Letters from a Civil War Relative #4: December 16, 1861, from Camp Calvert

Today’s letter is the fourth I’ve published here.I believe there will be 14 or 15 total depending on how I decide to handle a couple of undated and unsigned  pages. 

This one appears to be in Edward Turner’s handwriting. 

Camp Calvert December 16, 1861 

Dear Father mother brothers and sisters.

I again take the pleasure of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present. Hoping that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing.

I received your letter dated Dec. 13th, come to hand last night, which gave me great satisfaction to hear that you was all well. I would be glad to see you but I don’t know when I shall get to come home for a young man has a bad chance to get a furlough but I would be glad you would come and see us.

I want you to try to bring John here again the first of January for that is pay day and Colonel Garrard says he wants all of the soldiers to be here on that day.

Tell Hampton Turner and his wife and all the rest of my connection that I would be powerful glad to see them all.

So no more at present but remains yours truly.

From Richard Stamper to Joel Stamper and family

The "John" mentioned in the text is probably a cousin of Richard and a member of the same unit. He was home on sick furlough at this time. Since it reports that Colonel Theophilus Garrard wants all the soldiers there for pay day, this was probably the man to whom Richard referred. John was eventually discharged from the service on April 26, 1862, due to “feeble muscular development & health.”

Hampton Turner was probably another of Richard's brothers-in-law, having married Richard's sister Marta (Patsy) Stamper, though it is curious that Richard referred to “Hampton and his wife" instead of something like "my sister and her family." Was he just conditioned to refer to the male head of the household even when talking about his own family? “The rest of my connection” surely refers to his sister and her children, his nieces and nephews.  

Hampton Turner was also one of my 3-great grand uncles, as this project continues to tie in my soldier cousin Richard Stamper with other members of my family tree.  

I also have not found any other information on “Camp Calvert," other than it was "in the Cumberland Gap area, location undetermined,” per this list. I did find an archived New York Times article that included a report frim this camp, but it did not provide other details on the camp’s location.

An AI generated report says it was in London, Laurel County, which would be close to Wildcat Mountain.  It would make sense for it and these men to be in the same region still, but I hesitate to rely on such a source.