Information
Sheet
R Matthews, John Wesley.
39 Letters,
1862-1863.
Two items.
These are photocopies of two letters from
John W. Matthews to his family relating his experiences in the 32nd Regiment,
Missouri Volunteers. The letters
contain descriptions of provost duty in St. Louis, and the condition of the
regiment after the surrender of Vicksburg.
There is also a poem describing the Vicksburg campaign.
John Wesley Matthews lived near Dixon in
Pulaski County, Missouri. His military
record indicated his profession was farming.
In August 1862, at the age of 36, Matthews enlisted in the Union
army. He was mustered into service at
Benton Barracks in St. Louis, and was assigned to Company H, 32nd Regiment,
Missouri Volunteers, in October 1862. The
regiment remained in St. Louis as provost guards until the end of the year,
when they were assigned to the Department of the Tennessee and the forces
operating against Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Matthews was garrisoned with his unit in Alabama during the winter of
1863-1864, where he was taken sick. His
service record, a copy of which may be found in the Information Folder, lists
Matthews as having died of disease at Woodville, Alabama, in April 1864.
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