McClelland Letters

Item	Date	Location	From	To	Description
Letter 1	May 12, 1861	Keokuk, Iowa	brother Joseph McClelland	John McClelland	John's brother describes his trip from home in Cedar Rapids to Keokuk, Iowa, where his 1st Iowa Infantry is forming up; heavily loaded boat on Mississippi River; attends church, sees brass band.
Letter 2	November 24, 1861	Camp Tiffin, near Wooster, Ohio	John McClelland	wife Rachel	cold & snowy in Camp Tiffin; Uncle Joseph buys dinner for him and fellow soldier Newt Gorsuch; affections to his little girls; what to do with the sow, pigs and oats; hand drawing of John McClelland and his military tent.
Letter 3	November 28, 1861	Camp Dennison, Ohio	John McClelland	wife Rachel	leaving camp Tiffin; description of busy Camp Dennison, barracks; body lice
Letter 4	December 11, 1861	Camp Dennison, Ohio	John McClelland	wife Rachel	description of soldier's diet; instructions on business affairs at home; telling about the sickness in camp; description of guard duty and avoiding the sick.
Letter 4b	December 15, 1861	Camp Dennison, Ohio	John McClelland	wife Rachel	received dress uniforms and parading; informed of upcoming move to Kentucky; preparing for war; notes to children
Letter 5	January 10, 1862	Camp Clay, Lexington, Kentucky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	rumors of battle at Bowling Green, Ky; issue of ammunition; description of duty as orderly
Letter 6	January 26, 1862	Somerset, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	camp life, cleaning guns, inspections; describes daily rations; plans for regiment to go to Knoxville, Tn, via Cumberland Gap; sees horses from Confederate General Zollicoffer's troops just defeated at Mill Springs; tells Rachel about his dream of being home.
Letter 7	February 8, 1862	London, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	preparing to march on Cumberland Gap; 45 miles of hardships
Letter 8	February, 1862	unknown	John McClelland	wife Rachel	letter fragments: sends children Valentines; Major makes note of his large belly.
Letter 9	February 16, 1862	encampment on Cumberland River, Ky	John McClelland	sister-in-law Jane Lockhart	18 miles from Cumberland Gap; Union cavalry captures some Rebels; anticipation of battle; describes meager rations and hunger.
Letter 10	February 25, 1862	encampment on Cumberland River, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	describes camp being flooded; money sent home
Letter 11	March 6, 1862	Camp Cumberland, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	closer to The Gap; river floods; Rebel force increases; two burials; measles; sent money home via express
Letter 12	April 15, 1862	Cumberland Ford, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	a probe toward The Gap pickets, a moldy slapjack and fresh pone; anticipating the battle
Letter 13	April 19, 1862	Cumberland Ford, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	full of fight ..and crackers; Newt Gorsuch reported fat as a china pig'; dinner with Major Kershner; half rations due to bad roads
Letter 14	April 25, 1862	Cumberland Ford, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	out of provisions; trip to Flat Lick for food; a Colonel promoted to General?; assigned as courier for the new General
Letter 15	May 4, 1862	Cumberland Ford, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	Colonel (DeCourcey) gives his couriers a Sibley tent; how to avoid bedbugs; answering to the General's silver whistle; good food from the General's cooks;; John's wife being pursued?; finding a husband for sister Jane; the brigade's beautiful drill;
Letter 16	May 14, 1862	Cumberland Ford, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	Colonel's orderly; full brigade drill; paymaster coming; sister Jane wants to see a battle
Letter 17	May 21, 1862	Cumberland Ford, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	22 cannons; attack on Cumberland Gap tomorrow; has a horse to write and will stay close to the General
Letter 18	June 5, 1862	Cumberland Ford, Ky	John McClelland	wife Rachel	scouting with the General toward the Gap; capture of a kitten; riding five miles for milk each day
Letter 19	July 13, 1862	Cumberland Gap, Tn	John McClelland	wife Rachel	health is failing; sending money and a miniature to wife with Lt. Liggett; losing weight.
Letter 20	July 30, 1862	Cumberland Gap, Tn	John McClelland	wife Rachel	recovered from sickness; describes contents of box of provisions; sent home picture of himself made at Cumberland Gap; brought milk by two little girls while sick in hospital
Letter 21	August 8, 1862	Camp Virginia, Cumberland Gap, Tn	John McClelland	wife Rachel	John McClelland describes The Battle of Tazewell, Tennessee; capture of a Confederate Colonel; death of his Captain, Joseph Edgar; lists names of missing soldiers he knew; last known letter from Private McClelland
Letter 22	December 5, 1862	Memphis, Tn	Josiah Martin	Rachel McClelland	John's friend writes to Rachel about John's illness, taking medicine, bed under a shade tree, riding away in ambulance, getting sicker, money matters; John in hospital too weak to speak.