Images of the Letter are at the bottom of the page
This
is a transcription of the letter written by John Aten, brother of Henry
J. Aten, to President Lincoln during his service in the Civil War. His
complaints echo similar accounts of the way rations were handled in the
Civil War.
North Chickamonga, Tenn.
December 24th '63
Mr. President,
I venture a word to
your honor. I left a good home and kind parents near 18 months since
and enlisted in the army knowing it to be a life of hardship and
danger. Since then we have been in several battles, Perrysville, Stone
River, Chickamonga and the late battle of Chattanooga and we have
marched as far as any of the troops of the department. We don't fear
the battle, neither do we dread any duty but there is one thing we
don't like, that is scanty clothes and short rations. Since the battle
of Orrisiona Ridge our briggade has marched near 250 miles taking 24
days. In that time the boys was almost naked, a said number of them
barefooted. All that time our officers promises us clothing plenty and
good rations as soon as we get back to camp. And when we got it, it was
3 overcoats 3 shirts 10 pair of pants and no drawers to a company when
they nearly all needed a full suit, and our ration is very short only
drawing bread coffee sugar and a little meat, just enough to let a man
go hungry all day. Two crackers per day which is not enough for anyone.
I believe there was rice and beans at the commissary the other day but
we did not get them. They were sold to the officers. Now I do want
better rations or a leave of absence for about 30 days so I can feed up
a little.
Excuse me for taking the liberty of addressing you and please give me an answer
I remain your most obedient
John Aten
Co G 85th Regt., Ills. Vol. Inf.
Since writing the
above we have drew two days rations of rice and beans and how much do
you think we got. I will tell you. They was divided two messes of ten
men and each mess got the pitiful sum of one half pint.
This is a true statement. I am afraid we will have to starve or quit the business which we don't want to do.
Yours Truly
John Aten
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
The letter John Aten
sent to President Lincoln evoked a reaction, as you would expect. The
copy of the sheet placed in his dossier is very difficult to read
and is in 3 sections. The left hand section appears to be a summary of
his main points. The other two are an official response within the
government.
As much as can be read will be shown here.
Apy?—10—1064
???-94 D.C.
3d Brigade 2nd Div. 14th A.C.
North Chicamaga Tenn
Dec 24, 1863
John Aten
Priv Co. “G” 85th Ills. Infy
Complains of the
short rations and scanty clothing issued to his Regt; also asks a
furlough for 30 days to feed up a little. States in a postscript
that since writing this letter his mess composed of two [??] have drawn
rations of rice & beans and after a division was made there
remained the pitiful amount of one half pint to 10 men - also states
that he will compelled to either starve or "quit the business" - which
[he] is unwilling to do.
[Regimental Command?]
Adjutant General’s Office
?????
Respectfully
submitted to the Secretary of War, with recommendation that Col.
Starmon be brought to trial before a General Court Martial for writing
the within disrespectful letter to the War Dept., in which he uses the
following expressions: -
"It is extraordinary
that the Dept. should under such circumstances notice the paper, and
its simplicity in so doing is only equaled by the reckless
presumtion of your correspondent. It is a remarkable development for
the President of the United States and [scores?] of people, good and
bad to seriously entertain a complaint of this character, and for the
Dept. gravely to refer it to a Major General for investigation and
report. Great indeed is the American soldier and beneficent truly is
that government which listen to such appeals. Regrets the (over)
Dept. did not treat the [complaint?][of] Priv. Aten as a -------- threw it aside -----
S ??? B[uck?]
Asst. Adj. General
Reed Cack Adjt
Note: Names and positions too difficult to read. Three in all.
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John Aten's letter to Lincoln
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Response to John Aten's letter
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