A letter to A. C. Van Raalte from his son, Ben.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/1169/thumbnail.jp

Jalving, Clarence

Kennedy, Nella

Van Raalte, Ben

English

Digital Commons@Hope College

Hope College Hope College Digital Commons Van Raalte Papers: 1860-1869 Van Raalte Papers 4-15-1863 A Letter to A. C. Van Raalte from His Son, Ben Ben Van Raalte Clarence Jalving Nella Kennedy Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s The original documents are held in the National Archives of the Netherlands. This digitized material is intended for personal research/study only. The original documents may not be reproduced for commercial use in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the National Archives of the Netherlands. Recommended Citation Van Raalte, Ben; Jalving, Clarence; and Kennedy, Nella, "A Letter to A. C. Van Raalte from His Son, Ben" (1863). Van Raalte Papers: 1860-1869. 170. https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1860s/170 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Van Raalte Papers at Hope College Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Van Raalte Papers: 1860-1869 by an authorized administrator of Hope College Digital Commons. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@hope.edu. Louisville, Ky., April 15, 1863 A letter to A. C. Van Raalte from his son, Ben. Original in the Archives of the Netherlands Museum. Translated by Clarence Jalving. Louisville Ky. April 15, 1863 Dear Father, Yesterday we received a lot of mail and the box, and we were very happy with it. Everything was still in good order. My mail was mostly old letters and Observers. Dirk and I are still well. Our whole company is in good shape except a few who caught colds on the last march to Hell's Gap. Thomson has joined the company again but is still weak. Last Sunday we again changed camps and are now located opposite the military prison. We will remain here until the barracks are cleaned and then we will move into them. There are [2]  about 800 here, and yesterday Col F. left with 400 of them to Baltimore. They were nice little animals,' and with very poor clothing. The Colonel is Provost Marshall and our job is watching the prisoners and patrolling the city. We must also check the passes of those who arrive or leave by train, etc. Yesterday the 104th Illinois Regiment passed through and in the evening went on to join the main army. They just came from home, but for the second time. Last fall they had been captured by Uncle Morgan at Mumfordsville. In my opinion there will be very little fighting done in Kentucky anymore. They are beginning to get scared. [3]  April 16. The day before yesterday we received our pay—the reason I didn't write before is because I was so busy. I was the only pay sergeant and Huizenga was the orderly. The others were not quite well. I do not know how much money I can send because I have to buy a watch and some other small articles, so we'll see how I come out. I will send you the receipt of Huizenga, and will send you a company record. [4]  We have good quarters here but they are inside the fence. I wish you could be here to see the prisoners2 we have to guard. It seems funny to me that we came here—it seems as if they are afraid to let the 25th fight. Forgive my sloppy writing, for I am stretched out, and I hope that I will improve on it next time. Best regards from me to the whole family. Your loving B. Van Raalte I  Aardige beestjes [see footnote 2]. 2 Ben uses the word vinken [finches] for the incarcerated Rebels. It alludes to the Dutch practice of catching songbirds, and especially finches, which were put in cages for domestic enjoyment. P.S. Have Albertus send me a letter. [Translation: Clarence Jalving Revision: Nella Kennedy December 2007] Louisville, Ky Apr. 15ste 1813  Waarde Vader, Gisteren ontfingen wij een groote mail. En de box. En waaren er heel blij meede het was alles nog goed: mijn mail was meest ouwe brieven en Observers. Dirk en Ik zijn nog goed gezond en de Comp: ook over het geheel uitgenoomen eenigen die wat verkouden zijn geworden op de laaste march naar hallsgap. Thomson is ook weer bij onze comp:  gekoomen maar is nog maar zwak. Verleeden zondag zijn wij weer verkamt en liggen nu flak tegen over de military prision, en zullen hier zoo lang liggen tot dat de Baracks schoon gemaakt zijn en dan gaan wij daar in. Er waaren hier [2]  zoowat 800 in en gisteren is Co. F. er met 400 weg gegaan naar Baltimoore het zijn aardige beestjes en heele slegte kleeren. de Come!  is Provosmarchel en ons werk is de gevangen te bewaaren en de stad te Patroolen en de passes te examineeren van de geenen die op de Cars gaan en die er in koomen, enz. gisteren kwam het 104 Ill:  reg: hier door en ginger savonds door naar de main Army zij kwaamen pas van huis maar voor de tweede keer, zij waare verleeden herreft gevangen genoomen door Unckel Morgen, te Mumfordsville. Naar mijn gedagten zal er niet soo heel veel meer gevochten worden in Ky: want zij beginnen er de Schrik van te kreigen [3]  April 16 [in pencil now]  Eergisteren hebben wij onze pay gehad de reede dat Ik niet eerder heb geschreeven is dat Ik het zoo druk heb gehad Ik was de einigste duiten sergent en de ordely Huizenga de anderen waaren niet regt wel, hoe veel geld of Ik suuren [?] kan weet Ik nog niet want Ik moet mijn nog een herlogie koopen zoo wat eenen ande kleinegeheeden en dan moet Ik is zien hoe of Ik [?] uitkom. Ik stuur uw de kwitansie van Husenga. en zal uw een Comp:  reckord suuren [3] Wij hebben hier goeje kwartieren maar wij zitten binnen de fence Ik wouw dat gij is hier was om de vinken is te zien die wij op moeten passen. het schijnt mij aardig toe dat wij hier gekoomen zijn het lijkt wel of ze de 23sle niet durven laaten vechten. vergeef mij slordig schrijven want ik lig er lank uit bij en hoop het beeter te maaken op een volgende keer. Groet allen van mij dat is huisgenooten Uw liefhebbende B. Van Raalte laat Albertus mij ook is schrijven  [Transcription: Neils Kennedy December 2007] 1/8 Louisville Ky. Apr. 15, 1863 Dear Father: Yesterday we received a lot of mail and the box and were very happy with it. Everything was still O.K. My mail was mostly old letters and Observers. Dirk and I are still well. Our whole company is in good shape except a few who caught colds on the last march to Hellsgap. Thomson has joined the company again but is still weak. Last Sunday we again changed camps and are now located opposite the military prison. We will remain here until the barracks are cleaned and then we will rri o4o them. There are about 800 here and yesterday Co. F. left with 400 Baltimore. They were fruct- ,A-4t4tz,z,  slango—fritows and with very poor clothing. The Colonel is Provost Marshall and our job is watching the prisoners and patrolling the city. We must also check the passes of those who arrive or leave by train etc. Yesterday the 104th Illinois Regiment passed through and in the evening went on to join, tiheiDct  On army. hey just came from home but for c.ce,r f  the second time. Not--long rjao-they w e Aln-102 'fit captured by Uncle Morgan at Mumfordsville. In my opilion thei.L.•e will be very little fighting done in Kentucky any more. They are'Wg  April 16. Day before yesterday we received our pay - t1reason I didn't write before is because I was so bp.sy,,II was the onlrllit eant and Huizenga wais the orderly. atiorkyvu reeza The other° were I do not know,,how much money I can save because I have to buy a watch and some other 4articles so we'll see how I come out. I will send you the receipts of Huizenga and also sen d the company record. We have good quarters here but they are inside the fence. I wis you could be rhere to see theryreoelNke  have to guard. It seems strange to me that we .'  were  ,s--444gA here -*seems a if thy are a re tcpo  1 t the 25th fightz. 0,4 ri 4-- Forgive my sloppy riting, I am and hope that-it will-be—better next time. Best regards to the whole family. Your loving A,ij kem  B. Van Raalte P.S. Have Albertus send me a letter. itu( I, 71-hicumv 4-12g, 41~,- dedi-ltj Po' lt-e2)  /1/tiet-•--)4 at4A-.cd tret4114t.-4 21;&.:;•.,/ air Jr?. of I .4:'.9.442(adke* VAL elynd ; 4:2; • ma ,l ttA -rita _ _ Off -hif Ont. &Lb clew . ;44' SAt def litei/114 /VD kt de.? -• • . aid. lure 4,f24.51.-e-4 L olA_ ..it, mea,.' u., __ _ ,  tz,.. hilt.", De ,,,.„,37 ,, ,, - 02,1,0„,,t-4,1  „hery,ez4t,:t..-42.4-:-.#4./ / .24-4 1(' di.- .e.i ~Anna  A < sl , --42.06•"4- •-ea.". dean,_ c.-.: -,--,a--..; "":-: , d (TY-, , / d• itt /1-4.,;..-- -- //a-c-c.. !wt.,  '''," -, ^": '-' it -V/ .4. 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A Letter to A. C. Van Raalte from His Son, Ben

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A Letter to A. C. Van Raalte from His Son, Ben

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