A Soldier’s Hope for Spring: A Message from 1865

“I trust that the tim Will Speadly Com that I Can return and injoy a Citizens life again”

Pull up a chair and let me share something truly special with you today. I have got a letter here that has traveled over a hundred and fifty years to find its way to us. It was written on March 7, 1865, by a young man named William H. Guinn, a soldier in the 49th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. When you look at the paper, it is yellowed like a late autumn leaf, with deep creases where it was folded small enough to fit into a pocket. The ink has turned a soft sepia brown, but William’s handwriting is still as clear as a bell. The stationery itself tells a story, featuring a proud header from the Indiana Sanitary Commission with a little poem about the soldier’s cherished home.

William was writing from Lexington, Kentucky, on a day that finally looked like spring after a long stretch of rain. He had just come back from church and sat down to tell his kin, Laban Guinn, that he was doing well. You can almost feel his restlessness through the page; he is watching the roads, waiting for the mud to dry so the army can move and finally wind up this rebellion. There was a rumor that his unit might even head down to New Orleans, but what really seemed to warm his heart was the news from back home in Carroll County. He had heard about religious revivals happening in the neighborhood, and he writes so beautifully about how glad he is to see folks finding their way to a better life.

At this point in the war, the world was on the cusp of a huge change. Just a month after William signed his name, the conflict would finally reach its end. When we read his words today, we are not just looking at military history; we are looking at the heart of a neighbor who was tired of the fight and hungry for peace. He was not looking for glory in some big battle; he was looking forward to the simple joy of being a citizen again. It reminds us that even in the darkest times, people hold onto hope, look out for their families, and keep their eyes on the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Original Transcription

THIS SHEET OF PAPER AND ENVELOPE IS FURNISHED
BY THE
INDIANA SANITARY COMMISSION,
Being purchased with Funds contributed by the
SOLDIERS’ FRIENDS AT HOME.

Fly little missive to my cherished home,
And cheer the loving hearts to me so dear;
I’ll follow when in Honor I can come,
And leave “OUR FLAG” in TRIUMPH floating here!
The Soldier.

[Left Column]
I dont know that
I have any thing to Wright
of Importance So I Will
Close Wright Soon
& give me all the
news I Send My Best
respects to you all
So Good By

William H Guinn
Co A 49 reg
Ind Vol
Lexington Ky

To Laban Guinn
Burling Carroll County
Ind

[Right Column]
Lexington Ky March the
7th 1865
Mr Laban Guinn Dear
Sir I have Just returned
from Church and I
thought I would Wright
you a few lines I received
your letter of February the 22
day before yesterday I was
glad to hear from you
and to hear that you was
all Well your letter found
me Well and this one leaves
me in Very good health
and hoping that it Will
find you all Well. this
is a nice day it has
Been a raining for Several

[Page 2 Left Column]
days but it now looks
like We Would have som
pretty Weather I hope So
for I Want to See the
roads git good So that
Our army Can Move
and Wind up this rebellion
I think thair is a fair prospect
for a Speady Close of this
War. Well I dont know
that I have any thing New
to Wright We are Still
at the Same place and
thair is a fair prospect
of us a Staying here for
Som tim yet probly
all Sumer it Would bee
a Very nice place to Stay
this Sumer but the lord
only knows Where We
Will Stay this Sumer

[Page 2 Right Column]
We may bee in
New Orleane before a
Month or Som other Sea
port but any thing to
put down the rebellion
it Seems that thair has
been Som good Meetings
in Carroll County Since
I left I Would love
to bee thair and Injoy
Som of them good Meeting
but I Cant at this
tim but I trust that
the tim Will Speadly
Com that I Can return
and injoy a Citizens
life again I am glad
that the peaple have
got their eyes open and
are forsaking thair Sins
and are agoing to lead
a better lifee