John Forsyth Letters
John Forsyth wrote these two letters to his wife, Martha (Swanger) Forsyth, while serving with Company G of the 97th Ohio Infantry. The first letter, dated September 12, 1863, was written from Bridgeport, Alabama amidst the Chickamauga Campaign. Forsyth mentions that he is at work fortifying the the southeast bank of the Tennessee River and discusses the Stones River and Perryville campaigns, saying that Confederate General Bragg would not dare take a stand against General Rosencrans after those battles and praising the brave 97. The second letter, dated May 27, 1864, was written from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where Forsyth was working at a rock quarry to gather stones for a fort. He briefly describes the work and asks about news from home.
Dates
- 1863 September 12, 1864 May 27
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Extent
0.1 Linear Feet
Abstract
John Forsyth wrote these two letters to his wife, Martha (Swanger) Forsyth, while serving with Company G of the 97th Ohio Infantry. The first is dated September 12, 1863 from Bridgeport, Alabama amidst the Chickamauga Campaign and the second is dated May 27, 1864 from Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Biographical/Historical Note
John Forsyth was born in about 1827 in Ohio. He married Martha Jane Swanger on November 4, 1848 and the couple had nine known children: Joshua Wesley, William M., Alonzo A., James H., Sarah Jane, Polly, George M., Nancy E., and Mary L. Forsyth mustered into Company G of the 97th Ohio Infantry on September 1, 1862 and was transferred to the 1st Veteran Volunteers Regiment on July 18, 1864. The 97th Ohio saw action at Perryville, Stones River, Chattanooga, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kennesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, and Nashville. After the war, Forsyth returned to his family in Ohio. They later moved to Indiana, where Forsyth most likely died between 1890 and 1900.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
The University of Tennessee Libraries, Knoxville, Special Collections purchased this collection.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository