Alonzo Clingan, Co. K
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Alonzo Clingan enlisted in Co. K, 26th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on February 21,1863 at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Pension records of his father stated that he volunteered to take his father's place after his father became disabled at the Battle of Stone River. Captured at the Battle of Chickamauga, 19 Sep 1864, and sent to Andersonville Prison where he starved to death. Interred in grave no. 11641 in Section H. National Archives file no. M28745.
LETTERS-Following are two letters written by Alonzo to his sisters in Summerford, Madison County, Ohio, while he was serving in Co K, 26th Ohio Infantry. These letters were written shortly before he was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga.
Tennessee
Camp near Murfreesboro
Wednesday, May the 6th /63
Dear Sisters,
I take this opportunity this rainy afternoon of writing you a few lines to let you know how we are getting along here. I still keep my health and all of the boys in the company are well at present.
It has been raining for the two last days and nights and still raining and not much liklyhood of clearing off very soon. Nothing of any consequence has happened since I wrote to Laura. It is the same thing over every day. It is picket, drill or some kind of fatigue duty every day, but still I would be satisfied if they would put down those traitors in the north and hurry and whip the rebbels here and close the war.
Laura, I received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you. You wanted to know whether I knew John Philips. I know him and a better fellow I would not want to be with. He is a first rate clever fellow. I have not seen him out of humer since I have been here.
I am sorrow to hear of Will Simpkins death.
My love to you and Mary and all of the folks at home. My respects to Mrs. and Mr. Rayburn.
Your brother, Alonzo Clingan.
Camp 26th regt. O.V.I.
Hillsborough Tenn.
August 10th 1863
Dear Sister,
I received your kind and welcome letter. I hope you had a good time at Springfield on the fourth of July. It was a very dry fourth to me for I was pretty sick at that time. There was nothing going on here but the firing of a few canon.
We are encamped in a very nice place at present. It is in a big woods about six miles from the mountains. There is large oak trees which affords a nice shade. We have plenty of good water and a nice little stream running close to camp which we have to bathe and wash our clothes in, but alas we have to leave it all and take a long march over the mountains on Wednesday morning.
The weather is very warm at present and the roads dusty, so it will be very hard marching. We intend to march over the mountains into east Tennissee.
We may have a little fighting to do before we get through. I will write to you when we get through and let you know how we got along.
Tell Eli Campbell that James is well and all right. Tell Laura I want her to write to me.
Mary, give the receipt you find in this to Mother and tell her to go or send to the London Treasurer and get forty ($40.00) dollars sent by me with the state agent and if she need any to use it and loan the rest to some good person. If she cannot lend it, to put it away in my trunk.
Give my respects to Mrs. and Mr. Rayburn.
My love to you all. You must answer this. Direct your letters to
A. P. Clingan
Co K 26th Regt O.V.I.
Murfresboro, Tenn.
Webmaster's Comment
"The little fighting" that Alonzo foresaw in his letter of August 10th occurred six weeks later at the Battle of Chickamauga. Alonzo Clingan was captured at that great battle on September 19, 1863. Most likely this occurred during the intense hand to hand combat that took place at Viniard Fields. Pvt. Clingan was then likely imprisoned in the following prisons: Libby, Danville and finally Andersonville. Pvt Clingan would not leave Andersonville alive. He died there on October 30, 1864 from starvation.
Thanks to descendant, Rob Weller for providing the information.
