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Note: RECAP OF THE LIFE OF JULIUS ARTHUR LEROUX
as researched by Nadeen (Leroux) McOsker
The followiing is an ongoing research that is being done. I hope that you will share whatever stories, photos, documents, etc., that you might have with me to help me in this project. I intend to make this information available to any family member who desires to have it. I am using Grandpa Julius' Biography as a guide for my research.
I welcome the stories about Grandpa Julius and his family whether they be documented or not. Wherever possible, I do try to prove these stories thru documentation, however, I do not discount these family stories even if I cannot prove them. They help us to become acquainted with our dearly beloved ancestor whom we all cherish even though many of us never had the opportunity to meet him.
1841 - I have a copy of Julius' Birth Certificate in French and also translated into English. Reads as follows:
"Leroux, Jules Arthur. In the year eighteen hundred and forty-one, on the fifteenth of November, there was born at Paris Jules Arthur, of the masculine sex, son of Jean Baptiste Leroux, cabinetmaker, and of Annette Therese Pastre, living on the rue de la Savonnerie"
I question why this birth certificate shows his date of birth to be 15 November 1841 and Julius always used 9 September 1841 as his birthdate. I have been given several explanations of possibilities, including "perhaps one date was actually his birthdate and the other was when he was christened". However, I am doubting that the above birth certificate actually belongs to our Julius Arthur Leroux. I would feel differently about this if I knew this was the birth certificate actually found in Julius' possession, however, it is my understanding that this record was found through research, not a document in Julius' possession. Research can be misleading at times and more than one document is sometimes needed on which to determine reality. I use the above birth certificate as Julius' but I am searching to see if a different one does surface.
Julius did say that his father's name was John (Jean in French). This information is from older family members including Julius' death certificate. My research has proven that both Julius (Jules) and John (Jean) were quite common given names in France as was the surname Leroux. This could mean that we are on the right tract here or that the circulating birth certificate belongs to another Jules Leroux. It is quite possible that if this birth certificate does not belong to our Julius that it could still be some of our relation.
It appears strange to me that such important documents as a birth certificate and naturalization papers have not surfaced among family members. I would love to see the actual documents that were in Julius' possession.
Please forgive me for being so detailed about these documents, but I do not wish to spend years in research trying to find my ancestors only to later learn that all this time I have been "barking up the wrong tree." Therefore I determine to at least prove who Julius' parents are before I climb up the family tree any farther.
1849 - Julius came to New York, per his autobiography. He did not give any details about his voyage in his biography, but I have heard many stories about this voyage to America. Julius stated in his autobiography that he came to New York an orphan boy. However, it has also been said that Julius came to New York with his parents and that his mother never got off the ship. (This could mean different things.) It has been said that he came to New York with an uncle. (Unnamed) It has also been said that he came alone and was met by an uncle in New York. Yet other sources say that Julius came to New York in 1849 and then returned to France, only to return to America in a few years. Another story about this says that he came to America unaccompanied by relatives and was met by an aunt to took him to her home in Columbus, Ohio. Well, the truth of the matter is this; I have not been able as of this date to prove anything about his voyage. I have not been able to find him as yet on any Passenger List. I have not given up. I are still searching. The problem I am facing is the fact that the years in question for his arrival in New York have not been indexed yet. I worked on this several years ago without success and decided to let it rest awhile to see if perhaps these lists would later be indexed, but my last phone conversation with the personell from the National Archives proved that they have not been index as yet. I intend to start this process again soon which means I will have to order a film at a time and just go through it entry by entry until the correct one is found. At best, this could still take quite a bit of researching.
I do not know for certain the reason that Julius and his family desired to come to America. It has been said that they wanted to come for religious freedom. Julius said that he was "christened in the Roman Catholic Faith." This leads me to believe that they were members of the Catholic Church. Research proves that during this time period there was much religious persecution happening in France. Several people who were protestant, or desired to be protestant, in fact joined the Catholic Church to deter this persecution. It is possible that this is the case with the Leroux family. Julius did leave the Roman Catholic Church while still quite young.
Julius said that he was "educated in French and waited on the Priest Sundays and Monday mornings at 5am. Got a whipping at school every week for being tardy. Went to confession."
1850 - I have not found Julius on the 1850 census as yet. Still searching. Records for Julius during this time frame may be scarce. At this point I am really hoping to find church records and perhaps school records. He will not show on any tax record until he is age 21. I need to determine where he was living at this time.
1850-1853 Julius said in his autobiography that he and his uncle helped cast the monument for General Andrew Jackson. Julius did not give the dates, however, research shows that the metal was donated for the sculpture in 1850 and that the finished monument was unveiled in 1853. He would have been in Washington DC at that time. Research shows that Sculptor Clark Mills' foundry was located on the outskirts of Washington DC on Bladensburg Road, NE.
Julius, in his biography, said that he "shortly ran away from his uncle and the Catholic faith on account of misconduct of the Priesthood and Nuns." He went to Columbus, Ohio.
1853-1856 Julius said, "There being alone tried to make a living some way. Got a posetion [sic] as interpreter of French and English to a contractor for the Crimean War". History tells us that the Crimean War was from Oct 1853 until Feb 1856. I wonder how Julius learned about the need for an interpreter of the French and English. Was is advertised in the newspaper? I intend to follow that idea as time permits.
1853-1857 Julius goes on to say, "When that was over I sold newspapers, sweep streets and chimneys, then got a posetion [sic] in the Office of State Auditor, Mr John Pugh." Research has proven that Mr. John Pugh was the State Auditor during the years 1853 & 1857. Julius said in his autobiography that he worked as Office boy in the office of the State Auditor, Mr. John Pugh. I have recently written a letter to the State Auditor's Office to see if there is any documentation of Julius' employment there. I have not had a response from them as yet.
Julius said, "then during this time is when I got acquainted with James A. Garfield. I gave him my posetion [sic] as office boy and retired to the country to live as a farmer boy at Mr J. Cook, Uncle of Mr. Pugh. Staid [sic] there some time." This was between census years and I have found no documentation for Julius for this time period.
It is not clear if Julius was still living on Mr. Cook's farm at the time of his next statement but he at least was still working on a farm as proven by the following excerpts from his biography; "Then having a chance to study the English language at Sunday School from the Websters blue back spelling book and then McGuffy, and there is where I found that there was a Savior, an Intercessor, between God and man besides the Priest. That is Christ for boys of all nationality and free for all."
1859 - Julius said in his autobiography "Then at a revival in the winter of 1859 I gave my heart unto the Lord for Him to guide and protect. I professed Religion in the hay mow feeding 50 head of cattle in the evening. I had been told by the preacher that Jesus Christ was any and everywhere and I found it so. Then I could sing that old song I then learned and realized, (Happy day when Jesus washed my sins away. He taught me how to watch and pray and live rejoicing every day.) I then Joined that Methodist Church on six months trial and the time is mot out yet for there has been no more said about it since. I was baptised by pouring." Apparently this was in the vicinity of Columbus, Ohio. I have not found church records yet to prove his membership. Julius would have been age 18 by this time.
1860 - The 1860 census lists Julius as living in the household of Harris Johnson in Geona TWP, Delaware County, Ohio. The Post Office is listed as Geona X-Roads. The dwelling number is 776 and the family number is 784 on page 104. The census date was 28 June 1860. The census taker listed him as Julius Larue, age 18, laborer, born in France. Copied from film # M653, #975.
1861 - On the day that Julius became 19 yrs, 7 mos and 16 days he enlisted in the Ohio Volunteers, Company K, 20th Regiment. This was on the 25th day of April 1861. I do not have a copy of this enlistment, however, I do have a copy of his discharge from this Company and Regiment. His term of service was 4 months.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Know Ye, That Julius Laroux a Private of Captain T.P. Cook Company (K) 20th Regiment of Ohio Volunteers who was enrolled on the 25th day of April one thousand eight hundred and Sixty one to serve thru __?____ is hereby Discharged from the service of the United States this twenty second day of August, 1861, at Columbus Ohio by reason of Expiration of his time of service.
No objection to his being re-enlisted is known to exist.
Said Julius Laroux was born in ______________ in the State of _________ is twenty years of age. _____ feet ______inches high, __________ complexion, __________ eyes, ________ hair, and by occupation, when enrolled, Farmer.
Given at __________________ this 22nd day of August 1861.
(I cannot read the signature)
1861 - Julius then re-enlisted for duty and enrolled Sept 23, 1861 at Camp Chase, Ohio for a period of 3 years. He mustered in on Sept 24, 1861 as a private in Capt. Rose's Co., 31 Reg't Ohio Inf. Age listed as 20 years. (His pension papers gave his post office at the time of enlistment as Harlem, Ohio which is in Delaware County, Ohio.)
*************************** I am inserting here portions of letters from a soldier who was also enrolled in the same Company and Regiment with Julius. I put it here to give a birds eye view of what was going on in camp at the time that Julius enrolled and how the war progressed from possibly the viewpoint of Julius, at least the viewpoint of one of his companions. I have excluded the personal portion of these letters
Sept. 1, 1861
Camp Chase, Ohio
Dear Brother,
We are now mustered into service. We were mustered-in yesterday, all except one man, he being lame.....We have now everything arranged in our quarters. Our meals consist of coffee, sugar, beans, meat, bread & crackers, of which we have plenty.
We belong the 31st Reg. and the name of our com. is E. There are said to be now in our camp about 1500 men. The 20th Reg. is ordered to leave this evening, so we are told we will stay here about 3 or 4 weeks and we will not get our uniforms until our Reg. is full....
Frederick Kehrwecker
**************************** Another letter.
Sept. 21, 1861
Camp Chase, Ohio
Dear Brother,
......... Capt. Rose has just come with four or five recruits. Our Com. has not yet started away and I don't think it will start away before the middle of next week. We are now armed and equiped and ready for a march.
We had a considerable fuss in our camp a few days ago. There were no less than 24 of our Com. put in the guard house for going out of camp to the city after night and last night there was a soldier shot for trying to break guard (he was not killed) and another guard shot one of his fingers off by playing with his gun. There were 7 rebels brought into camp today and there are now over one hundred rebels in the prison.......... Dud Barr and Jock Mayand came down here last monday and I sent my coat with them because I could not carry it with me......
With respect, your brother
Frederick Kehrwecker
******************** 1861 - Julius joined for duty and enrolled Sept 23, 1861 at Camp Chase, Ohio for a period of 3 years. He mustered in on Sept 24, 1861 as a private in Capt. Rose's Co., 31 Reg't Ohio Inf. Age listed as 20 years. (His pension papers gave his post office at the time of enlistment as Harlem, Ohio. I found Harlem to be in Delaware County, Ohio. I have requested the Delaware County census records through library loan hoping that perhaps I can find Julius there.)
********************** I have inserted a portion of another letter from Frederick Kehrwecker here because Julius was experiencing this as well. Frederick even mentions Julius in one of his letters.
Sept 26, 1861
Camp Chase, Ohio
Dear Brother,
........... We are now ordered to march tomorrow at 2 o'clock, but where we will go we do not know.
Yesterday we fought a sham battle. Our Reg. fought against the cavalry. They made three charges against us, but they were repulsed every time. We fired three rounds at them with blank cartriges. Our whole Reg. was in line of battle, but when our Col. saw that the cavelry were coming upon us, he formed a hollow square on the doble quick and our Co. were right in front of the cavelry. Gov. Dennison and his staff were here to see our maneuvers and he also inspected us. The parade ground was strung with carriages and people from all parts of the surounding country to see the 31st Reg. make a display of her skill. It was a pleasant scene.............
There were some more rebels brought in this camp this week. There are now about 150 in the prison.
Our Capt. has been out recruiting this week. He brought some from Delaware Co., it numbers about 90 now. The artillery Co. started yesterday coming from Camp Dennison. We may go there ourselves for awhile.
The weather has been pretty coald for a few days, but we have not had any frosts here yet. News came in this canp that a battle was fought in Lexington, Mo. in which four thousand of our troops were surrendered to the rebels, but our troops fought well.
I have no more to write at present. Whenever we come to a stopping place I will write to you immediately.
With respect to father, mother and to you all and also Crist and all the boys.
Frederick Kehrwecker
Care of Capt. Rose
31 Reg.
Camp Chase, Ohio
************************ Another letter.
Thrusday, Oct 4, 1861
Garret Co., Ken. (The county is actually Garrard. He calls it Garrard in later letters.)
Dear Brother,
............ We are now in Camp Dick Robinson, Garret Co, Kentucky. We started away from Camp Chase on the 27th of Sept., Friday, and started to Columbus where we staid till the next morning for Cin. We went through Camp Dennison and arrived at Cin. about 12 o'clock, where we got off the cars and marched through the streets. The people cheered us very much as we passed them. They prepared us one of the best dinners that we had since we left home. Some of them gave us money. I got some myself. We then marched to the orphan asylum where we staid two days. The building is a large four-story house, opposite the Catholic Church.
We started away from Cin. on Monday evening and marched down to the river. The streets were all well lighted. Large fires were built and fire works were displayed. We then crossed the river on a boat. We then landed in Covington, Ky, where we got on board of the cars and rode all that night and the next day till noon. The cars that we rode on were nice cattle cars with temporary seats in them. The country that we passed through is very hilly and a great many curve in it. We passed through one tunnel. We passed through Lexington and left the cars at a town called Nicholsville. We there went out into a grove and spent the afternoon and in the evening we started for our camp , a distance of 18 miles. Went on till about 9 o'clock and got about half ways where we stopped and camped for the night. Some of our boys got so tired that they laid down in the road.
We then started from there yesterday and came on to the camp. There are now about 7 or 8 thousand in camp here, a couple Reg. from Ohio and some from this state and about 1500 from Tennessee, that stole their way from that state. They are all hearty looking chaps. We are about 200 miles from Cincinnati and about 100 miles from the line of Tennessee. The country around here is very beautiful. It is the best country that I ever saw. We saw a great many darkies....(rest of letter missing.)
******************** Yet another letter.
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1861
Camp Dick Robinson
Garrard Co., Ky.
Dear Brother,
..........We have now been two weeks in this camp and have not got into a battle yet. Our boys all felt very courageous when they first came here, because they thought they would get into a battle which they would very well like, but there is no prospect of one until we move farther south. But we will stay here at least one week.
Gen. Mitchell inspected us a few days ago when we were on battalion drill and he said that we were the best drilld in our brigade. Our brigade consists of two Tenn. Regiments and ourselves.....
We all thought that we were going to have a battle the other evening. Immediately after roll call an alarm was given to fall in ranks and the long roll commenced beatting on the parade ground. Some of them were in bed and in less than ten minutes the whole battalion was formed quicker than it ever was formed before. We were then marched off about 300 yds from the parade ground and countermarched and came back to our quarters. Our Col. was very well pleased. He said that our Reg. increased most wonderfully and last night another alarm was given. Our oickets were fired into by a party of eight men, but as far as I can learn none of them got hurt. We heard the firing from the camp and a certain number of each Co. were detailed for to go out and quell the disturbance, but they all wanted to go. Some of them broke guard and said they would go anyway, but the rebels made their escape before we reached them, so the fun was all over with........
Frederick Kehrwecker
Care of Capt. Rose
31st Reg. O.V.M.
Camp Dick Robinson, Ky.
************************ Julius A Leroux, Pvt, Co. E, 31 Reg'y Ohio Infantry appears on Company Muster Roll for Augt. 27 to Nov 1, 1861 as present. He appears as Co. cook for Nov.
*************************** Another letter.
Nov. 16, 1861
Camp Dick Robinson, Ky.
Dear Brother,
...........We are still at this camp and do not know when we will move away, although our Co. is going to guard the Bridge over the Ky. River and we will start away next Tues. if we stay that length of time in this camp. We have to go there and relieve another Co. out of our Reg., which has been there a week. It is six miles disdant from camp and it is a large bridge.
We learn that all Regiments that left this camp some time previous are now back at Crab Orchard, a distance of 22 miles from this camp and that they are coming back to this camp, but for what reason I do not know. They had been down near the Cumberland Gap, where Zolachofer is said to be now. The reason is probably that they intend to strike a different course into Tenn.
The commissary stores have nearly all been taken back to Nicholsville. Our Reg. has been breaking mules for the last 3 or 4 weeks. They have broken nearly a hundred and have done a great deal of teaming for the other regiments, so that we have not drilled much. We only drill once a day and sometimes not any. We don't have anything else but Battalion drills now. We have to stand guard every three days. I stood guard yesterday and last night and the night before last I was out with a scouting party. It consisted of 8 or 10 men and was commanded by our sergant major, who is a well drilled man. We were all from Co. E and we started out about 8 o'clock and were gone about 2 hours, but returned without any prisoners. Neither did we see any, but we got one a few days ago, who was going passed our camp and was shouting for Jeff Davis at same time being about half tite. A squad of men were immediately sent after and he was brought in camp and put in the guard house, where he was kept until the next day. He was then handcuffed and sent to Nicholsville or Lexington. He will probably from there be sent to Camp Chase or some other safe place.
The health of our Reg. is pretty good. There are some sick and some that have been sick, but have recovered. There has none died yet, while the Kentuckians and Tennesseans have been dying all around us. The weather here today is quite cold. We had a heavy frost last night, but it has been quite warm a few days ago. We have Meeting here this afternoon at 3 o'clock and tomorrow at 11 o'clock. They will take the Lords Supper. All members of churches are invited to take part.........
Frederick Kehrwecker
***************************** Yet another letter fragment.
Nov 27, 1861
Camp Dick Robinson, Ky.
Dear Brother,
..........We have now received one pay from the time we were sworn in to the 1st of Nov., which is two months and 4 days. We were sworn in on the 28th of Aug. I received 27 dollars and 70 cents. We get payed again from the first part of Nov., the first of Jan, which is two months, but we will have to wait till Jan. I sent twenty dollars home today by express. I did not pay the postage on it........
We are still at this camp, but our officers thinks that we will move away in few days. Our Co. has been guarding the Bridge over the Ky. River last week. It is a large Bridge. It is three hundred feet long & has two large stone butments and it cost the government 80 thousand dollars.
The weather is very rainy now. We had very heavy thunderstorms last night and this morning the ground was almost covered with water. Last Sunday we had the first snow. It was pretty cold...........
Frederick Kehrwecker
Camp Dick Robinson, Ky.
31st Reg. O.V.M. Care of Capt. Rose
P.S. We receive another blanket a piece today.
*********************** Excerpt from yet another letter from Frederick to his brother.
Camp Dick Robinson
Dec 12, 1861
Dear Brother,
.......The money that I sent you I did not pay the exchange on it, which would have cost 75 cents here. Lieut. Reed is now here. He came yesterday and John Andrews also came with him and brought Sam Kain and Luther Shaw. They have not done anything with them yet. John Andrews is going back today with our sesesh prisoners which we caught, about 15 in number. He will probably take them to Camp Chase. Our Regt. has started today for Somerset, where they expect to battle with Zolacopher, and our Co. is again detailed to stay here and guard the Ky. Bridge. Lieut. Reed is now commanding our Co. Stiles and Capt. Rose are both sick yet. Jacob Sherman was put in the guard house for splitting black oak. He was catched at it by the Col. He was very much boared by the boys.
The weather now is very pleasant and has been for a week, but we have had cold weather. The people here say that they have not had much cold weather for five years. If it does not get any colder we can stand it first rate, for we will probably not get any winter quarters........
Frederick Kehrwecker
Camp Dick Robinson, Ky.
31st Regt. O.V.M.
Care of Capt Rose
Co. E
P.S. I bought me a pair of Ky. boots for four dollars and some gloves that I paid one dollar.
******************************* Juliua Leroux, Pvt, Co E, 31 Reg't Ohio Infantry appears on Company Muster Roll for Nov & Dec. 1861 as present.
******************************* 1862
Another letter.
Jan 1, 1862
Bones Knob, Ky. (Should be Boones Knob.)
Dear Brother,
.............Our Capt. is now dead. He died last Thursday and also Jacob Sherman. He died yesterday morning. There are others that are quite sick, but they all seem to get better. John Richards is going home this morning with the corpse and if you have anything to send me you can send it down with him. If you can, send me a pair of woolen pants and couple pair of socks. You need not send me any gloves, I have a pair, and send me a comforter. I am not in need of anything else.
Our Reg. is now at Somerset. We shall probably stay all winter to guard the bridge over the Ky. River. The weather has been very pleasant here for a month and today it is quite warm and looks much like rain.........
Frederick Kehrwecker
Camp Dick Robinson
31st Reg. O.V.M.
Care of Lieut. Reed
Kentucky
*************************** Another letter.
Jan 17, 1862
Boones Knob, Ky.
Dear Brother,
..........Our sick are now nearly all well. Henry Tucker is pretty sick yet, but he is getting better.
The 16th Ohio Reg. passed through here a few days ago and there were two in the Reg. that I knew, Joseph Carpenter and san Fisher, and there were about 10 that Josie Orr knew........
Yours respectfully,
Frederick Kehrwecker
Address Jessiman
Garrard Co., Ky.
******************************** Another letter.
Jan. 20, 1862
Dear Brother,
I received the clothes that were sent to me, but no letter. There were the woolen pants, comforter, and two pair of socks, darning needle, and a ball of yarn and thread. There were a great many things sent to the Co. The box weighed over three hundred.....
We are still at the Bridge and we will be very apt to stay here at least one month yet. We have no late news from Reg. They are at Somerset and they are expecting a fight. They say that they have old Zolacofer almost surrounded and he will either have to fight or surrender.
The weather is very warm and rainy. The river has raised very high, but it is now falling. It is here forth feet deep. We have good quarters now and have first rate times. We do not drill any at all and we have our rations cooked at ten cts. a week and have plenty to eat. I now weigh 190. There are but few sick. Tucker is the only one that is very sick and he is getting better. The rest are all so that they can be around.
I received a letter from you last week and answered it and I was in a hurry in writing, so as to have it put in the post office before the stage came along..........
...........Our Capt. has not yet come and Lieut. Reed is commanding the Co. alone........
Frederick Kehrwecker
Address Jessiman
Garrard Co., Ky.
***************** Julius Leroux, Pvt, Co. E, 31 Reg't Ohio Infantry appears on Company Muster Roll for Jan & Feb, 1862 as present. He also appears as Co. cook for month of Feb.
******************** Another letter.
Boones Knob, Ky.
Feb 4, 1862
Dear Brother,
.............We have now got a Capt. He is now here in command of us. His name is M.B.W, Harmon. He is from Delaware Co., where the Delaware boys are from. He has a brother in our Co. and he is a well drilled man and he is now the best Capt. in the Reg. We are still at the Bridge, but we will move either tomorrow or next day down to where our Regt. is. It is by this time in Tenn. we will get relieved by a Co. from the 33rd Ind. Regt.
There are but few sick in our Co. now. We have had first rate times here at the Bridge.....
Direct your letters after this to:
Frederick Kehrwecker
Camp near Somerset
31st Regt. O.V.M.
Care of Capt. Harmon
Co. E, Ky.
****************** Another letter.
Fredericksburg, Ky.
Feb 20, 1862
Der Brother,
...........I am well with the exceptions of a bad cold,............We are camping tonight in a little town called Fredericksburg, in Washington Co., along the beach fork of Salt River. We started away from the Ky. Bridge a week ago last Friday and we marched 33 miles towards Somerset. We then heard that our whole brigade was coming back, so we camped in the woods 3 days till the Regt. came along. We had no tents, so we just built small shantees and built large fires in front of them and got along first rate. We returned our old tents and we have now the Cibley tents which are much better. They are fixed so that we can build fires in them.
The roads between Crab Orchard and Somerset are very bad, the mud in some places is so deep that you could not see any of the wagons excepting the box. We passed through Lebanon yesterday and it rained very hard. While we were on the march the streans had risen very high and some places we wades in the water knee deep, but today it has been much better. We marched 15 miles. We passed through a town called Springfield.........
Louisville, Ky.
31st Reg. O.V.M.
Care of Capt. Harmon
Co. E
When you write please send me some stamps. We expected our pay, but we have not got it yet......
Frederick Kehewecker
************ Julius A. Leroux, Pvt, Co E, 31 Reg't Ohio Infantry appears on Company Muster Roll for March & April 1862 as present. He is also listed as Co. cook for month of Mar.
*********** Another letter.
Nashville, Tenn.
Mar. 5, 1862
Dear Brother,
.............We are now 4 miles west of Nashville, Tenn. We started away from Bardstown a week ago last Monday, which is 39 miles from Louisville, and we marched it in two days. The 2nd day we marched 27 miles and got on board of the steamer Magnolia in the evening, but we did not start away till the next day in the afternoon.
We loaded everything on the boat. Wagons, horses, provisions, and all the 12th Ky. Regt. started away with us, their boat being fastened to ours and Gen. Schoepf and his staff were on our boat. When we got gown the river a distance of 30 miles we stopped and landed on the Ind. shore and cooked several days rations, and the next morning at 4 o'clock we again started down the river and when we had got several miles an accident occured. The steamer Forest Queen being fastened to ours on the left ran into a tree top and tore one of the pipes down and tore off the stern and 18 mules and horses were lost. I stood on the hurricane deck when it happened. The river was very high. It was full up to the top of the bank and the Cumberland was higher then it ever was known. Houses along the river were nearly all under water.
March 6th
.......There are about 100,000 troops here. The stars and stripes are floating over the State House. The weather is cold and this morning there is quite a snow on the ground. We have now received our two months wages, $26.........Everything is dear here. A pair of boots costa 15 dollars, halfsoling $2.00, other things in proportion....
(Rest of letter missing.)
************* Another letter.
Nashville, Tenn.
Mar. 17, 1862
Dear Brother,
..........Lieut. Reed has resigned on account of his ill health and will probably go home tomorrow.................The weather is quite pleasant today, but it has been quite disagreeable. The health of our Co. is not very good. W.R. Clark is not expected to live........
Respectfully yours,
Frederick Kehrwecker
Nashville Tenn.
31st Regt. O.V.M.
Care of Capt. Harmon
Co. E
I also send you a few pictures which I got from our artist: the crossing of Fishing Creek and the preaching of Camp Dick Robinson.
************* Another letter.
Camp near Clifton, Tenn.
April 16, 1862
Dear Brother,
.........I suppose that you think that we have been in that battle which was fough near Corinth, but we were 40 miles from it. According to all reports that we have heard, the battle was a dear one, the greatest one that ever was fought in America. It was reported at first that Gen. Beauregard was mortaly wounded, but it has since been contradicted and that Gens. Johnson, Lee, and Bragg were killed and our number in killed was 8000 and that of the enemys 15,000 and that we took 91,000 prisoners. We cannot get any reliable reports. The rebels are said to be at Corinth 300,000 strong. Their whole force is said to be concentrated there and the number of our forces is 200,000 and our Gen. thinks that the war will be over in four weeks time if we whip them there. It will be the last battle and if we can not do it in four weeks time, we can not whip them at all. There are a great many of the rebels are deserting. We have two in our Co. that were in the rebel army. I should have said two in our Regt. that are mustered in, one in our Co. and one in Co. I. They say that they have been badly treated.
We are now in Wayne Co., one mile from the Tenn. River, near a small town called Clifton. We are waiting for marching orders. We shall probably go up the Tenn. River. We have had some mudey roads to march through. Wagons were stuck all along the road, but the two last days we did not march any. We all rode in the Brigade wagons, but last Friday and Saturday we had to pry up the wagons that were stuck in the mud and sometimes we had to unload them and carry the baggage.
The weather for the last few days has been very pleasant, but last week it was quite rainy and cold. There is a great deal of sassafras growing through here. We have made a lot of tea from it........The health of the Co, is as usual. We have heard that Uriah Newton is dead. He died in the hospital at Columbia......
Frederick Kehrwecker
Nashville, Tenn.
31st Regt. O.V.M.
Co. E
on the march
****************** Excerpts from another letter.
Camp near Shiloh, Tenn. battleground
Apr. 24, 1862
Dear Brother,
............We were again paid off the day before yesterday. We received 26 dollars......We are now near the battleground which was fought near Pittsburgh Landing. We passed over it yesterday. It was a pretty hard sight, trees were all scared up with bullet marks from the bottom to the top and a great many were cut off with cannon balls that were two feet thick. Some of the dead were poorly buried. In some places you could see their hands and faces sticking out of the ground and cartridges, boxes, belts, old gun barrels, and broken cannons were laying all over the ground. The rebel loss in killed and wounded are said to be two to our one. Our loss in killed is said to be 800 and twice that number in wounded. I suppose that you have a truer statement than we have, because you have the papers to read.
We left Clinton last Saturday and sailed up the river on the steamer Edward Walsh to Pittsburgh Landing, a distance of 45 miles. It rained all day Saturday and nearly all day Sunday, so that it has made the roads quite muddy for our teams, but for the last few days the weather has been quite pleasant and rather cool. We are now in the advance of our army and are expecting a battle. We are near the line of Miss. We were oedered last night to sleep with our clothes on and our cartridges boxes and belts and our muskets beside us, so that we could be ready in a moment should an attack be made and this morning just before daylight we were ordered to form on the color line, but we were not ordered out. Several Pickets fired their guns, which gave the alarm.
The health of our Co. is as usual. Lorenzo Rogers is quite sick. He was left back at Clifton......
Frederick Kehrwecker
31st Regt. O.V.M.
Care of Capt. Harmon, Co. E.
**************************** Another letter portion from Frederick.
Camp, Monterey, Miss.
May 11, 1862
Dear Brother,
.................We are now in the great state of Miss., about 6 miles from Corinth, near the line. The large battle is daily expected has not taken place yet. Cannonading can be heard almost every day. In Gen. Pope's division, which forms the left wing of the army, we are the center division. We are moving by degrees every day. The bad roads makes it impossible for our army to move faster than it does. If Gen. Bearegard does not evacuate Corinth, the battle cannot be postponed any longer than two or three days. We are ordered to be ready a moments warning and we have sixty rounds of cartridges. We have now got a new gun, which is called the Springfield rifle. It is saidto be the best gun in the service. It carries the same sized ball that the Enfield do and will carry up 500 yds.
The weather is very fine. It is not so warm as I expected it would be here in the southern states at this time of year. The nights are quite cool. The health of our Co. is now a great deal better than it has been. There are but a few on the sick list. The country through here looks very poor. About two thirds of it is woods. A few wheat fields, which is all headed out, and a few fields of cotton can be seen and also a few houses that are vacated. The water through here is very poor. Just now I heard another cannon............
Respectfully Yours,
Frederick Kehrwecker
Camp Monterey, Miss.
31st Regt. O.V.M.
Care of Capt. Harmon, Co. E
On the march
*********************** Julius A. Leroux, Pvt, Co. E, 31st Reg't Ohio Infantry appears on Company Muster Roll for May & June 1862 as present.
**************************** Another portion of letter from Frederick.
Camp near Corinth, Mississippi
May 28, 1862
Dear Brother,
.................I suppose that this letter will not reach you until this battle is over, for all the letters are said to be stopped at Savannah. So I might as well not write yet, but it may go through anyway, for there is no telling whether there will be any fight or not.
Our army is advancing very slowly. We have been fortifying. Twice we advanced, a week ago yesterday, and drove in their pickets, and last Sunday we worked all day throwing up intrenchments expecting that the enemy would attack us, but they never came. They throwed some shells over in our camp, but without any effect. Our men returned the fire and we have now advanced again and threw up another intrenchment a mile ahead of the old one and we are again expecting to be attacked. We are now at least not more than a mile from the enemy. The pickets are continually firing at each other. One man in
Camp near Winchester, Tennessee Aug. 6, 1862 Dear Brother,
......The rebels are playing thunder again. They have taken Corinth and Tuscumbia. Quite a number of sick were left back at Tuscumbia and I suppose they were all taken prisoners. There were some from our Co. there. William A. Brown is among one of them and I suppose that Decatur is also in their hands by this time.
And they also tried our Co. at Trinity, where we were guarding a railroad tank and a bridge, some two miles and a half from where we were quartered, but they did not succeed in doing it. We gave them quite a warm reception. They came in upon us while we were building breastworks and there was about one third of our Co. were absent, four that were on picket about one half mile from camp, and 6 were guarding the bridge which were not in the fight and as near as I can judge there were nearly three hundred of them and they fired one whole volly into us before we saw them. We immediately droped our tools and sprang for our guns. The fight lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. They killed one of our men and wounded 11. Charles Cross of Delaware Co. was killed. Among the wounded are James Maxwell, Walter Case, Francis Conklin, Slocum Barge, Henry Rose, John Closson, Julius Lareaux, Willard Bennett, Nathan Herendieu, but they are all getting along fine. Some of them are able for duty and we killed 5 of the rebels and wounded some 8 or 10, so take it all into consideration we done excellent fighting. We did not get to fire more than two or three rounds apiece. They were armed with double barreled shotguns. The balls whistled quite freely around us. One buckshot just grazed the skin on the back of my hand. We captured three of their shotguns and also two rifles. The fight took place on the 25th of July.
........ We are ordered to march tomorrow morning at 3 o'clock a distance of 15 miles......
Frederick Kehrwecker
Camp near Winchester, Tenn. 31st Regt. O.V.M.
Care of Capt. Harmon, Co.E **********************
Julius Leroux, Pvt, Co E, 31 Reg't Ohio Infantry for July & August 1862 reported as absent. Remarks: Wounded at Trinity, Ala. July 25, "62, Left at Decatur, Ala.
The War Department, Adjutant General's Office reported to the Commissioner of Pensions that the Return for July 1862 for Julius Leroux was not on file. It further stated that "there is no record evidence that Co was in action at Trinity, Ala Jul 24/62". Apparently, Julius must have filed his pension papers stating that he was wounded on the 24th instead of the 25th of July 1862.
Due to lack of space here, I will not give a summary of his Roll Calls except for him being reported as absent Nov & Dec 1863. Reason; wounded at Chickamauga, Tenn., Sept 19, 1863. Sent to hospital in Nashville, Tenn. (Wounded - contusion by shell.)
Sept 24, 1864, Julius was discharged. He re-enlisted on Feb 8, 1865 as Corporal in Co D, 188th Reg. of Ohio Infantry Volunteers. (Name shows as Julias.) He received a wounded ankle, but that record was not found when he applied for his pension.
1865 Julius was discharged on 21 Sept 1865.
1866 Naturalization process was completed.
1865-1868 Jullius then tells us in his biography, "Then from Ohio I came to MO and here joined the Missionary Baptist Church at Mt Pleasant. Was baptised and ordained Deacon". I wonder if this is the same church where Celia Ann Stephens was also a member?
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