Lambert Luten (1837-1916) wrote the following letters to his
brother, Hiram in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
He fought in the American Civil War from 1860-1865. On June 5, 1866 he
married Willemina Hagens (1844-1918), daughter of Berend Hagens and Dina Vedders.
His brother, Hiram, was married to Mary Vedders a niece of Dina Vedders.
Enlisted in Company B, Engineers and Mechanics as
Corporal Sept 14 1861 at Grand Rapids for 3 years, age 22. Mustered Oct
29 1861.
Was in battle at Lavergne, Tenn. Jan 1863.
Re-enlisted Jan 1 1864 at Chattanooga, Tenn. Mustered
Febr 1 1864. Sergeant Febr 25 1864. Mustered out at Nashville, Tenn.
Sept 22 1865.
Present residence Grand Rapids, Mich. R.F.D. No 7.
From "Directory of Civil War Soldiers" in
Grand Rapids Public Library. Published by authority of Senate and House
of Representatives of the Michigan Legislature under direction of Brig.
Gen. George H. Brown, Adjutant General.
Nashville, Tenn. Dec 7th 1862
Sunday morning
Dear brother Hiram,
Having nothing else to do I have taken my pen to direct a few lines
to you but do not infer from this, as though I only write to you when I
have nothing else to do, but because it is only a short time since I
have written and nothing of importance has transpired since. I am as
ever dissatisfied on account of not receiving enough letters, I have
only received 2 in 2 weeks, one from father and the other from ÷÷÷÷
but still I am not going to ..., I am good natured as ever, and I think
a little morest than I used to be at home for associating with so many
men of diferent dispositions, a person has got to be good natured in
order to get along.
Yes Hiram the army is a great school, a great deal is being learned
both good and evil, but alas! The evil abound with many I am sorry to
say.
We are still guarding the colored population and we have a colored
man for our cook whom we have agreed to pay 50 cts per month. Each of
us, we are living quite comfortable at this present time, how long it
will remain so I cannot say, for there are many changes in the army.
We are with 10 men in one tent and have built a fireplace in the
centre, which accomadates for cooking and warming the tent for it is
quite cold sometimes.
Simon Ziel is yet at Louisville as nurse in a hospital.
I day we have fresh beef; by good luck last night a flet dark a drove
of U.S. fat cattle came by here and one steped out by the way not being
noticed by the drivers and of course our boys did not take any pains to
direct their attention to it and now we have quite a nice lot of fresh
beef in our tent. We are here with two comp.s and both comp.s have about
50 men on duty, our comp. furnishes 3 releifs of 10 men and a corporal.
I have been on guard as long as we have been here 2 weeks ago today 2
hours on and off right along; every night at 10 o'clock if you think of
me you may think that I am calling on the releif and stand untill 12 the
time when you are engaged wispering sweet words that is if you have
found a sweet heart again which of course you must have by this time,
where girls are as plenty and boys as few as they must be in Michigan.
They tell me that Schreuder is married at last to lovely Harrie so he
did not get .. Daane . Well I suppose he feels good and I hope he will
continue to feel so. The boys in the work house have had their trial but
have not received theur sentenee yet. Dec. 13th., now I calculate to
finish this letter we are back to the ... again and more than that we
have received our pay and have reason to be happy as ... if money can
course happiness.
I have expressed 160 dollars home forwarded. Albert ... second
sergeant of our comp. has gone to Michigan recruiting, he will probably
come to the Rapids you may probably know him as he used to work for
Litchfields at Blendon engineer, you 'd better try to see him if you
can.
Goodbye from your brother,
Lambert Luten
I have written a letter to father today; my respects to Sally and
others grad wishes to ..sy.
L.L.
Chickamanga Creek July 24/(18)64
Dear brother Hiram,
I will try and write a few lines to you this day, to pass away part
of the time; for I have not the means of passing away, that you have at
home, it is now sunday but no chance to go to any meeting. Only our
prayer meeting tonight after roll call when we generally have an
interesting time, all present taking part in the exercises; our number
is from 10 to 15, we have meeting twice a week thursday and sunday
evenings; was there but more spirit of prayer in our army; more a spirit
of humiliatior and piety; did we but as a people turn into the Lord and
practice wisdom by fearing Him and shows our understanding by turning
from evil than I trust the dark clouds would soon disappear; and our
national sky grows bright and I fear not untill ther, the doctrine that
" the Lord is on the side of the strongest armies and the heaviest
ordnance " is not drawn from the bible; and will hardly do to build
the prospects of peace upon, for the Lord does not choose sides, that is
left for us to do. And for us to reap the fruits of such a choice. Our
country has got to undergo a change, the press has got to advocate
different principles.
I had considerable confidence in the Vrincipia; as a poper of true
principles, but its course in regard to Fremont, has .rushed my
confidence for with it, as with other political popers, its candidate is
extolled as a God, while its opponent is made to appear like a devil.
Foolish inconsistency such as will not rid the country of its selfish
politicians. We have plenty smart men the honest upright God fearing men
are worting.
Smartness has got to be the tombstone of honesty and virtue. Smart
tricks, donkee tricks have been so bountifully applouded, that many have
taken the contageon and have perfected themselves in the schemes;
honesty and virtue are at a discount in the army. If this were published
many would at once denonnee me as a grumbler and foult finder a sorehead
or some other name; and yet every soldier willing to admit the truth.
Will say the some thing, such facts are not exactly published in the
papers yet practiced as plain as words can speak it. We look too much
over our own heads; to magnify the foults of our enemys, the word loyal
is getting so it covers many sins, which the day of judgement will
reveal to condemn the practicer. Many tricks in the army published going
the sound of the press to tickle the ear of the reader; the world, the
crowd pronounces them cunning, shrewd when viewed in the light of
honesty and virtue, they would wither as the morngrass the army is the
inventor od deeds and practices, demoralising to society degrading to
the nation; and above all sinful in the sight of God.
I do not wish to be a faultfinder still where the rebaker is silent;
sin goes on encouraged; popularity demands the silence of the
faultfinder; but justice demands that truth should be spoken. I desire
to be just if it be at the loss of popularity. The love of mony and of
sensual pleasure are two great evils in the army; speculations of every
kind are rife. I have speculated more than I meants in the future, for I
find that it has a tendency to dishonesty and that it creates an undue
desire for gain; honest labor must furnish me a livelyhood. The word
every man for himself and the Lord for us all is carried out too much
and the quatation ought never to be uttered for less practiced.
Sensual pleasure is so far indulged in, that nearly every honse is
considered one of ill fame or would be made such.
Yet the modern poet prepares a heaven for the soldier who falls in
the countrys service irrespective of live that heaven that admits all
soldiers without a change of heart I do not want to go to.
It is now evening and I have just returned from our prayer meeting;
where we had a soul refreshing time. There I find my real enjoyment in
the army and hope to continue to.
The news from the front is rather conflicting today. Some reports
have Atlanta taken and our troops driven out again; other reports have
our army some distance beyond Atlanta fighting hard. Gen. Mac Pherson
commander of the Department of Tennessee has been killed, his corpse
went by here this morning, all accounts speak of heavy fighting some
have our army retreating.
I am a little afraid of a Chickamanga affair, but hope the best,
still you will have all the particulars before this reaches you. We are
yet engaged as before; when we move from here we will probably go some
distance for our reg. is now scattered a distance of a 100 miles along
the R.R. And we will probably have to go beyond there, yet we can tell
but little ahead. I must now close for it is bed time.
From your brother Lambert.
Goldsboro N.C.
April 3, 1865
Dear brother Hiram,
It is with feelings of gratitude and pleasure that I have taken my
pen to write a few lines to yoy hoping that it will find you in the
enjoyment of health and life's blessings. We are as yet encamped at
Goldsboro which place you will be able to locate from the maps. I wrote
a letter to father about a week ago in which I gave a short detail of
our campaign. For a better one I would refer you to the New York Herald
of March the 20th which had an accurate map showing the roads over which
we marched. Our reg. was at different times with different corps.
Tuesday, April 4
Dear Brother, this morning I have another subject to write on with
feelings of regret. I have to mention that I am again reduced to the
ranks. The circumstances are these. On the 7th of Febr. last, I was
detailed in charge of the foragers from our co. The business of these
foragers (5 or 6 from each co) is to shove out early in the morning
ahead of the troops, that is the main column, go to the farm houses and
procure provisions for the reg. - meat, flour, meal, potatoes and
whatever can be found in the line of provision. The whole detail from
the reg. is in charge of a Lt. On said 8th of Febr. we shoved ahead,
nearly up to the skirmish line, went to a farm house, searched the
outhouses, found a small quantity of meal and one of the men suggested
going into the house to see if we could find anything there as there
were several soldiers in the house already. So we went in, went upstairs
and while looking around Gen. Hood's Com.g. 1st Div., 15th Corps,
entered the house and arrested us, 4 in number, for violation of an
order, forbidding the entering of houses and charged us with pillaging;
yet that was only a supposition which could not be proved for we did not
take a thing out of the house. Still it must be considered in the army
that a general's word is worth as much as 10 privates at least; be he
whatever he may, he is supposed to be a man of honor, more of honor than
of honesty with some, but be that as it may, I violated a general order,
which if everyone was strictly enforced I think every officer and
private in the army would be criminated. So we were arrested, and have
been in that condition ever since being excused from duty but not under
guard, so that we had pretty easy times as far as physical exertion is
concerned. Last saterday we had a hearing before Major Rhodes, provost
marshall of our reg. and this morning the sentence was read to the
company, fining the three privates $5 each and myself being reduced to
the ranks after the 1th of April. In entering the house I followed the
example of hundreds of officers and men so that it did not appear to be
an offence. Yet the order stood unrevoked and I for one suffer the
consequence of disobeying the same. So now I am at the same point I was
more than two years ago; as far as promotion in the army is concerned;
still I do not feel gloomy nor disheartened and I hope you may be
reconciled to it. I am in the hands of the Lord and His ways are just.
He can exalt and debase and what puny mortal say unto him what doest
thou; one consolation is that in my case, I have the sympathy and not
the scorn of my fellow men. The scorn is vented on the provost marshall
who of all men is least loved.
Another sad circumstance I have to mention and that is the death of
our orderly sergt. Chesebro who died today of disease; but I trust has
gone to a better world, for his life among us was an exemplary one for
good, and I trust while his body is rapt in the gloom of death, his
spirit is robed in the white garment of the redeemed; may his death be a
warning to the living for we must also die.
I have received 2 of father's most welcome letters, one of Jan. 29th
and the other of March 5th. I also received one from you before leaving
Beaufort, S.C. but failed to answer it for some reason or other. I think
I have acknowledged receipt of the hat and gloves in a previous letter.
You wanted to know whether or not to collect the town bonds which became
due the 1th of Febr. so as it was about that date when I received, I
concluded that you would act in the matter according to your judgement,
the way it seems to you the surest and most profitable.
As I lost my count book, I would be pleased to have you give me a
correct account of the condition my money is in; if there be any that is
not drawing interest, get it in condition so that it may in interest
drawing bonds. The weather is getting quite warm here, fruit trees stand
in full bloom and are promising plentifully here.
Some unknown friend sends me the weekly Eagle for which I feel very
grateful, whoever it may be receives my hearty thanks. I will now draw
to a close hoping that this may (find) you, father and mother in good
health.
I remain your affectionate brother,
Lambert
P.S. Tell Harman (Vedders) I will soon write to him and should be
happy to hear from him if he can get time to write.
Nashville, July 10/(18)65
Dear brother Hiram,
I have received your letter and the lemonade per Barkleg and was very
much pleased with the whole. I will enclose in this the 5 dollars sent
to Honkel as he is no more but is dead having died Tuesday the 4th from
chronic diarhea; such is life many for aa long time acxiouly waiting for
peace to dawn upon us, but who are not permitted to see the second epoch
of meeting with loved ones.
Your letter is quite on interesting one and I accept you counsel in
regard to our present condition. The counsel is just such as I should
expect from an ever true and loving brother. But it is probably
difficult for you to realize our feeling under the present sircumstances.
Yet your advice is proper and if acted upon will bring us safely
through. But it is quite difficult for humanity to excersize that trust
and confidence at all times. Had the government not mustered out the
yaerlings at once there would have been a great deal of hard feelings
avoided in the army for the yearlings as a class were despired in the
army.
I have received a Rincipia again now united with the New Era; it
assails president Johnson severely for excluding the right of suffrage
from the colored race by proclamation. I too think it is unjust grafsly.
The negro must either be a full citizer or a slave and I think time will
prove it.
He is free-ed from slavery but the work is not done yet and the
unjust judge will be harrassed untill he does justice humanity
inespective of color. Son of Berteld Luten
and Gezinna (Geesken) Bos.