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Enlisted in the army
Most of the people enlisting in the war were around his age. The average age for people enlisting in the war was 26 just five years younger than him.
[https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/national_cemeteries/death.html] -
Joseph was almost shot
Joseph is in a close call with death after two people who were standing next to him were shot. He called it a “close shaving”.
[https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/national_cemeteries/death.html] -
Sun conditions
Six people die from sun stroke in the Tennessee heat but thankfully Joseph was spared from this horrible death.
[https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/weather-during-the-civil-war/] -
We went on a mission
Joseph and his team caught six rebels trying to kill any of their hurt or sick soldiers. Joseph referred to them as "cowardly dogs".
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War_prison_camps] -
I haven't been paid!!
Joseph is complaining about not being paid in 5 months, he is owed over 120 dollars. He has not been able to buy socks or drawers in weeks but thankfully his brother sent him some.
https://www.history.com/news/10-surprising-civil-war-facts -
Still not being paid:(
Joseph has still not been paid, there is some talk of being paid but they will only be paid for two month of their money instead of the full six months.
https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/conscription.html -
I'm sick *cough*
Joseph has the chills which he has had several time during war but he thinks he will have it into mid fall. This was a very common sickness in union troops many think that it could have been typhoid fever which troops started to just call "camp fever":(
https://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/5239 -
Get punched >:(
Ann Clark is very angry with him and he says she can “jaw him before the face”. (Idk who Ann Clark is, she keeps being brought up in letters and they are always angry at each other.) -
French leave *we we baguette snails or something idk*
Many people left without permission (French leave) during the war and will be treated as deserters when they get back, a general even got arrested. Before this Joseph was contemplating doing so but after he saw people getting arrested he decided not to.
https://www.fords.org/blog/post/civil-war-150-desertion-in-the-union-army/ -
people are dying :/
The cold nights of Memphis Tennessee have taken many lives. Joseph's lieutenant and two others have sadly been cursed with this form of death.
https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/weather-and-the-civil-war.html -
I'm back!! :D
Joseph re-enlists in the military after being sentenced to one year of hard labor with a ball and chain around his leg, due to a mutiny he was involved in, not obeying the authority of his sergeant and finally using his gun in a threatening manner.
https://www.civilwarmed.org/enlist/#:~:text=To%20enlist%2C%20Civil%20War%20recruits,given%20by%20a%20military%20surgeon.&text=These%20lax%20recruiting%20practices%20led,stages%20of%20the%20Civil%20War. -
A battle!!
There was a small battle but thankfully no more than two people died. (it didn't tell me what the name of the battle was)
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/life-civil-war-soldier-battle -
I've been shot :0
Joseph was shot in the arm only a few months after re-enlisting in the army. He was sent to the hospital immediately after being shot and thankfully survived. After being shot Josephs pension was re-evaluated and was lowered repeatedly. (This was not found in a letter but was in the biography section.
[https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/civil-war-casualties]