Tweet
This is from Bill DeCoursey's site:
Willie Lockwood and his whole big family grew up here in my neighborhood. His grandmother died not long after this, and I';ve always wondered whether her heart broke. I can't find any record of the family ever locating his grave. The family paid a heavy price during the war; an uncle and three more brothers served and were wounded, one "going insane at the close of the war".
A torn letter dated 10 May (1863?) from Benjamin LOCKWOOD to his daughter, Livenia (LOCKWOOD) WOODBURY, is in the possession of William L. DeCOURSEY of Minneapolis, MN. It reads "My dauter, We Received your Late Letter and Was glad to hear that you & Family was well. We are all in tolerable Health, and hope you are the same, but Sorofull in Mind on --torn-- the Sad news of the Death of our son William. According to the account in the --?-- field in the Battle at Chancellorsville, Va. on the 2 of this Inst. O Dauter what a Hart rending News it is to us all. Mother is very much troubled in deed as well as all the Rest of His friends & acquaintances. Poor Fellow. He was a brave soldier and stood a great deal of hard ships and Dangers before this Fatal Blow which caused his Death at Last. Willy was Respected by all of His Company always in good Cheer and spirits, but no more. I wrote to Jacob Lately. I want you to write to Him and Let Him know about our Sad news, and Death of His good Brother which will be soroful news to Him, and --illegible-- Him to take as good Care of his Self as He can and when ever --?-- from Him write to us on --?--. Best wishes to you all and take Care of those two Little girls and Remain your affectionate, Father, B. LOCKWOOD."
1863 - Appended to the above letter is a note from Emma LOCKWOOD (then age 16) to her sister Liva WOODBURY: "-?- Sabbath Eve, May 10 (1863), Dear Sister Liva, We are sad very sad to night. Our Dear Brother is gone, gone, gone, forever. We have just rec. the sad Inteligence. Emma FOWLER brought over the paper the New York Tribune. Oh. Dear Sister - is it not Sad news we cannot write to him & give him your Love as you desired. We cannot rec. any more letters from him he has gone to a far better & happier world. He always wrote such good letters. Dear Dear Willie - tell Annie and Ida what a Dear Uncle they have lost - Liva he always spoke of you and Jacob in his letters & would tell us to write to you often, but we will rec. no more letters from him. Come up Liva as soon as you can. We will be happy to see you. Write and tell Jacob as soon as you get this. Dear old Mother is very unhappy. Papa is not here. He went over to Moundsville to night as Gen. MULLIGAN is there with his brave followers who are fighting for what our Willie has fought - on the last - to be killed on the Battle field that is his reward for his bravery. Willie was fighting at Fredericksburg, Va when he fell we have not hurd the particulars from the Battle, but we plainly see his Name & that is enough. Dear Sister write soon. Kiss Dear Anna & Ida for me. I do not think Lis's Mark (FOWLER) should go to War. They are Fighting & will be everywhere that there are Soldiers. I hope Lis is not a Rebel. Vannie will write soon. He has been waiting until we could hear from Willie, but Oh how sad. - Your Sister, Emma."
1863 - A letter dated 17 May 1863 from Olivia (PADEN) LOCKWOOD to her husband, Jacob LOCKWOOD, reads as follows: "Padens Valley May 17th/63 Sabath afternoon. My dear Jacob, Its Sad very Sad news I have to write to you this time. Dear Willa is no more. He fell in the late Battle of Fredericksburg. He was killed on the 2nd of this month poor Willa its hard so good a boy as him had to be taken away from us & poor old mother & paps it will go so hard with them. I can't hardly believe that Willa is gone gone never to come to us again, but its to true for I see his Dear name amongst the list of killed in two of my Papers. I will send you Emma's and Paps letters which they wrote to me last. I see the above letter last Monday & did hardly believe that Willa was no more. thought I would wait until I would hear further, but I have not had any letter from Paps since the above so I expect it must be true. Oh how hard. but Dear you amongst the rest of us must bear it with patience & think how many thousands -?- hearts have been Saddened by this unholy War. Dear Willa had just written to me & told me when the War was over he would visit us & have a pleasant time amongst his old friends & spoke of enjoying the best of health. He wrote such a good letter was in fine spirits, but now is gone. I answered his letter, but not in time. He did not get it I don't think. I wrote for his Photograph for Liles Album. Poor fellow did not get my letter nor never will. I see names of Several killed in same Reg. 25th which are from Woodsfield & Baresville Joe Hull Garrison of B. You will find all if you look at the list of killed & wounded - Geo. W. MARTIN, 1st Liew. of Sardis wounded. He came home I heard the Post Master's son. Dear I have been so uneasy about your being away. When I don't get a letter I cant tell whether you are Dead or alive. its been three weeks since I heard from you the last letter written at St. Louis April 10th over 4 weeks ago if you have written since that time I never got it. its the longest time between dates of your letters for some time, but hope you will make up for it in future. the children & my self are well so are all the rest of the folks. Dear when do you think of coming to see us we want to see you so badly its seems a long time since you left us, but I expect you get use to being away from us & it does not go so hard with you as your mind is occupied by seeing new objects all the times. I have written two or three letters and sent you clothing and Deeds as you directed & have no reply as yet. I will wait anxiously for some good kind letters from you. I will write to you when I get a letter from you. I hope that wont be long. the children are out playing or they would have something to say too. The Small Pox is raging badly in Sistersville. we are afraid of it here as its spreading fast. but hope we escape. Write soon. from your Affect. Wife, O.A. LOCKWOOD.---
"Monday Morn 18th. I did not get a receipt for the Box. I got Mr. MARTIN to ask for one & he did but Charley -?- has not been on The Eagle since & that reason he did not get it. if you have not got the Box yet look after it in time. the Deeds all were sent in Box with clothes. I think the Box was sent by via Marietta, Ohio. Mr. MARTIN said so. - Yours Olevia."
1863 - A faded letter dated 20 June 1863 from Benjamin LOCKWOOD to his son, Jacob E. LOCKWOOD, is in the possession of William DeCOURSEY. It reads in part "Dilles Bottom, O. June 20 1863. My son, --?-- my well wishes to you. We all are Reasonably well at Present. I hope that you are the same. I wrote to you some time ago. I have enclosed these few lines in Liva's letter. She is here and those two --?-- children with her. I suppose that you have heard the sorowful news before now of the death of your brother, William who fell in the Last Battle on the Potomack. Fought and fell Like a Brave Soldier. Poor Boy is no more with us. We are very much grieved at his loss, but he died in a good cause, Honourable, with Thousands of other Brave Soldiers. We would went after him to bring him home but found out that he was buried among the Thousands and no chance to find him and could not be got for He was over the Lines and on the Battle Field of the Rebels. I wrote to J. H. LOCKWOOD to ascertain if possible if he was be found and got going after him I would send a letter --?-- to you as soon as we get any further notice of --?-- Remains? --?-- and if you have a good --?-- I would advise you to stick to it and do the Best you Can we are doing the best we Can. Mother is very much grieved about William and so we all are but we cant help all what is to be will be, but hope to meet Him in a world to Come for I think Willy has died happy. He was shot Dead through the head, Poor Boy. If we only knowed whether He could be got it would be a great Satisfaction to us but not without we got some word where He is before we go. I will just mention to you Something about your Business with HOOPER. The money that you owed Him that David gave his note for, Hooper called on David for it and sayed that he could not wait any longer. So David borrowed the money and paid him, and when you can get the Money, send it to your wife or to David and not to HOOPER. to pay of the Claims and save Interest be careful how you send Money for it is --?-- now. -- times is --?-- here. Your? --?-- Father, B. LOCKWOOD."
Willie Lockwood and his whole big family grew up here in my neighborhood. His grandmother died not long after this, and I';ve always wondered whether her heart broke. I can't find any record of the family ever locating his grave. The family paid a heavy price during the war; an uncle and three more brothers served and were wounded, one "going insane at the close of the war".
A torn letter dated 10 May (1863?) from Benjamin LOCKWOOD to his daughter, Livenia (LOCKWOOD) WOODBURY, is in the possession of William L. DeCOURSEY of Minneapolis, MN. It reads "My dauter, We Received your Late Letter and Was glad to hear that you & Family was well. We are all in tolerable Health, and hope you are the same, but Sorofull in Mind on --torn-- the Sad news of the Death of our son William. According to the account in the --?-- field in the Battle at Chancellorsville, Va. on the 2 of this Inst. O Dauter what a Hart rending News it is to us all. Mother is very much troubled in deed as well as all the Rest of His friends & acquaintances. Poor Fellow. He was a brave soldier and stood a great deal of hard ships and Dangers before this Fatal Blow which caused his Death at Last. Willy was Respected by all of His Company always in good Cheer and spirits, but no more. I wrote to Jacob Lately. I want you to write to Him and Let Him know about our Sad news, and Death of His good Brother which will be soroful news to Him, and --illegible-- Him to take as good Care of his Self as He can and when ever --?-- from Him write to us on --?--. Best wishes to you all and take Care of those two Little girls and Remain your affectionate, Father, B. LOCKWOOD."
1863 - Appended to the above letter is a note from Emma LOCKWOOD (then age 16) to her sister Liva WOODBURY: "-?- Sabbath Eve, May 10 (1863), Dear Sister Liva, We are sad very sad to night. Our Dear Brother is gone, gone, gone, forever. We have just rec. the sad Inteligence. Emma FOWLER brought over the paper the New York Tribune. Oh. Dear Sister - is it not Sad news we cannot write to him & give him your Love as you desired. We cannot rec. any more letters from him he has gone to a far better & happier world. He always wrote such good letters. Dear Dear Willie - tell Annie and Ida what a Dear Uncle they have lost - Liva he always spoke of you and Jacob in his letters & would tell us to write to you often, but we will rec. no more letters from him. Come up Liva as soon as you can. We will be happy to see you. Write and tell Jacob as soon as you get this. Dear old Mother is very unhappy. Papa is not here. He went over to Moundsville to night as Gen. MULLIGAN is there with his brave followers who are fighting for what our Willie has fought - on the last - to be killed on the Battle field that is his reward for his bravery. Willie was fighting at Fredericksburg, Va when he fell we have not hurd the particulars from the Battle, but we plainly see his Name & that is enough. Dear Sister write soon. Kiss Dear Anna & Ida for me. I do not think Lis's Mark (FOWLER) should go to War. They are Fighting & will be everywhere that there are Soldiers. I hope Lis is not a Rebel. Vannie will write soon. He has been waiting until we could hear from Willie, but Oh how sad. - Your Sister, Emma."
1863 - A letter dated 17 May 1863 from Olivia (PADEN) LOCKWOOD to her husband, Jacob LOCKWOOD, reads as follows: "Padens Valley May 17th/63 Sabath afternoon. My dear Jacob, Its Sad very Sad news I have to write to you this time. Dear Willa is no more. He fell in the late Battle of Fredericksburg. He was killed on the 2nd of this month poor Willa its hard so good a boy as him had to be taken away from us & poor old mother & paps it will go so hard with them. I can't hardly believe that Willa is gone gone never to come to us again, but its to true for I see his Dear name amongst the list of killed in two of my Papers. I will send you Emma's and Paps letters which they wrote to me last. I see the above letter last Monday & did hardly believe that Willa was no more. thought I would wait until I would hear further, but I have not had any letter from Paps since the above so I expect it must be true. Oh how hard. but Dear you amongst the rest of us must bear it with patience & think how many thousands -?- hearts have been Saddened by this unholy War. Dear Willa had just written to me & told me when the War was over he would visit us & have a pleasant time amongst his old friends & spoke of enjoying the best of health. He wrote such a good letter was in fine spirits, but now is gone. I answered his letter, but not in time. He did not get it I don't think. I wrote for his Photograph for Liles Album. Poor fellow did not get my letter nor never will. I see names of Several killed in same Reg. 25th which are from Woodsfield & Baresville Joe Hull Garrison of B. You will find all if you look at the list of killed & wounded - Geo. W. MARTIN, 1st Liew. of Sardis wounded. He came home I heard the Post Master's son. Dear I have been so uneasy about your being away. When I don't get a letter I cant tell whether you are Dead or alive. its been three weeks since I heard from you the last letter written at St. Louis April 10th over 4 weeks ago if you have written since that time I never got it. its the longest time between dates of your letters for some time, but hope you will make up for it in future. the children & my self are well so are all the rest of the folks. Dear when do you think of coming to see us we want to see you so badly its seems a long time since you left us, but I expect you get use to being away from us & it does not go so hard with you as your mind is occupied by seeing new objects all the times. I have written two or three letters and sent you clothing and Deeds as you directed & have no reply as yet. I will wait anxiously for some good kind letters from you. I will write to you when I get a letter from you. I hope that wont be long. the children are out playing or they would have something to say too. The Small Pox is raging badly in Sistersville. we are afraid of it here as its spreading fast. but hope we escape. Write soon. from your Affect. Wife, O.A. LOCKWOOD.---
"Monday Morn 18th. I did not get a receipt for the Box. I got Mr. MARTIN to ask for one & he did but Charley -?- has not been on The Eagle since & that reason he did not get it. if you have not got the Box yet look after it in time. the Deeds all were sent in Box with clothes. I think the Box was sent by via Marietta, Ohio. Mr. MARTIN said so. - Yours Olevia."
1863 - A faded letter dated 20 June 1863 from Benjamin LOCKWOOD to his son, Jacob E. LOCKWOOD, is in the possession of William DeCOURSEY. It reads in part "Dilles Bottom, O. June 20 1863. My son, --?-- my well wishes to you. We all are Reasonably well at Present. I hope that you are the same. I wrote to you some time ago. I have enclosed these few lines in Liva's letter. She is here and those two --?-- children with her. I suppose that you have heard the sorowful news before now of the death of your brother, William who fell in the Last Battle on the Potomack. Fought and fell Like a Brave Soldier. Poor Boy is no more with us. We are very much grieved at his loss, but he died in a good cause, Honourable, with Thousands of other Brave Soldiers. We would went after him to bring him home but found out that he was buried among the Thousands and no chance to find him and could not be got for He was over the Lines and on the Battle Field of the Rebels. I wrote to J. H. LOCKWOOD to ascertain if possible if he was be found and got going after him I would send a letter --?-- to you as soon as we get any further notice of --?-- Remains? --?-- and if you have a good --?-- I would advise you to stick to it and do the Best you Can we are doing the best we Can. Mother is very much grieved about William and so we all are but we cant help all what is to be will be, but hope to meet Him in a world to Come for I think Willy has died happy. He was shot Dead through the head, Poor Boy. If we only knowed whether He could be got it would be a great Satisfaction to us but not without we got some word where He is before we go. I will just mention to you Something about your Business with HOOPER. The money that you owed Him that David gave his note for, Hooper called on David for it and sayed that he could not wait any longer. So David borrowed the money and paid him, and when you can get the Money, send it to your wife or to David and not to HOOPER. to pay of the Claims and save Interest be careful how you send Money for it is --?-- now. -- times is --?-- here. Your? --?-- Father, B. LOCKWOOD."