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THBConfederate Corporal William J. Rogers, Arkansas Monticello Light Artillery, Manuscript Archive
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About Auction
LiveJun 22, 2018
Cowan’s American History: Premier Auction, scheduled for June 22, 2018 is comprised of early photographs, documents, manuscripts, broadsides, flags, and more dating from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Late Indian Wars, World War I and II and beyond. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Lot of 9 letters, including 8 war-date letters spanning 1862-1863, written by Confederate soldier William J. Rogers (1834-1865) of Drew County, Arkansas. Letters include references to the Battle of Island Number Ten, the capture of the USS Queen of the West and the USS Indianola, the first Battle of Franklin, the Siege of Corinth, Port Hudson, the Capture of New Orleans, and the Battles of Fort Jackson and Fort Phillips.
Rogers enlisted on February 1, 1862, as a corporal and was mustered into the Arkansas Monticello Light Artillery, also known as either Owen's Battery (after commander Capt. James A. Owens), Howell's Battery (after a later commander William C. Howell), or Drew's Light Artillery (a name reflecting the large number of enlistees from Drew County, Arkansas). The Monticello Artillery served east of the Mississippi for most of the war, and was among the last Confederate troops east of the Mississippi to surrender. Civil War prisoner of war records indicate that Rogers was captured at Aberdeen, Mississippi, in February 1864. From there he was transferred through Memphis to Alton Military Prison in Illinois, and then on to Camp Douglas outside of Chicago where he ultimately died of pneumonia on April 24, 1865.
Born in Georgia in 1834, Rogers' family moved west to Mississippi sometime prior to 1843. At the time the earliest letter in this collection was written, October 12, 1858, Rogers had moved to Drew County, Arkansas where he was courting Miss Frances Millie A. Goodwin (1836-1907), of Green Mours, Arkansas. He writes affectionately, "I could enjoy myself much better if I were with you ore where I could see you at least once a week.... But I hope the day will come when we will not be separated until our heavenly Father who rules over us shall separate us. For without you I will be an unhappy man." The two married on January 24, 1860 and resided in Drew County. Their first child, a son, Merrell Elijah Rogers, was born in December 1860.
The remaining letters in this collection are all written by William J. Rogers to his wife, Mrs. F. M. A. Rogers, or "Fanny," while Rogers served in the Confederate Army. The first war-date letter is from April 10, 1862, just over two months after Rogers enlisted. Rogers writes from Fort Pillow, Tennessee, describing difficult conditions and news from the front, "There are a good deal of sickness in our company at this time. But the most of it is dirhea. They are three cases of Pneumony that is very bad off....I have just saw some men from Isleland Ten. They say that the Yankees have taken all the rest of them north. I suppose they are about one hundred of them that mad[e] there escape that landed a few minutes ago. All of our Gun Boats are hear. They are not worth anything but to run So soon as the Gun Boats pass Isleland No 10 they brok for this place. One of linkons Gun Boats are worth fifty of these that are hear."
Still at Fort Pillow on April 26, 1862, Rogers writes a lengthy missive describing the anticipation of a fight at Corinth, news of the fall of Fort Jackson, sickness in the camps, his own deteriorating health and the constant bombardment his company suffers at the hands of the Union forces. He notes that "We are trying to get light artillery. I think that we will get it yet was the kind that we started for. It will be much better on our sid if we do get it. This is a very sickly hole to have to stay all the time and have to ly at our battery day and night." Rogers reflects upon news that the Confederacy passed a law "to make all twelve months volenteers to go for two years longer than they enlisted for. And to make all the men that is at home in the Southern Confederacy from 18-35 to enlist for three years or during the war. So the men that is lying at home and wont enlist will have to dance up to the rack. It would do me good to be at home and see some of the mens countenances when they hear it. I dont like the idea to forced into such matters But I think it is a very good law. It will make some of them strong secessionast that so much a fus last spring sholder their muskets." Longing for home, he describes his desire for a furlow and a chance to see the couple's young son. He closes with sentiments about his regiment "We have got one of the best Companies in the Southern Confedracy. We have the praise every where we have been. We all get along in peace and harmony just like brothers..."
Rogers and his company move from Fort Pillow to Memphis where he writes on April 28, 1862, about conditions there and the expectation that his company will command heavy artillery. He writes that he will be moving to Corinth. On May 3, 1862 Rogers writes from Corinth describing a difficult journey to his destination and a lack of suitable arms. "We have not got any guns assigned us yet. I am afraid that the fight will come off before we can get our guns. it if does we intend to go in the battlefield and get guns as they are dropped and fight any how." Despite still being without arms, Rogers and his fellow soldiers somehow remain optimistic. "We are in high spirits hear in the war matters. We think that we will be able to whip them out at this place."
After leaving Corinth, the unit spent almost one year at Columbus, Mississippi. The next letter in this collection was written from Columbus and dates from either September or December, 21, 1862. This letter is heavily dampstained and in fragile condition, and was not opened for inspection. Writing months later on March 13 and 26, 1863, Rogers' health has improved. He notes that the Confederates have “taken two of the Feds gun boats the Queen of the West & the Indianola and that General [Vandorn] had a fight not long ago not far from Franklin in Tennessee & taken 2200 of them prisoners.” He remarks that rations are short, he is unlikely to get a furlow, and he is resigned to a lengthy conflict: "Our twelve months has rolled around & going on the second year & I don't see that there is any more prospects of it [the war] ending than I did when I first came out." He writes of the Confederates in New Orleans, "If our men had been as resolute last spring as they are now the Feds never would have got New Orleans. But old [Mansfield Lovell] give up the place without ever firing a gun. I just as much believe that if he had stood his ground [we] would have had New Orleans in our possession now just as much as I believe anything."
The final letter in the collection is dated April 23, 1863 and written from Camp Near Aberdeen. In it Rogers describes a difficult and treacherous march from Columbus to Aberdeen during which his company was ordered to pursue nearby Union forces and narrowly escaped being surrounded by the enemy. It was in nearby Okolona, Mississippi, that his company would remain for the following months of Rogers' service. On February 18, 1864, in a skirmish at Aberdeen, Rogers was captured by Union forces.
Seven of the letters come with typed transcriptions. The 1858 letter comes with its original cover, which bears a three cent stamp.
Letters are generally in good condition given age. The 1858 letter has some dampstaining and fading but text is legible. The March 13, 1863, letter has ink bleeding front and back. As noted in description the Sept/Dec 21, 1862, letter is in poor condition, being heavily dampstained and brittle.Condition
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