31 October 1863

Chattanooga, Tennessee
October 31, 1863

Dear Mother,

I received yours of the 8th day before yesterday but did not answer it as I had wrote a day or two before. There is nothing new here in the way of fighting although they had a pretty brisk skirmish a few days ago driving the rebels from along the river so we can get rations up the river with a boat we have here. We are still on half rations but we expect to get full rations in a few days as the railroad is completed to within 15 miles of here and the railroad is two miles from the river at that point and we will have the boat a running in a few days.

[Sgt.] Jacob Summers who was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga died at General Hospital at this place on the night of the 27th. He was wounded in the back of the knee and the doctors couldn’t get the ball out. ¹

I wrote you about a week ago to send me $5 by Capt. Sarratt or by mail if he had left or wasn’t going to leave soon. If you didn’t get that letter, send it anyway as I need it.

You wanted to know of Sergeant Jim Frazier of Company E. He is supposed to have been taken prisoner at the Battle of Chickamauga as he has not been seen since. Lieut. [Andrew J.] Teeter and Thomas Woods of Co. E from Steubenville are prisoners and Dolph Russell of Co. K [is] missing. ² There are 7 officers wounded and missing in our regiment.

I don’t know of anything more this time so I will close. From your affectionate son, — John L. Hebron

Co. G, 2nd Regt. OVI
Chattanooga, Tenn.

I forgot to ask who that girl was that Hans took to church.

¹ The Steubenville Weekly Herald carried the following obituary for Sgt. Jacob Summers on 18 November 1863:

November 12, 1863 — Death of a True Soldier- We have been requested to publish the following letter from Lieut. Krebs, company G, 2d Ohio Volunteer Infantry, containing the announcement of the death of Jacob Summers, formerly of this city, and a true and faithful soldier, of that company. The letter was directed to the Mother of the Deceased and reads as follows:

Camp near Chattanooga
Co G, 2nd O.V.I.
October 31, 1863

Mrs. Young –

The painful duty devolved upon me to acquaint you of the death of your son, Jacob Summers. He died on the night of the 27th inst., in General Hospital in this place, of wounds received in the Battle of Chickamauga, on the 20th of September. He was wounded in the leg, the ball striking and shattering the knee joint. He had every care taken of him that the circumstances of the case could permit; but such wounds as his was, as a general thing, result in the death of the victim sooner or later.

In your bereavement in the loss of a kind and affectionate son, you have the sympathies of the company in which he was a member, who mourn the loss of a noble and true hearted soldier and comrade. Ever ready to do his duty, he was always found at the post of danger, nobly battling for his country’s flag, and for which he cheerfully gave his life as a ransom. He is buried in the burying ground of a church in this place. His grave is neatly marked by his name, company and regiment..

I am, Madam, your most obedient servant, — Malachi Krebs, 2nd Lt com’dg Company

² James Frazier of Co. E, 2nd OVI, was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga on 20 September 1863 and died while in Andersonville Prison on 5 July 1864. Lt. Andrew J. Teeter of Co. E was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga on 20 September 1863 and was later paroled. Private Thomas Woods of Co. E, 2nd OVI was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga on 20 September 1863. Adolphus Russell, drummer of Co. K, was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga on 20 September 1863. No further record.