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THBCaptain James E Murdoch Jr., 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War Archive
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About Auction
LiveJun 10, 2016 - Jun 11, 2016
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Captain James E Murdoch Jr., 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Civil War Archive
Lot of 12 letters and several addressed envelopes from Captain James E. Murdoch Jr. to his sisters and father, ca 1861-1901.
James E. Murdoch Jr. was the eldest son of James E. Murdoch (also spelled Murdock), a famous Shakespearean actor and elocutionist who was loved by Lincoln. James Murdoch Jr. enlisted as a 2nd lieutenant and was commissioned into the 2nd OH Inf. Co. I on July 15, 1861. His younger brother, Thomas enlisted two months before him and mustered into the 13th OH Inf. Co. I as a sergeant. Murdoch wrote to his sister, Ida, I am at last one of Uncle Sam's Boys...(Camp Dennison September 12, 1861).
The battle field was fraught with difficulty for Murdoch. He experienced action almost immediately after leaving from training. In the hills of Kentucky Murdoch described the battle at Piketown to his sister:
We had not gone eight miles when we drove their pickets in two miles from that place they met us or I should say we came on a masked batterie(?) they were stationed on our left on the top of a mountain and on our right across the river in a corn field. the balance were stationed on a bluf in from of the road, they numbered in all 1200- they waited until the Kentucky Regt. & 2nd Ohio were in the pass. when of a sudden, they let a shower of musket ball into us from all points for a minuet it unnerved our men. we didn't know which way to look the Kentucky boys at the first fire pressed back on our Regt. but we stood our ground and they couldn't get by us. they then huddled together like a flock of quail trying to get behind each other the musket balls falling like hail amounst us...how and why we are not all cut to pieces I cant see... (Near Louisville, KY November 29, 1861).
Murdoch enclosed a sprig from the bloody battlefield in the letter.
Murdoch's valor earned him a place on the staff of Colonel Joshua W. Sill in 1862 and the rank of captain in 1863. (Camp Jefferson, January 29, 1862). He and his brother were lucky enough to camp near each other in Kentucky and fought near one another at Stone's River. Thomas' regiment suited him well also, Capt. Roberts is a perfect gentleman and he thinks everything of Tom, wrote Murdoch, Tom couldn't of got in a better [illegible] if he had hunted the Regts. through. (Camp Jefferson, January 29, 1862). While separated, Murdoch's regiment fought through Kentucky and Tennessee. Murdoch wrote his father:
We had a train returning from Nashville with the convalescences and a few wagons with only 36 men as guards, numbering in all about 125 men-but only 36 muskets this party was attacked by John Morgan and his band of cutthroats numbering over 300 men--our men formed a hollow square with the wagons and kept the rebels at bay for nearly three hours when running out of ammunition they were forced to surrender such men indeed are the pride of our army. (Camp Taylor, Huntsville, AL, May 22, 1862).
While Murdoch fought off Morgan, his brother Thomas witnessed unspeakable carnage and suffering at Corinth and Shiloh. Thomas did not write to him from the battlefield, which worried Murdoch. He inquired about Thomas to his family, but the boys reunited and toiled together at the Battle of Stone's River. In a later letter, Murdoch felt his family favored his brother:
I feel put out when I don't get any letters from the cottage, true Susan is very prompt in writing, but still I love to hear from you [, Ida] As for Master Tom I think he gets his share for hardly a mail comes in but what there is a letter for him, directed in a fine hand and post mark Louisville. It may be none of my business but still I don't exactly understand it, of course he does---(Battle Creek Tennessee).
Putting his jealousy aside, Murdoch also wrote the happy news that he would be the one to announce his brother's promotion to captain. I am glad of it, for a braver Captain never wore U.S. uniform, He is a good brave fellow and I am proud to own him as a brother. (Battle Creek Tennessee).
The brothers fought together again at the Battle of Chickamauga, but Thomas, did not survive. While on his horse he was wounded in the left side below the shoulder by a ball that penetrated his spine. He fell to the ground and stayed close to enemy lines by nightfall until two soldiers acting as Hospital nurses, crept to where he was lying and brought him to General Rosecrans’ headquarters. At the hospital he complained of numbness about that side and seemed to suffer little. He died of his wounds and became one of a staggering 16,000 men killed, lost, or wounded at Chickamauga. Murdoch miraculously survived the war and went on fighting. He later resigned and was discharged from the army from a disability on November 4, 1863.
After the war, in honor of his fallen brother, Murdoch named his son Thomas.Condition
Very good
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