Brevet Brigadier General Isaac Minor Kirby Updates His Father On The Regiment

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A good war-date Union Brigadier General's letter, 2pp. 4to., written by ISAAC MINOR KIRBY (1835-1917), as captain of Company D, 15th Ohio Vols., "Camp Wood, [Copper Creek, KY], Feb. 12, 1862, to his father reading, in part: "Fatheràstill [you are] alarmed about my health. I tell you truly that I am almost, if not entirely well. Iàsleep nights at Col. Wood's house, but go to camp every day. Stay out of camp at night, merely as a precaution. Dr. [Orrin] Ferris says thatàmy sickness will do me goodàI will be stronger than I have been heretofore in the serviceàdon'tàfeel alarmedàabout meàI will promiseàthat if I get sick again I will come homeàCol. [William Tecumseh] Wilson [later brevet brig. gen. 123rd Ohio] was afraid a week or two ago that I was going to fail entirely and advised [me] to go homeàpeople (save physicians) don't give me creditàmost of them fail to stand as much as I doàwe have orders to keep two days' rations in our haversacks and [to be] ready at a moment's warningàit is merely to watch Buckner if he should attempt to go over to the Tennessee River. We would, by a rapid march, cut him off. The roads are so terrible and weather so bad that I have no idea that we'll move from here for some timeàLieut. [David] Culberston has received his commission as Capt. but there is no vacancyàthere seems to have been some mistake in Columbus in regard to a vacancy in our Regt. Culberston will continue to hold his place in my company as Lieut..he would not leave me so long as I need his serviceàCulberston takes full command off my hands. We don't miss [2nd Lt. Samuel] Bachtell. [Later brevet lieutenant colonel, Signal Corps.] Our Sergeants are valuable men, all understand their & perform their dutiesà. Pettit is worth his weight in goldàthere are few companies that have commissioned officers equal to himàall admit that I am unequalàso you see. I can afford to be sickàI. M. Kirby." Kirby resigned from the 15th in May, 1862. On August 30, 1862 he was mustered into the 101st Ohio as major. He rose to the rank of colonel and became a brigade commander during the Atlanta campaign. In January, 1865 he attained the rank of brevet brigadier general. The original stamped transmittal cover to his father is included. Overall near fine.

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