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“Sherridan has been doing some good work. 1400 prisoners passed here a few days ago that he captured And Report says he has captured 1000 more. A couple of officers stopped here last night, that had just been exchanged. They were captured last August and gave me a good account of their trials & tribulations down in Dixie. One of them gave $100. for a common pair of shoes from all appearances the Confederacy will soon collapse. Sherman has been heard from, is at Fayetteville, N. C. think Richmond will fall, before fall.”
Civil War veteran David F. McGowan writes about prospects for Union victory and life in Maryland as the Civil War draws to a close.
DAVID F. MCGOWAN.
Autograph Letter Signed, to Ellen [P. Fowler?], March 15, 1865, Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland. 3 pp., 5x 8 in. Also includes DAVID F. McGOWAN, Autograph Letter Signed, to Ellen [P. Fowler?], May 9, 1865, Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland. 4 pp., 5 x 8 in.
Inventory #24471
Price: $380
Complete Transcript
Ellicotts Mills, Maryland
March 15th 1865
Dear Sister Ellen:[1]
As you wanted a quick answer to your last, you shall have it. I was quite sorry to learn that you were having the chills again, hope you have them broken before this time. Your letter found me enjoying first rate health. All our folkes are about well. I am about as fleashy now as I was when I lived on the Prairie, and have a great deal of Color. I think Maryland agrees with me firstrate. We have been having some delightful weather lately, regular June weather. It is quite warm to day, but has been raining nearly all day. I have been quite busy. We had some new boarders come to day. They came from Washington. Mr. Mrs & Miss de Krafft. The young Lady has a Guitar, so I guess she is a musician. Maybe she sings. I will find out in a day or two. We have lots of musicians in our house at present, some of them first class <2>
I feel quite low spirited to day. My friend Miss Jennie has gone up to Pennsylvania, and isn’t coming back for five months. too bad, isnt it? I don’t see how I am going to stand it. Can’t you come and fill the vacancy? I will try to make it very pleasant for you. Sherridan has been doing some good work. 1400 prisoners passed here a few days ago that he captured And Report says he has captured 1000 more.[2] A couple of officers stopped here last night, that had just been exchanged. They were captured last August and gave me a good account of their trials & tribulations down in Dixie. One of them gave $100. for a common pair of shoes from all appearances the Confederacy will soon collapse. Sherman has been heard from, is at Fayetteville, N. C. think Richmond will fall, before fall. I had a letter from Will[3] yesterday. He was with the Reg’t, and that was at Mobile point. He was well, have not heard from Sarah for over a week. she was well as were the Children. I will stop for to night. Good night, sweet dreams. <3>
The weather is still warm with a little rain. I would like to see it clear off and keep clear a little while. I guess one will have the equinoxial storm[4] and then we may look for some warm weather. We had a very pleasant time in the Parlor last evening & night; some good music and interesting conversation And then Bertie[5] & myself had a few games of Chess. She came off one game the winner. I like the game very much. When you come to see us I will teach you the game. Well you must all take good care of yourselves. And keep me well posted. Give my kindest regards to all enquiring friends. I am too busy to write more at this time. My love and a kiss to each member of your family & Miss Mattie. I enclose a Photo, a little better than the one you have. write as soon as you can. Mother & Bert send much love. Excuse haste.
Your friend & Bro
Dave
Historical Background
The 47th Illinois Infantry, in which David F. McGowan served, was organized at Peoria, Illinois, and mustered into federal service in August 1861. It transferred to St. Louis, Missouri, in September and remained there until December. The regiment’s first combat experience was at Farmington, Mississippi, on May 9, 1862, and on May 28 it participated in an engagement near Corinth. It participated in the battle of Iuka in September 1862, when the army under General William Rosecrans defeated the enemy’s forces under General Sterling Price, and it also took part in the battle of Corinth in early October. On May 2, 1863, the 47th Illinois marched with the army down the west side of the Mississippi River, crossing at Grand Gulf, and with the 15th Army Corps marched to Jackson, Mississippi, where it participated in the engagement which resulted in the capture of that city.
The 47th Illinois then participated in the first charge on the enemy’s works at Vicksburg. On June 4, 1863, it participated with the brigade in the defeat of a Confederate force at Mechanicsville, Mississippi, 30 miles from Vicksburg, near the Yazoo River. It was present at the capture of Fort De Russy, Louisiana in March 1864, and participated in the Battle of Pleasant Hill in April. On June 5, 1864, the regiment moved up the river to Lake Chicot, moved inland and engaged a force of Confederates under General John S. Marmaduke, which they completely routed.
Veterans of the regiment were discharged at Springfield, Illinois, in October 1864, and a reorganized regiment went on to further duty in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi, before finally being mustered out in January 1866.
David F. McGowan (1838-1924) was born in Pennsylvania and moved with his family to Baltimore, Maryland, when he was a young man. In 1860, his father operated a hotel in Ellicott Mills, Maryland. In 1860, David McGowan lived in the household of his oldest brother William McGowan in Bennington, Illinois. David McGowan enlisted in September 1861 at Peoria, Illinois, from Marshall County. He served as a sergeant and corporal in Company I of the 47th Illinois infantry. He mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, in October 1864. After the war, his father wanted him to take over the family hotel. He moved to Washington by 1869, where he became an auditor in the U.S. Treasury Department. In 1871, he married Ida Annette Miller (1850-1927), the daughter of a Washington attorney.
[1] “Ellen” seems to have been a friend of McGowan’s in Minonk, Illinois, probably Ellen P. Fowler (b. 1842). In 1870, she was a music teacher in Minonk.
[2] General Philip Sheridan (1831-1888) led his force of cavalry and artillery out of their winter quarters at the end of February 1865. On March 2, at the Battle of Waynesboro, his men under General George A. Custer trapped the remainder of Confederate General Jubal Early’s forces, and 1,500 Confederates surrendered. Believing the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to be disintegrating, Sheridan wanted his cavalry to be present “at the death.” Rather than joining General William T. Sherman’s army in North Carolina, he moved toward General Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Potomac. After victories at the Battle of Five Forks on April 1 and Sayler’s Creek on April 6, the Confederate fate was sealed. President Lincoln wrote to General Grant on April 7: “Gen. Sheridan says ‘If the thing is pressed I think that Lee will surrender.’ Let the thing be pressed.” Two days later, Sheridan blocked the Confederate escape at Appomattox Court House, and the Confederate army surrendered.
[3] William C. McGowan (1830-1910) was David McGowan’s oldest brother. He was married to Sarah J. McGowan (1830-1901), and in 1865, they had three children. William McGowan served as a corporal, sergeant, and second lieutenant with the 77th Illinois regiment during the Civil War. In late February 1865, the regiment transferred from New Orleans to the siege of Mobile, Alabama, which surrendered on April 12, 1865.
[4] There was a widespread popular belief that severe “equinoxial storms” appeared semiannually a few days before and after the vernal equinox (March 20) and the autumnal equinox (September 22).
[5] Alberta “Bertie” P. McGowan Whitney (1842-1936) was David McGowan’s younger sister.
