Letter Image

Other Civil War Letters

The John Clark Esarey Civil War letters document his service in the 53rd Regiment Indiana Volunteers during late 1864 and early 1865, including his participation in Sherman's March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign.

Letters from John Clark Esarey to Barbara Ewing Esarey:

• November 8, 1864 – From Marietta, GA
• December 20, 1864
• December 31, 1864
• January 11, 1865
• January 20, 1865
• March 26, 1865
• March 31, 1865
• April 11, 1865
• April 1865 (undated)
• May 10, 1865
• May 26, 1865
• June 2, 1865

Letters from Barbara Ewing Esarey to John Clark Esarey:

• January 22, 1865
• March 19, 1865
• April 2, 1865

Letters to/from Parents and Family:

• November 8, 1864 – JCE to Parents
• January 12, 1865 – JCE to Jonathan Davis Esarey
• April 22, 1865 – JCE to Parents
• May 6, 1865 – JDE to JCE
• June 6, 1865 – JDE to JCE

Letters from Other Relatives:

• April 18, 1865 – Brother to JCE
• April 18, 1865 – William Carmickle to JCE
• April 22, 1865 – John Ewing to JCE
• April 30, 1865 – Amira Ewing Colby to JCE
• May 7, 1865 – J. Carr to JCE (this page)
• May 19, 1865 – Lt. George Jenkins to JCE

Other Documents:

• May 31, 1865 – JCE Discharge Papers

Historical Context

These letters follow John Clark Esarey from his entry into the 53rd Regiment Indiana Volunteers (September 27, 1864), through his participation in the devastating campaigns of William Tecumseh Sherman known as The March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign, to his discharge the following summer in Washington, D.C.

This letter was written just three weeks after Lincoln's assassination on April 14, 1865. John Wilkes Booth had been killed on April 26th, but the writer suspected — correctly — that others were involved. Eight co-conspirators were tried by military tribunal; four were hanged on July 7, 1865.