Ben Price letters
Collection — Folder: S1081
Identifier: S1081
Scope and Contents
This collection includes seven letters and one military order, all of which are photocopies. The one-page Special Order No. 58 was issued February 5, 1864, from Indianapolis, and stated that R. H. Barnes was physically disqualified from active service, and was detailed as temporary steward to the U.S. hospital in Indianapolis.
Assistant Acting Surgeon John M. Kitchen, in charge of the City General Hospital, signed the order. R. H. Barnes wrote a letter on February 6, 1864, to "Lieut. Ben" in which he enclosed the order "which will give you instructions how to muster and report me on your Rolls and Reports."
The earliest letter is from F. A. Duval, in Montgomery, Alabama, to his niece.
Several of the letters are addressed to "Dear Brother."
On August 7, 1863, Ben wrote from Camp Sherman, near Vicksburg, Mississippi, telling his brother about the siege of Vicksburg. He wrote: "We arrived at Snyders Bluffs ten miles from Vicksburg on the eleventh of June and went into camp and remained until the 23rd which time we were kept busy fortifying the place and getting ready for Johnson who was said to be advancing with a large force to attack Grant in the rear and raise the siege at Vicksburg... The place was made so strong that no force would have been able to take it at this time it was thought that Johnson was coming in through another route and we were indeed out to meet him and on the morning of the 23rd of June we all started (except one Division which was left to hold the works) twenty thousand strong we marched about ten miles east and towards Black River when the rebels were reported to be crossing but found it to be a mistake. They were on the East side of the river in force but had not attempted to cross. We remained here until the fall of Vicksburg which was on the 4th of July ... Then for the first time since we had arrived on Mississippi soil had the thunder of artillery been stopped for all the time we had been near enough to hear the artillery... we arrived too late for all except the siege... that evening we got orders to go out after Johnson and started at five in the evening of the 5th." This letter is eight pages, with the final page in cramped and poor penmanship compared to the previous pages.
According to Ann Turner's "Guide to Indiana Civil War Manuscripts," page 32, the Twelfth Indiana Regiment was part of John Logan's 15th Corps of the Army of the Tennessee when it arrived in June 1863 for the Battle of Vicksburg. After the siege ender, they marched to Jackson and Big Black River, where they remained until September 28.
The last letter is dated December 31, 1886, and tells about the death of "our lamented and beloved commander, General John A. Logan." He mentions writing to General Reuben Williams about a reunion of Company D at Monticello. This 1886 letter is not in Ben Price's handwriting, is from Hampshire, Illinois, and mentions "I am to preach a sermon this evening at the M. E. Church to all old soldiers."
Assistant Acting Surgeon John M. Kitchen, in charge of the City General Hospital, signed the order. R. H. Barnes wrote a letter on February 6, 1864, to "Lieut. Ben" in which he enclosed the order "which will give you instructions how to muster and report me on your Rolls and Reports."
The earliest letter is from F. A. Duval, in Montgomery, Alabama, to his niece.
Several of the letters are addressed to "Dear Brother."
On August 7, 1863, Ben wrote from Camp Sherman, near Vicksburg, Mississippi, telling his brother about the siege of Vicksburg. He wrote: "We arrived at Snyders Bluffs ten miles from Vicksburg on the eleventh of June and went into camp and remained until the 23rd which time we were kept busy fortifying the place and getting ready for Johnson who was said to be advancing with a large force to attack Grant in the rear and raise the siege at Vicksburg... The place was made so strong that no force would have been able to take it at this time it was thought that Johnson was coming in through another route and we were indeed out to meet him and on the morning of the 23rd of June we all started (except one Division which was left to hold the works) twenty thousand strong we marched about ten miles east and towards Black River when the rebels were reported to be crossing but found it to be a mistake. They were on the East side of the river in force but had not attempted to cross. We remained here until the fall of Vicksburg which was on the 4th of July ... Then for the first time since we had arrived on Mississippi soil had the thunder of artillery been stopped for all the time we had been near enough to hear the artillery... we arrived too late for all except the siege... that evening we got orders to go out after Johnson and started at five in the evening of the 5th." This letter is eight pages, with the final page in cramped and poor penmanship compared to the previous pages.
According to Ann Turner's "Guide to Indiana Civil War Manuscripts," page 32, the Twelfth Indiana Regiment was part of John Logan's 15th Corps of the Army of the Tennessee when it arrived in June 1863 for the Battle of Vicksburg. After the siege ender, they marched to Jackson and Big Black River, where they remained until September 28.
The last letter is dated December 31, 1886, and tells about the death of "our lamented and beloved commander, General John A. Logan." He mentions writing to General Reuben Williams about a reunion of Company D at Monticello. This 1886 letter is not in Ben Price's handwriting, is from Hampshire, Illinois, and mentions "I am to preach a sermon this evening at the M. E. Church to all old soldiers."
Dates
- 1863-1886
Creator
- Price, Ben (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Lieutenant Ben Price was born September 27, 1838, to Peter and Asenath (Rothrock) Price, in Monticello, Indiana. He married Susan V. Price. Ben served in Company D, 12th Regiment Indiana Volunteers. He died December 22, 1928, and is buried in the I.O.O.F. Riverview Cemetery, Monticello, Indiana.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed 2014/09/11 by Nikki Stoddard Schofield.
Creator
- Price, Ben (Person)
- Title
- Ben Price letters
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
