HERE'S A 7pp. GREAT CONTENT CIVIL WAR DATE SOLDIERS LETTER SIGNED BY
DANIEL J. PRICKETT
(1840 - 1927)
POW SERGEANT WITH Co. “H” IN THE “HARD-FIGHTING” 3rd OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.
Daniel J. Prickett enlisted in the Union Army as a Private on October 5, 1861, at the age of 21. On Dec. 11, 1861 he mustered into “H” Co., 3rd Ohio Cavalry. He was promoted to Quarter Master Sergeant on Sept. 17, 1861, and was taken a prisoner of war at the battle of Bardstown, Kentucky on Oct. 4, 1862, and subsequently paroled. His brother, James H. Prickett, who served in the same company ‘H,’ served the same fate!
The 3rd Ohio Cavalry moved with General Don Carlos Buell through Tennessee in April 1862. During that summer, the regiment participated in the Siege of Corinth, and later fought at the Battle of Chickamauga. In January 1864, the unit participated in raids with Generals Stoneman and Wilson, and went with General Sherman's Army through Georgia on his infamous “March to the Sea” before the regiment was discharged on August 14, 1865.
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HERE’S A GREAT CONTENT CIVIL WAR DATE AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY CAVALRY SGT. PRICKETT, 7pp., DATED AT THE PROVOST MARSHAL’s OFFICE AT COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE, ON APRIL 24th 1864.” THE LETTER IS WRITTEN TO PRICKETT’S COUSIN ESTHER, WHILE UNION TROOPS OCCUPIED COLUMBIA, TN.
Prickett discusses his position working as a Chief Clerk in the Provost Marshal’s Office in Columbia, TN, handling all of its correspondence, and putting the office in needed order; Colonel Seidel of the 3rd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry commanding the post, discussing the accommodations; Southern beauties assenting to the oath of loyalty to the United States, and not being as loyal in reality; and other great content including, in part:
“..There are those who are profuse in their expressions of sentiments of loyalty – who would strike the deadly steel to your heart if the opportunity offered. Nothing but the restraints of military power keep the smothered fires of rebellion down around here. I think a few months of wholesome restraint will bring the passions of the fiery southron to a temperature suited to the habits of a civilized and enlightened age.
“Captain C is too sharp for them no one can commit any crimes or violate the civil or military law in so secret a manner to escape detection or punishment. Last Thursday we arrested Six (6) of the most influential citizens and officers of the county – One a mayor of this town, a justice of the peace, constable and one or two other civil officers for violation of oath [of allegiance to the US]
“They arrested “Cap” as a “colored gentleman” who was teaching a school for his colored bretheren “eddication” and these men arrested him and brought him before a mock jury and gave him the full extent of punishment as prescribed by statute law of the state – 25 lashes – in lieu of the 25 dollars which was at the discretion of the court – 25 dollars fine or 25 lashes on the naked buck is the penalty for teaching a darky to read. Gen. Thomas had them arrested. The darky had permission from some military authority to keep school.
“I tell you there is a change in the appearance of the ebonies who used to come at the will of their master, now they look and act like human beings – they live – not exist – and seem to have an object in life, something more than to drag out a miserable existence – to hurry off the mortality and be at rest from the toils of life and free from the smart of the overseers lash...”
THE LETTER CONTAINS OTHER GOOD WAR CONTENT. BOLDLY SIGNED BY PRICKETT:
“D. J. Prickett, Co. H, 3rd O. V. V. C.
Pro. Mars Office, Columbia, Tenn.”
Note: Sgt.
Prickett was with the 3rd Ohio Cavalry in a major fight at the
battle of Stones River, Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, TN on Dec
31, 1862 - Jan 2, 1863. The Union squeaked out a victory in a
bloody conflict at Stones River, which boosted morale in the North and gave the
Federals control of central Tennessee. 
This historic document is in very fine condition - complete & legible. Measures 5” x 8”
A Great Letter from a loyal soldier of the 3rd Cavalry who knew fierce battle!
A RARE HISTORICAL ADDITION TO YOUR STATE OF OHIO MILITARY HISTORY AUTOGRAPH, MANUSCRIPT & EPHEMERA COLLECTION!
A FINE CIVIL WAR CAVALRY
ITEM!
BIOGRAPHY OF DANIEL J. PRICKETT
Prickett was born on Aug. 15, 1840 and died on May 15, 1927 and is buried in Quaker Cemetery, West Unity, Williams County, Ohio (Plot: Row 8).
DANIEL J PRICKETT is one of those who went forth to honor Fulton County, Ohio as a soldier in the Civil War, and he is now one of the representative members of the agricultural community of Franklin Township.
Prickett is a representative of the pioneer stock in the old Buckeye State and was born in Lumberton, Clinton County, Ohio, on the 15th of August, 1840, being a son of L. and Phoebe S. Barden Prickett. His father was born in Burlington County, New Jersey about eighteen miles distant from the City of Camden, and in 1838, he came from his native commonwealth to Clinton County, Ohio.
As a young man, he worked at the trade of cabinet making, following this for some time in Clinton County, where he continued to reside until 1845, when he removed with his family to Lucas County, Ohio, which then included a portion of the present County of Fulton, which was organized in 1850.
He secured one hundred and sixty acres of un-reclaimed land, one and one half miles south of the present village of Fayette, Fulton County, and there he followed farming until 1850, when he located in est Unity Williams County, where he engaged in the drug business, and also operated a saw mill.
In 1866, he again engaged in farming, securing a place in Brady Township, Williams County, where he remained until I885, when he returned to Vest Unity, where he died on the 10th of April 1893, at the age of seventy seven years and eight months.
Prickett was originally a Whig, and later a Republican, and served in various township offices.
He was a son of Isaac and Dorothy Joyce Prickett, who made New Jersey their home throughout life though Isaac Prickett was for a time engaged in the butchering business in the city of Cincinnati Ohio having been an expert in this line of enterprise. His wife was a daughter of Daniel Joyce, in whose honor the subject of this review was named. Phoebe Barden Prickett was a daughter of Josiah and Margaret Sharp Barden, both of English descent, who became residents of Ohio in 1809, continuing to make their home near Lumberton Clinton county until death I Irs Prickett died on the 26th of January 1901, aged eighty five years and six months. JL and Phoebe S. Prickett became the parents of nine children of whom the first born was Daniel J. subject of this sketch; Sarah J.;, James H. resident of Pomona, California; Anna I; John B., resides in Forest Grove, Oregon.
Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, Prickett's attention was given principally to teaching school and to assisting in the operation of his saw mill. He operated the first portable saw mill in Northwestern Ohio and was successful in this field of enterprise…August 2, 1861, in companv with his brother, James Prickett, tendered his services in defense of the Union.
Both brothers enlisted in Company “H,” Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, being provided with accoutrements and receiving preliminary military discipline in the City of Columbus, and being sent to Camp Dennison, and finally to Nashville, Tennessee, being constantly engaged in scouting, and much of the time on duty as guard in the rear of General Buell's Army.
At Bardstown, Ky, Prickett was captured, but was soon afterward paroled.
He took part in a large number of important engagements including: the battles of Corinth, Chickamauga, Knoxville, Shelbyville, McMinnville, and Munfordville. He was in service throughout General Sherman’s memorable Atlanta Campaign and, by reenlistment, he remained as a soldier of the Union until the close of the war, having been with his command at Macon, Georgia, when the welcome tidings of Lee's surrender came.
Prickett was mustered out on August 15, 1865, receiving his honorable discharge.
He returned to Fulton County, and here he has ever since been actively identified with the agricultural industry, though he taught two terms of school after the close of his military career.
His farm is well improved, and has been in his possession since 1865. He is one of the well known, and exceptionally popular citizens of Franklin Township, and has served as Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee, and Town Clerk, and on one occasion he was a candidate for County Clerk on the Prohibition ticket.
Prickett was a member of the County Central Committee of the Prohibition Party for a period, and he maintained an independent attitude in politics.
Both he and his wife are members of the Church of Christ. In a fraternal way, he is affiliated with Rings Post No. 637, Grand Army of the Republic Post at West Unity, and he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity for more than two score years, and with the Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry for thirty years.
During the Civil war he held membership in the Union League.
On October 4, 1865, Prickett was united in marriage to Miss Lydia G. Borton, who was born in Burlington County, NJ, being a daughter of Benjamin and Abigail W. Barden Borton, who came to Fulton County in 1839, when Mrs. Prickett was six months of age. The mother died in 1861 (aged forty five years) and the father in 1888 (aged seventy seven years).
Source: The County of Fulton: A History of Fulton County, Ohio, from the Earliest ...Also a Biographical Department…” By Thomas Mikesell, 1905.
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Samuel J. Hansey, 26 years old, enlisted on Aug. 20, 1861 as a 2nd Lieutenant.
On Oct. 8, 1861 he was commissioned into "H" Co. OH 3rd Cavalry
And subsequently promoted to 1st Lieutenant on Sept. 11, 1862 and transferred to
command of “C” Co. He Resigned on June 19, 1863.
History of the OHIO THIRD CAVALRY
(Three Years)
Third Cavalry. - Cols., Louis Zahm, James W. Paramore, Charles B. Seidel, Horace N. Howland; Lieut.-Cols., Douglas A. Murray, Darius E Livermore; Majs., John H. Foster, James S. Brisbin, Charles W. Skinner, Leonard Adams, Thomas D. McClel- land, Martin Archer, Francis P. Gates.
This regiment was organized from the state at large, at Monroeville, Huron county, from Sept. 4 to Dec. 11, 1861, to serve for three years. In March, 1862, it was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., and arrived there on the 18th.
In September the 1st battalion of the regiment had a sharp engagement at Munfordville, Ky., with three times its own number and drove them into their works in three separate charges. It lost 2 killed and 12 wounded, and the enemy lost 38 killed and 60 wounded.
Near Bardstown the same battalion, reinforced by two companies of the 2nd Ohio and 3d Ky. cavalry, attacked the enemy 1,200 strong, but without success, the battalion losing 6 men killed, 20 wounded and 17 captured.
In October a detachment of the regiment, with a portion of the 4th cavalry, numbering in all 250 men, was completely surrounded near Lexington by John Morgan's forces and after an obstinate resistance was compelled to yield to superior numbers.
During the first day's fight at Stone's River on Dec. 31, 1862, the regiment was actively engaged and suffered considerable loss. On the second day it left the field to escort a train of 4,000 wagons to Nashville for supplies. The train was attacked at Stewart's creek by Wheeler's Confederate cavalry and the regiment, supported by the 10th Ohio infantry, repulsed the Confederates with severe loss.
After the battle of Stone's river the regiment was sent in pursuit of the enemy, and near Middleton, Tenn., attacked the Confederate rear-guard, capturing one of the rebel’s trains.
During the battle of Chickamauga it occupied a position at Lafayette, on the extreme left of the Federal lines, where it was attacked by the Confederates and forced back to Charleston, Tenn. After the battle the regiment moved as the advance of Gen. Crook's forces in pursuit of Wheeler's cavalry through Tennessee, engaging them at McMinnville and on the Shelbyville pike. The latter engagement was a handsome and successful cavalry fight, in which Wheeler's forces were completely routed and demoralized, large numbers of the Confederates being killed and captured, while the regiment lost but 2 men killed and 23 captured.
In Jan., 1864, the regiment re-enlisted and on the expiration of the 30-days' furlough returned to duty. Through the efforts of Maj. Charles W. Skinner and Capt. E. M. Colver nearly 1,000 recruits were enlisted and on its return to the front at Nashville, the regiment numbered over 1,500 strong.
In May it was engaged at Courtland, Ala., with the Confederate Gen. Roddey's command, the Confederates being routed with the loss of upward of 30 men killed and wounded.
At Moulton the regiment was attacked by the same force in camp before day- light, and although partially surprised, it rallied, drove the enemy from the field, and pursued him. Reaching Rome, the regiment was assigned to a position on the left flank of Sherman's army and participated in the engagements at Noonday creek and Kennesaw Mountain.
After crossing the Chattahoochee River it was engaged in the battle of Peachtree creek. In the flanking movements on Jonesboro it was in Gen. Garrard's cavalry division and was the first to attack the enemy's forces at Love- joy's Station, taking possession of the railroad.
In the first battle of Franklin, Tenn., the regiment occupied a position on the left of Gen. Thomas' forces and was engaged with the Confederate cavalry. It was then engaged in the Wilson raid through Alabama and Georgia and in the battles of Selma, Ala. and Macon, Ga. In the engagement at Selma it lost heavily in killed and wounded.
The 3rd Ohio Cavalry regiment was mustered out on Aug. 4, 1865.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 2
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