Archive of 33 transcribed letters and documents dating to before, during, and after the Civil War, all related to Private Melvin Johnson of Company A, 42nd Ohio Infantry.  The 25 wartime letters are written by Johnson to his wife, Ada, mostly from Camp Chase (Ohio) Hospital while Johnson was detailed Ward Master.  They describe his day-to-day activities at Camp Chase, the suffering of Confederate POW’s, and national events/war news. Johnson’s letters are detailed- he was an articulate and thoughtful author. One notable letter included, dated April 15th, 1865 from Cleveland, describes the assassination of President Lincoln and local response. Johnson writes "the city is in mourning…all the business houses are closed…the rebels must pay dearly for this." Interestingly, Johnson first reports that Secretary of State Seward was also assassinated, but amends this fact later in the letter upon receiving news that it was incorrect. A complete transcription of this detailed,  historic letter is included in the photo gallery.
 
 Accompanying the letter archive are two oval ninth plate tintypes of Melvin and his wife Ada, both housed in complete velvet-lined cases.  Johnson’s portrait in uniform is inscribed “My Mel, Rec’d Jan. 16 1862” which was no doubt written by his wife. The two seem to have exchanged portraits not long after Melvin left home. It is interesting to observe that Ada’s cased image exhibits much more wear than Melvin, probably due to him carrying it around during his service. Melvin’s letters to Ada are often loving and passionate. 
 
 The 42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio in the fall of 1861 and was originally commanded by future 20th President of the United States James A. Garfield.     Following their mustering in, the regiment joined Gen. Don Carlos Buell’s command, the Army of the Ohio, and was tasked with driving Confederate forced out of eastern Kentucky.  With that campaign a success the regiment was then sent south to Mississippi, being heavily engaged at Chickasaw Bayou, Thompson’s Hill, Champion Hill, Vicksburg proper, and Jackson, losing a total of 1 officer and 20 men killed, 18 officers and 325 men wounded.  The 42nd Ohio mustered out in Louisiana in early December, 1864.  Melvin Johnson himself enlisted on Sept. 20th, 1861, for a term of three years, and was detailed Ward Master at Camp Chase’s post hospital. 
 
 [Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth]