Letter from Apr. 23, 1865
Letter to John Yarick from Reuben Yarick, April 23, 1865
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Full Title
Handwritten Letter to John Yarick from his brother, Reuben Yarick, April 23, 1865
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Description
Handwritten letter from Reuben Yarick, at Washington, D.C., to his brother, John Yarick, in Suffield, Portage County, Ohio. The letter describes Reuben's fears and feelings about the assassination of President Lincoln and visiting his body in the White House. This letter is part of Papers of John Yarick, 1854-1864. Reuben enlisted in Company G, 1st Michigan Infantry as a Sergeant on July 2, 1861 at Jackson (Mich.) age 25. He was wounded in action in 1864 and hospitalized at the U.S. Hospital, Hampton, Virginia. He was discharged from Company B, 24th VRC at Washington, D.C., on July 28, 1865. (This information is from Reuben's service record.)
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Transcription
Page One
Washington, D. C., Aprl 23, 1865
Ever Dear Brother
Yours of the 16th is before
me and I am happy indeed to hear that
you are getting well again and your
family is recovering from its affliction
John I wrote a letter to you I think [inserted: two weeks ago]
that you have received it before this
time but I will write you a short
letter this evening yes John President
Lincoln is dead and you and [crossed out illegible words]
his remains are on it[sic] way to its last
resting place in the far west Springfield
Illinois they left here at eight -oclock
this [crossed out] yesterday morning I seen his
boddy [sic] at the White House last tuesday
or Wedensday [sic] it was conveyed to the
Capital the crowd of People was great the
procession was large and on thurday [sic]
his boddy [sic] lay in State at the Capital [sic]
and an emence [sic] swarm of People was
Page Two
their [sic] all day to get a last glimpse
of the once famous ruler of these
United States and our unhappy country
I went on Guard yesterday morning
at the old capital Prison and came
off this morning in the Prison nothing
but Rebel Prisoners of war are
confined and mostley [sic] all Rebell [sic]
officers from Second Lieutenant
to Generals and what little
opportunity that I had to speak to
them they all felt sorry and sayed [sic]
that to their opinion that the best
man for peace had gone and
did not think that the so called
Confederate Government had eneything [sic]
to do with the assassination and
was afraid that we would use them
pretty ruff [sic] we have allays [sic] used
prisoners of war well and I thing [sic]
that we allways [sic] will as long as they
will behave themselves two hundred
of these was sent off this morning
Page Three
for Johnson Island Ohio one Gen
was with the lot Gen Payn was
his name those two hundred was
all Officers.
Well John I don't know that i have
much more to write this time
their [sic] is a rumor now that the
V.R.C. will be mustard [sic] out soon
and if they do I will get out of the
Service but if the war continues
I will get in the Cavlrey [sic] if I can
I have one good arm yet and I can
fight it out had thought to quit
when I got out but this last cowardly
murder is enough to arouse evrey [sic]
Patriot's heart and fight as long as
he can raise an arm
Hoping that this will finde [sic] you
all well as it leaves me I will close
for this time my health is good at
present Remain as ever your
Devoted Brother
Sergt. Reuben Yarick
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Source
Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, John Yarick Papers, 1854-1864
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Rights
This item may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.
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Tags
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Cite this Item
Yarick, Reuben. "Handwritten Letter to John Yarick from his brother, Reuben Yarick, April 23, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed December 3, 2024. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/847
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Item Type
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Creator
Yarick, Reuben
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Date
1865
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Material
Letter
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Dimensions
8x10 inches
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Region
Letter from Apr. 23, 1865
Handwritten Letter to John Yarick from his brother, Reuben Yarick, April 23, 1865
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Description
Handwritten letter from Reuben Yarick, at Washington, D.C., to his brother, John Yarick, in Suffield, Portage County, Ohio. The letter describes Reuben's fears and feelings about the assassination of President Lincoln and visiting his body in the White House. This letter is part of Papers of John Yarick, 1854-1864. Reuben enlisted in Company G, 1st Michigan Infantry as a Sergeant on July 2, 1861 at Jackson (Mich.) age 25. He was wounded in action in 1864 and hospitalized at the U.S. Hospital, Hampton, Virginia. He was discharged from Company B, 24th VRC at Washington, D.C., on July 28, 1865. (This information is from Reuben's service record.)
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Source
Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, John Yarick Papers, 1854-1864
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Rights
This item may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.
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Creator
Yarick, Reuben
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Date
April 23, 1865
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Material
Letter
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Dimensions
8x10 inches