was going shoot the Rebel. The Colonel told him if he shot the man, that he would shoot him. ²
I am well and harty. My health was never better since I was grown. Hope you are all well. — Jno. A. Ritter
All of the Boys that went from about Orangeville are well that are with me. Some left behind.
Direct your letter to Barbesville.
I would like to see little Billy Potrate. If I have an opportunity I will have my likeness taken in full uniforms and send to you. Mrs. Johnson has one.
¹ Ritter does not mention it in his letter but Robert Johnson (1834-1869) was the son of military governor Andrew Johnson (later Lincoln’s V.P.) who was in exile for many weeks before turning up at Camp Cumberland, Kentucky, where he was taken into custody and recognized as a loyalist. Not long afterwards he became the Colonel of the 4th Tennessee Infantry which was later converted into cavalry as the 1st East Tennessee (Union) Cavalry.
² This incident was described in an after action report written on 14 February 1862 which read: “A reconnaissance was made today by a company of First Battalion Kentucky Cavalry, under the immediate command of Lieut.-Col. Munday. Lieut.-Col. Munday reports that he advanced quite close to the Gap; attacked the enemy’s cavalry picket; killed 5, wounded 2, and took 2 prisoners, 8 horses, 7 sabers, and 5 double-barrel shot-guns. No one was injured in the colonel’s command. Our party advanced so near the enemy’s defenses that they got within range of their batteries, which opened on them, when they returned to camp.”
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