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UNION SOLDIER LETTER—1ST LIEUTENANT WILLIAM H. H. MOODY, CO “H”, 74th OHIO INFANTRY

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Dated “Camp Chase, Sept 15, 1862.” Addressed to Dear Mother.” 3pp. In ink on unlined paper, 10” x 8. Exhibits fold-marks & 2 minor tears along upper margin. Else VG & entirely legible.

According to the Historical Data Service, William H. Moody, was commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant and mustered into Co. “H”, 74^th Ohio Infantry, 3/18/1864. Promoted to 1^st Lieutenant, 2/20/1863. he died of disease 9/28/ 1864. His unit, the 74^th Ohio, was organized in March 1862. Attached to the Western Army of the Ohio, and later to the Army of the Cumberland, it engaged at the Battle of Stones River at the end of the year, and participated in the 1863 Tullahoma Campaign, the Battles of Chickamauga & Chattanooga, the 1864 Atlanta Campaign & March to the Sea. As well as the 1865 Battle of Bentonville. Following the surrender of Johnston’s Army, it mustered out in Louisville, KY, in July 1865. During service it lost 53 killed and mortally wounded and 107 by disease for a total of 164. Lt. Moody’s death occurred following the capture of Atlanta and prior to commencement of operations against Gen. Hood in north Georgia.

Moody’s letter to his mother was written from Camp Chase, Ohio, at the time of the commencement of the Siege of Nashville, in mid-Sept. 1862, in which 74^th Ohio would participate.

He writes of being in Columbus and going “down to see the Gov. before dinner,” going on to say that “Ben Nesbit laid our case before the Gov and asked that we might have an early exchange. He said “that there were a great many prisoner awaiting exchange and that he had never made a special case yet.” He talked pleasantly indeed. I told him I had a message from you. I also spoke of my commission. He said he would give me one any time I should call.”

Then goes on to say that he has been to Camp Chase and that “all the old 74^th boys were quite glad to see us,” saying further that “Capt. McDowell says that he inquired particularly of our captors about reporting in person at Knoxville and that they said that we would not be require.’’ Adding that, “The boys will be here tonite, there are from 4 to 5000 prisoners here. You must come up to see me as soon as possible...and tell me all the news….From what I hear Pa is in Nashville [referring to Granville Moody, Colonel of the 74^th Ohio]”

There is a puzzle here, as well as a discrepancy in the records, concerning Moody’s actual regiment, and his rank. There is no record in Dyer’s Compendium of any members of 74^th Ohio becoming POWs at that stage of the war (or at any stage of the war, though according to young Will Moody there seem to have been a bunch of them at Camp Chase. Then too, Moody’s question to the governor of Ohio concerning a commission implies that while in the army, he is not yet an officer in the 74^th Ohio commanded by his father, though he may well soon be. Again, contradicting the Historical Data Service records.

So, Here is a tantalizing puzzle, inviting some detective work by some serious Ohio Regimental aficionado. Was the unfortunate Lieut. Moody, due to die of disease at the tail end of the Atlanta Campaign, a member of the 74^th Ohio at the time of this letter? Was he an officer? Was he ever a POW. And if so, when and where was he captured? It should be perhaps added that Moody was cheerful kid who could ask his ma to “tell all the girls to write to me very often.” Invites further research by a zealous 21^st century camp follower of of the 74^th Ohio. In protective sleeve.    [jp][ph:L]

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