Dewitt C. Callaway b abt 1843 MO, son of John B. and Sarah Ann Dorsey Callaway of Greenfield, IL. (John B. Callaway, Jr. b 26 Jan 1801 KY d 17 Mar 1860 Greenfield; Sarah Ann Dorsey b Sept 1808 MD d 17 Oct 1858 Greenfield, IL. Both buried Rosehill Cemetery). Dewitt Clinton Callaway is also buried in Rosehill.
Company "D" 32nd Illinois Infantry
CALAWAY, DeWitt C. Private Greenfield Sep 6, 1861 Re-enlisted as Veteran
CALLOWAY, Dewitt C. Veteran Greenfield Jan 2, 1864 Died, Louisville, Feb 25, 1865
June 18th
Camp near Vicksburg 1863
Dear Brother
I received your letter of the 7th and was glad to hear that you was well. We left Grand Gulf (MS)on the 12th and arrived at Warrenton (MS) the same night. In the morning we got off the Boat and about noon marched to our present camp. We are camped about a mile from the rebel forts in a hollar rather on the left of our lines. Vicksburg is completely surrounded from Warrenton to the Yazoo River. Our pickets are so close that there is almost a continual Battle going on and our cannon are all the time throwing shells into the Sash camp. We was on picket the other day and we tried our guns on every Reb that showed himself and they returned the complement, though only one of our Boys was wounded. There was two or three killed and wounded yesterday. We will go on picket tonight and have a talk with the rebel picket. The other night we had a long talk with the rebels. They asked us when we got our last mail and if we had any late papers. We talked till about 10 oclock and then all went to bed. Our men are all the time putting up big guns to rake Vicksburg. Once in a while some deserter come over. They say that we kill some of their men every day and that the men inside are getting discouraged. I hope Ed that you are not down on the Army now. No matter what is done it can't be helped and anything that helps to put down this wicked rebellion is all right even if we have negros in the field. We might as well have them help us build fortifications and load boats and the rest of the heavy work as to have them doing what the rebels wants them to do. I hope to live through the impending Battles and to go home and that there will be peace all over this great Country. Nothing More from your Brother
Dewitt C Callaway
P. S. Direct to D. C. Callaway Co D.
Vicksburg, Miss. 32nd Regt Ills Inft
James M. Matlock, 1st Lieut. Co. F. commanded by Jackson Drennan in the 12th Regt. Ill. Cav. Mother, Margaret, applied for a pension as dependent of her son. Date of his death was given as 19 February 1864. James was son of George and Margaret (believed Hutchisson) Matlock. (George Matlock b 3 Mar 1875 VA d aft 1850 Trimble Co., KY; Margaret (Hutchisson ??) b 1797/8 PA or TN d 8 Mar 1870 Greenfield, IL buried Rosehill Cemetery) James b abt 1840 KY d 19 Feb 1864 believed killed during war.
Camp Wool, Martinsburg, VA Sept 3rd 1862
Dear Mother, I will attempt to write you a short letter this morning, that you may know how things is going on in this part of the World Campaign at present. And for a commencement I will state that our boys have all arrived safe and sound at Camp Wool again. I was well pleased in deed to see the Company all back once more. The boys have had a gay time up at Paw Paw. I believe they succedded in capturing about fifteen Rebels.
As you are already aware we are having exciting times in this Department at present time. The hardest battle of the war is now being fought at Manassas and vicinity. At last accounts they were still fighting with heavy loss on both sides. Gen Pope is receiving heavy reinforcements every hour and I firmly believe that before three days success will come crown our army. And if our forces are lucky enough to gain the victory there it is the opinion of every one that it will be the winding up of the war in Virginia.
There was great excitement here this morning occasioned by the report that Winchester had been evacuated and that the Rebels under Genl Longstreet had occupied the place, which all proved to be a false report. It is true a part of our forces have left there and gone where they are more needed. The Citizens were all packing up and getting ready to cross the river into Maryland. They was expecting as soon as they got in possession of Winchester that they would be right on to Martinsburg. Our boys were all in fine spirits, and expressed a desire that the Rebels might come on so they might have a chance to show them the pluck of two Regiments of thoroughbred Suckors. Our entire force at Martinsburg now is about three Thousand, including the following Regiments...The Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, The Sixty Fifth Ills Infantry, and The One-hundredreth and Twenty fifth New York Infantry, and Capt Phillips Chicago Battery. We are expecting several more Regiments in this week.
Wednesday morning, Sept 4th. Since writing the above, I received a letter from Cousin Jo Hutchisson. He tells me that Bro Tom, has enlisted in the one Hundreth and Twenty first Ohio Infantry. It was nothing more than I had expected to hear. I would like much for him to be with me but I expect he is in a better Regiment than this. Though I do not like Infantry, and never would have enlisted in an Infantry Regiment, I never liked the idea of going a foot. Cavalry I have noticed are always a great deal more healthy than Infantry, exercise on house back I suppose is the cause.
Lo Reaves is in the the hospital sick though not very bad off. All the boys are getting along fine. I read a letter from Liz a few days ago. Tell her I will write to her soon. She stated that you had been to see Mrs. Gilmore. I was indeed glad to hear that you had made the acquaintance of my most kind friend for she is one of the best hearted good natured women in the world. I never will forget the kindness with which I was treated by her. And when you see her or the Capt again give them my best respects and well wishes and tell them that I consider myself under many obligations to them for the many favors I have received from their hands. I will write to them myself soon. I have nothing more to say that will be interesting to anybody and I will close. Please write to me soon. I remain Yours with filial Affections,
Jas M. Matlock
P. S. Wednesday night
Lieutenant Colonel Davis of our Regiment left here with two companies of the 12th Ills Cavalry yeaterday on a scouting expidition and a report came to camp this evening that he had a brush with a party of Guerrillas near Bunker Hill, some 12 miles south of here. Whether the report is true or not I am not able to say. Another Company has gone to him tonight. We will hear something more about it tomorrow.
The brother James was writing about was Thomas A. Matlock Co C 121 Ohil Inf. His cousin was Joseph Hutchisson, same Ohio company.
Submitted by Betty Silvey