"[the rebels] shot one man in his own bed and took his son and hung him and took one prisoner and I suppose they hung him."

Autograph letter signed by John McGee, to his brother.  Camp Brownlow, Pikeville, Pike Co., Kentucky, 9 March 1862. 4 + 1 pages, 8vo and 4 3/8 x 2 3/4 in. With original illustrated cover featuring a portrait of General George B. McClellan. 

The author writes in part: "The rebels has been exacting[?] some of their distress[?] on some of the citizens about seven miles from here they shot one man in his own bed and took his son and hung him and took one prisoner and I suppose they hung him. What else they done I cannot tell but we have scouts out after them to day and I hope they will catch the devils and give them their just dues."

John is almost certain to be Private John McGee, who enlisted into Company K of the 40th Ohio Infantry on 30 October 1861. The Ohio History Connection holds a letter from the 40th Ohio's Colonel, Jonathan Cranor, who wrote a letter from Camp Brownlow on 3 March 1862 (Series 147-30: 24), confirming the 40th Ohio's location in early March 1862. 

After leaving eastern Kentucky at the end of 1861, they moved to Middle Tennessee, fighting in the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns. In May 1864, they joined the Atlanta Campaign. During the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain on June 20th, McGee was captured as a prisoner of war. After his return, he transferred to CO. K of the 51st Ohio Infantry on December 10th. 

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