Autograph letter signed by Jeremiah Graves, Co. I, 12th Ohio Cavalry. Camp Herrick, Johnson's Island, 3 January 1864. 4 pages, 8vo. With period pencil notations to verso. 

Letter from Jeremiah Graves to Sylvanus Ratcliff depicting the conditions at Johnson's Island during the winter. In this letter, Graves discusses a few scandalous incidents, starting with the escape of three prisoners from the island. Then, he writes how it is so cold that "to throw up water it would freeze before it stuck [sic] the ground" and that he "went out to pis this morning. It froze an eysickle from my prick down to the ground." 

Graves also details what the prison and camp is like in general: "We are four miles out in the lake... we are in tents... they 26 hundred prisoners here... we are on guard evry 4 days we are not payed off yet nor I dont no when we will bee." 

The next day, Graves writes that another prisoner was trying to escape but got gunned down. He then very quickly changes topics to talk about the sport and the food in the prison, followed by how he "hant got sight of a girl for 34 Days" and is "getting vary heavy in the bag. I would like to bee at home a few days just for luck and go to a good frolick and hug some man's girl." 

Johnson's Island was located off of Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio. From 1862-1865, it served as a Confederate prison during the Civil War, having seen more than 15,000 men while it was open. During that time, around 200 prisoners died from disease, food and fuel shortage, and the harsh winters, not unlike what Graves wrote about in his letter. 

Graves mustered into Company I in the 12th Ohio Cavalry on 24 November 1863. During his service, he most likely served as a guard at Johnson's Island, which the 12th Ohio Cavalry was stationed at until March 1864. Graves's service ended rather quickly, however, when he was discharged on 14 June 1864 at Camp Denison in Ohio for a disability. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]

Some light stains. Small hole in crease.