“E Pluribus Unum” – Guarding Rebel Prisoners on Johnson’s Island Letters

A excellent two-letter grouping from Sergeant James B. Haslet of the 6th Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, written while serving as a guard at the Confederate prisoner-of-war camp on Johnson’s Island, Ohio. Haslet had previously served in the 139th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry before transferring to the VRC due to wounds or disability.
Letter #56 (February 20, 1865 – Washington’s Birthday) is written on patriotic stationery bearing a bold circular eagle, flags, shields, and stars imprint with the motto “E Pluribus Unum.” It contains rich content including:
Receipt of family news and thanks for help locating financial contacts
Comments on the weather and reduced guard duty once the ice breaks up
Reaction to local enlistments and Copperhead-style remarks about “fighting for the Negroes”
Glorious news of the evacuation of Charleston and Wilmington
Reference to the Army of the Potomac moving out under Grant
Letter #57 (March 11, 1865) continues family correspondence and camp life:
Determination to remain “gay and happy” despite being away from home
News that his relative Robert is now “acting Lieutenant”
Township avoiding the draft again
Extremely cold weather (thermometer froze) and ice on Sandusky Bay
Use of Christian Commission stationery and a humorous note about a “housewife” (sewing kit) sent by a Pittsburgh lady
Both letters retain their original envelopes and offer a wonderful firsthand look at guard duty at a major Northern prison camp in the final months of the war, just weeks before Appomattox. Strong family content combined with timely military news makes this a desirable grouping for collectors of Pennsylvania soldiers, Veteran Reserve Corps, or Johnson’s Island material.
Condition: Both letters are complete (4 pages each), written in clear, legible ink. Typical mailing folds. Envelopes present and intact with period postage and markings. Minor age toning, no significant damage.
 
Letter #56 D 6 VRC 139 Regt. Pa. Vols. Johnson Island Ohio Feb. 20, 1865
Mr. John Guyton Jr. Dear Nephew,
I seat myself on this birthday of the Father of our Country to answer your kind and welcome letter of the 17th which I received today and was glad to hear from you and to hear that you were all in the enjoyment of good health. In answer I will say that I am well and I hope that this may find you all well also, thanks be to God for his kind and tender mercies to us while we deserve nothing but wrath and indignation at his hand.
Dear Nephew I am very thankful to you for taking trouble to send me the directions of Mr. Reeds Trust Co. The weather has moderated very much. I think if it continues a few days I think that the ice will break up and leave us surrounded with water and then we will not have so much guard duty to do.
I am glad to hear that John Ratshouse has enlisted at last. I wonder what his Father thinks of what he said — he never raised a son to be a mark for the Rebels to shoot at, and I wonder if he is going out to fight for the Negroes now. I suppose Bill Haslet will take it hard. I do not know what Mr. Wallace will do if Samuel leaves him. I hope you will not leave your Father and go too. Roberts gets home at least.
Well while I write the artillery is firing a salute but there is not so much danger here as when Gen. Lee and Grant used to fire their salutes in Virginia. I received a letter from Robert a few days ago. He said that they had a pretty good time but lots of duty to do out there.
We have glorious news last night and today of the evacuation of Charleston & Wilmington. I was very much pleased to hear of them, more especially of the former as it is the Sodom of America and has been a curse to it ever since it was in the Union. I hear that the Army of the Potomac has started to move. I suppose that Gen. Grant will not give either the Rebels or his Army any rest now.
You say that you had to close as you were going away that night. You wrote but you did not tell me where you were going. I suppose you knowed yourself and another knew and that was enough. Too much running at night is injurious to the health but that is your own business and not mine.
I heard that Dunlap had got back to his regiment. I think he will only be in the way while they are on the move and he cannot handle a gun or carry a knapsack very conveniently.
You need not take an excuse for bad writing especially to me as I cannot write near as well as you and now I have to hurry it over more than usual as my time is nearly all occupied though I am glad to get letters so I try and answer all of them.
Well I will close by sending you all my good wishes. I remain your affectionate Uncle. James B. Haslet Co. D 6 Reg VRC Johnson Island Ohio
Letter #57 Johnson Island, Ohio March 11, 1865
I seat myself this evening to write a few lines to you in answer to your kind and ever welcome letter of the 6th inst. which I received about an hour or two ago and I was glad to hear that you were in the enjoyment of good health and in answer I will say that your letter found me in good health and in good spirits also, as I have come to the conclusion that I am going to make myself contented, let the wide world rove as it will. I’ll be gay and happy still, as it is the only way to get along in this world especially when a person is away from home.
I received a Letter from Robert a few days ago dated March the 1st and one from Dunlap dated the 3rd and they were both in good health at that time. I am also glad to hear that Robert is acting Lieutenant and I hope that he will be commissioned if he can get out with the regiment as I know that he deserves it more than any one that ever belonged to the Co.
I see that your Township has got clear of the draft again. Well I suppose that some of them was strong Union men and faithful to their country though they would rather let some of their greenbacks go as go themselves as it is very dangerous out at the front. Some would be willing enough to go if they could have their homes and families.
Well the weather has changed here again and got cold once more. While I write I am cold. I will have to stop and go to the fire and warm myself. The night before last it was that cold here that the Thermometer froze up and my bed fellow was on guard and I had to sleep by myself and tonight will not be much better. I have not to be out on guard at nights that is one consolation. I can sleep in the Barracks at night if I have a great deal to do every day.
The Bay between here and Sandusky was broke up (or at least the ice in it) but it had not all run out and now it is nearly all froze up again. I do not think it will last long.
You must not laugh at this poor paper as it is some of the Christian Commission paper. I sent to the Ladies Christian Commission of Pittsburgh for a housewife some time ago. I told the young Lady that I wrote to that it was not a woman to keep house but an article to carry needles, pins etc. in and there was two sheets of paper in it. I wish you had been here to have written to the Lady that made the housewife. She sent her address and I was sorry that I could not answer it as I had one woman to correspond with.
Well I must close and get my guard detail ready as it is near Roll Call.