1862 CIVIL WAR Soldier Letter 4th INDIANA CAVALRY Louisville Ky Great Content

Description

Civil War soldier's letter, 2 pgs., approx. 4-3/4" x 7-3/4", dated at Louisville, Ky., Sept. 28, 1862, from John H. Clever, 4th Indiana Cavalry, to his brother.
The writer of this letter, John H. Clever, (1844-1920), was from Jefferson County, Indiana and was 18 years old when he enlisted into Co. L, 4th Indiana Cavalry. He was mustered out on June 29, 1865 at Edgefield, Tenn. He enlisted on the same day with his brother, Simon Clever, (1818-1863), but Simon died less than a year later, at Murfreesboro, TN, on May 26, 1863.
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, writing of their camp at the edge of town, and that
"we are armed with sabers, French rifles and ten inch Colt's Revolvers that shoot three hundred yards".
He also writes of breaking the mules in his team (he and his brother were wagoners), two of which were captured at Lebanon Junction, of Confederate Gen. Bragg skedaddling to Cumberland Gap; of having "5 or 6 niggers the boys brought in from the Junction; of the "fine times" they have taking whatever they want that is "fit to eat", and burning the fences, and of a near fight at New Haven, Ky, with the Rebels burning the Railroad bridge before they could get them.
The letter reads (spelling corrected):
"Dear brother,
I take my pen in hand to let you know that we are well and where we are. We are camped in the edge of town. We have plenty to eat and we are camped in an Irish potato patch, and there is about 3 or 4 acres of sweet potatoes alongside.
The 6th, 22, 38 and 39 Regiments came in town on the 26th, but I have not saw any of the boys. We were marching through town yesterday and Jim Corrie saw Tom Sipes, but had no time to talk.
We are armed with sabers, French Rifles and ten inch Colt's Revolvers that shoot three hundred yards. We have fine times. We take anything that is fit to eat and burn the fences and feed the corn. We have six brown Mules in the team and we are getting them verywell broke. Two of them the boys captured at Lebanon Junction. There is about 15 Thousand Cavalry here and 150,000 Infantry. Bragg skedaddling towards Cumberland Gap.
We have 5 or 6 niggers the boys brought in from the Junction. Lieut. Cunningham and 22 of our men went into New haven at one end of the town, while the Rebels went out of the other end. The Rebels burnt the Railroad bridge at New Haven. Our men heard it fall before they got to town. They rode past the bridge after the Rebels but as there was too many of them, they came back.
Capt. W. Y. Monroe's Company is camped near here. Some of the boys are going over to see them this evening. Enough for the present, as the boys are bothering me.
Your brother,
J. H. Clever"
/A couple of small stains at one edge. Fine-Very Fine.
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