19th Century Steinbeck Family Papers

Camp near Bacon Creek Ky Spet 22, '62

I John A. Steinbeck private - Co. "B" 3rd Fla Infty a prisoner of War do solemnly swear that I will not bear arms against the United States of America or give aid or comfort to her enemies in any way or form whatever, until regularly exchanged. Violation of this my parole bring death. [signed] J. A. Steinbeck

Witness [signed] Louis M. Bonfint[?] 3rd Ky leur[?]

Approved [signed] T. L. Crittenden Maj. Gen. comdng[?]

Louisville, Ky Sept. 27, 1862

My Dear Wife

Thank the Lord my Love I am free once more and under the protection of the Stars & Stripes. Last Monday I gave myself up to the Fed. Cavalry being left behind: on purpose? About all our marching & adventures I will say nothing, as I have kept a regular diary which I hope you will see seen soon. Two weeks ago Liut. Dunham told me that through his sister you had sent one word that you were all well but that you would leave for the north in a few days. I therefore conclude that you have gone & are now safly with mother in Harvard. After I was captured I went with the Union boys to this place. I got along first rate with them - one of them gave me a new suit of clothes & burnt the others & my both buttons they kept as keepsakes. I forgot to tell you that I was immediatly paroled by Gen. Crittenden & one [illegible] of the Ohio. I believe Gen. Bragg will have pretty hard work to find and exchange me. I am safe & sound thank the Lord - have not had to go into any engagements at all. But how are you getting along - what are you doing & what have you been doing for a living are questions which [illegible line - paper folded over]

soon I should be at you side. But I shall have to wait a little. I am completly without money & if I can persuade the Gen. to send me home I shall come soon but if not I shall have to find some work somewhere & earn some - you know Confederate money is of not much use here. I have some of that yet. I do not want you to write to me till after you have got another letter from me as I do not know where I shall be. I have felt like a new man since I have been free. I feel that I am my own again. I have to live to some purpose. I have so much to tell that I hardly know where to begin first. How are all my boys Does Charlie & Bertie want to see their Pa again & how is the baby. What do you call him. I hardly can bear to think of all the suffering you must have endured during my absence? But I trust that now there are better times a coming. I have had to endure considerable trials & privation of both body & spirit but thank the Lord in a measure they are over in a measure. How often I regretted that I ever left you - for the same opportunity I have had to wait nearly seven months - but as I found it providentialy I hope to write to you more cheering in a day or two [illegible line - folded]

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Prisoner at [illegible] [back?], was marched back about 5 miles were the northern Armee was to Gen. Crittenden, & by him paroled imidiatly. At last then thank god I am free again, & my own man & soon I hope to be with my dear wife again. Marched back with the armee & camped.

Tuesday Sept 23. Kept with the armee the Union armee I am happy to say. The Union people come out now & Ky. seems to be full of them. The advance guard of our armee had a scirmish with the Rebel rearguard on Monday in which a Liut. was killed by the Rebels. We marched about 30 miles to day. But the men look well for they have not their knapsacks to carry but walk free. We