David F. Rohrer Letters - Chronological Order:
(1) Letter Dated: August 25, 1862 Stationery: Paynes, Dayton w/ Eagle, E Pluribus Unum
Camp near Lexington, Ky.
Dear Father
I hasten to pen you a few lines to inform that I am well or as well as might be expected. We arrived at Lexington, Ky. tired, hungry and sleepy on Sunday night between 9 and 10 o'clock. Marched out of town a mile or two and halted and laid on the side of the road for the night. We were aroused out of our sleep by the report of fire arms. The regiment was called into ranks and some of the men loaded their guns and everything looked like fight but in a short time we were commanded to lie down again. The mess was raised by one of our companies being posted out of the pike a few miles in front of the regiment and firing into a squad of cavalry wounding one in the shoulder.
I will go back and tell you some of the trip down to this place. We went rapidly down to Cincinnati, arrived at Cincinnati between 8 and 10 o'clock, marched to the river and went over in Covington. Slept in the freight cars. Next morning we were turned out of one car into another until very near dinner when we started for this place. We were cheered heartily by the women people all along the road. Since we have been in Ky. the [negroes] might be seen gathered in groups and waving their hats and bowing, hollering and going on at a great rate. This morning the men that had loaded their guns last night and those that were on guard discharged their guns frightening a horse that a farmer had caught so that it kicked him and almost killed him. A soldier was kicked by a mule and is not expected to live.
The boys are well. Give my regards to all. I will also.
Yours truly, D.F. Rohrer
(2) Envelope Postmark: Dayton O. Aug. 30, 1862 Addressed: Simon Rohrer Johnsville Montgomery County Ohio
[no contents]
(3) Envelope Postmark: Louisville, Ky. Sep. 7, 1862 Addressed: Mr. Simon Rohrer Johnsville Montgomery County Ohio
Poem on outside: The Soldier's Dream Of Home "At the dead of the night, a sweet vision I saw, And thrice e'er the morning I dreamt it again But sorrow return'd with the dawning of morning And the voice in my dreaming 'ear melted away."
[letter which follows was enclosed]
Letter Dated: Sep. 6, 1862 Camp at Louisville Saturday Sept. 6th 1862
Dear Father
I think it is about time that I should write you a few lines and let you know how we are all getting along. We feel tolerably well now but we have passed through a long forced march of 110 miles from Lexington to Louisville. We were all enjoying ourselves first rate in Post Lexington till Friday 29th when the order was to prepare for a march. The movement was delayed till Saturday evening between 7 & 8 o'clock Saturday day so we marched out of camp marched through Lexington on to the road that leads to Richmond, Ky. Marched all night and next day till 9 or 10 o'clock when we arrived at the Ky. river, 13 miles. In a short time we were marched right back over the same road. A few minutes after we started the report of a cannon followed quickly by another. The rebels had fired on the picket co. which was lying on the bank. It was co. A of our regiment (there were five or six regiments with us). During the back march we halted once and formed in line of battle on account of rebels firing at us and once when we saw a lot of cavalry coming in from the left but they were our own. Very soon after the cavalry scrape it commenced raining very hard. The rest of the morning was through mud and water. We arrived at Lexington a little while after dark. Stood in the streets about half an hour and marched about 2 miles. Laid in the wet grass. Monday morning came finding us about half dead.
On Monday the news came into camp that enemy were following us, that they were within five miles of us. We were drawn out in column in a lane close by camp. Everything was in a hubbub, they burned all my clothing except those that I had on. It was a retreat that we now started on. We had to go it all night. Just about day we eat a little dry bread and raw shoulder and started for Frankfort. Arrived there at night. Rested till towards morning when we started for Louisville. Distance 52 miles. During the march a large majority of the men would drop out and lay down a short distance from our camp. I fell out and laid down, the sun was so hot that I could scarcely bear it. My lips are sore. My nose too.
Tell Eliza Toby that the nice notion book was burned with the pocket handkerchief that mother gave me (I can't write a letter worth reading). I think I have a touch of the flux. If you will get about three bottles of McNiels medicine and a box of Brandt pills and express them to me I would be very glad.
Direct your letter to D.F. Rohrer in care of Capt. T.C. Mitchell, Co. I, 93 regt. Camp near Louisville Ky. To follow the regt. About the medicine, I don't know how to direct that but if you think you can send it safely, do so. We are close at Louisville, Ky.
Yours, D.F. Rohrer
(4) Envelope Postmark: Louisville, Ky. Sep. 11, 1862 Addressed: Mr. Simon Rohrer Johnsville Montgomery County Ohio
Letter Dated: Sep. 10, 1862 Sept. 10th 1862 Camp near Louisville Ky.
Dear Father
I am getting very impatient because I don't hear from you. We have not heard from home since we left Dayton. I would like to hear from home. There's no place like home. We have been rushed through so fast that we are half sick. I feel so indisposed, so mean that I cannot bring my thoughts upon any subject. I would like to write you a history of time since we left Dayton.
Write soon if you have not written and tell me how things are getting along, how the co. W. Cauliflower raised is getting along. Tell Jo. and Lizy to write to me.
I wrote you a letter a few days a go from near this place. I spoke of expressing some medicines. I recall it I believe it will cost more than it will be worth. You need not send any medicine. I can get Perry Davis Pain Killer in camp which is very near as good.
Direct your letter to David F. Rohrer Camp Boyle Co. I 93rd Rgt.
David F. Rohrer Camp Boyle Co. I 93rd Regt. O.V.D. care of Capt. Mitchell
Write soon. I am well. Hoping these few lines may find you the same.
Your son, D.F. Rohrer
(5) Envelope: No postmark "The Constitution and the laws" shown with American flag Addressed: Mr. Simon Rohrer Johnsville Montgomery Co. Ohio [no contents]
(6) Envelope: Partial Postmark (no date) Addressed: Simon Rohrer, Esq. Johnsville Montgomery Co. Ohio
[yellow, heavy - following letter may belong with it]
Letter Dated: Sep. 15, 1862 Louisville Kentucky September 15th, 1862
Dear Father
I have not received any news from home since I left Dayton. Isaac Horning has received 2 letters, the rest of us none. If you have not written, write soon. I am very well and in good spirits. The rest of the boys from our town are well. 30 of Co. I were out on picket on Saturday and night. Bowser ---- Featherling, Beson were with them and are a little tired out. The regiment changed positions while they were out and were left without orders, consequently were out 8 or 10 hours longer than they ought to have been. I will give a short history of the next few days. We are encamped on a hill near Louisville with troops all around us. Some say there are about 100 thousand men within 10 miles of town.
Monday morning, Sept. 15th /62
We were called out at 4 o'clock. Roll called. I was present, broke ranks and I, D. Toby & McMullen carried water for to cook breakfast. The regiment formed in line of battle as we went to the spring. Each company drilling on the Manual of Arms. Just now the Lieutenant Col. Passed where I was writing with Attention! Battalion!!
It is about 6 o'clock and the regiment is still in line of Battle Attention again. The regiment is being dismissed now. It will soon be breakfast. We had coffee, hard crackers, boiled pork salted. I am detailed for guard today so I will have to stop writing. We have it rumored that we are to march back to Lexington on tomorrow morning.
Yours, D.F. Rohrer
Direction David F. Rohrer Louisville Ky. Care of Capt. Mitchell Co. I 93rd Rgt. O.V.I.
(7) Letter Dated: Sep. 18, 1862 Camp near Louisville Sept. 18th /62
Dear Sister
I received your letter on the 15th and was glad to hear from home and that you were all well. I am well and in good health. Enjoying myself very well. The rest of the boys are very well except Bowser who is tired and not very well last night. About dusk it began to rain and storm very hard. Some of the tents blowed over. The tent that I slept in blowed over. Oh! What a time we had. We took it all in good humor though we were camped on a high hill and the wind had full sweep. About 10 o'clock in the night the wind quit blowing so our cooks commenced cooking 2 days rations as we were under marching orders. About half past 3 o'clock we were roused up. The roll was called and tents torn down. Rations given, wagons loaded, and by daylight we were on the march. We did not know where but we field right and camped in an orchard in sight of town. I do not know how long we will stay here.
We have passed through some very hard marches.
I wrote some two or three letters at Lexington but I suppose that you did not get them so I will give some few items of the times at Lexington. We arrived at Lexington after dark, received our cartridges and marched out towards the Fair Ground. But by some mistake we had to lay beside the road the balance of the night. During the night we were alarmed by the firing of the pickets but it was all naught. It was reported that some were wounded but I did not see them in the morning. We marched into a field and rested a few hours and marched into the fair grounds. Stayed there a few days with out tents but the weather was very favorable as it did not rain much. It is a very dry time just now in Ky. But I am getting off of the track. On Saturday eve August 20th we marched out towards Richmond. We marched nearly all night. Sunday 10 o'clock we reached the river about 13 miles from Lexington. Rested a few hours in front of the enemy's pickets. We marched back to Lexington. Just after we started the report of a canon was heard followed by several others. Our advance guard was fired upon but none was hurt. The boys claim to have killed a a [sic] couple of them. On the back march it commenced raining very hard. We got very wet. It was a very hard march for us. The road was very dusty and the rain made it very muddy. We got back to Lexington after dark. Had to lay in the wet grass all night. Next day, Monday, we left Lexington for Louisville, a distance of some 70 or 80 miles. I will have to quit writing soon. I received a letter from Millie Toby yesterday. She said that the boys and girls had a melon party before they left for camp. Was you there? The medicine you don't need to send as I can get Perry Davis' painkiller here at the sutlers. If Pop did not get these those letters let me know. Write soon and tell me about everything that happens about Johnsville.
I thought once that I was not going to get any letters from home. I must close.
Yours truly, D.F. Rohrer
(8) Envelope Postmark: Louisville Ky. Sept. 20, 1862 Addressed: Simon Rohrer Johnsville Montgomery Co. Ohio
Letter Dated: Sep. 20, 1862
Louisville Sept. 20th Dear Father
The sun is just rising and I want to write a few lines to let you know that I am well. So are the rest of the boys except Beson who is not very well. It is now about sun up and the air is chilly. We drew our clothing this morning and have order to be ready to march by 9 o'clock but do not know where. It is said the 112th is in town.
I received the package of medicine on the 18th. The express wagon brought it to camp.
I received your letter of the 14th and the one that Jo and Nick wrote about 2 or 3 hours after the package.
We are on the outskirts of the town and have been digging rifle pits for 1 day 1/2 as we are under marching orders. I will have to stop writing and see to things.
Yours D.F. Rohrer
[note: Letters are in the collection of Richard and Joyce Fogle]