Civil War Letter

Benjamin Franklin (or Frank B.) Knause (1843-1914) was born on 24 March 1843 in Waterloo, Seneca county, New York, and was a resident of Calhoun County, Michigan, when he enlisted as a private in the “Wolverine Rifle Rangers,” or Co. E, of the 6th Michigan Infantry on 1 July 1861 at Fort Wayne, Michigan. He mustered into the 6th Michigan on 20 August, and re-enlisted at Port Hudson, Louisiana, on 23 February 1864, and was discharged on 15 September 1865 at Jackson, Michigan. His pension record indicates an alias of Frank B. Knause. He successfully applied for an invalid pension in 1890, certificate 749,128. As per his obituary in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, he was a member of a Western post of the G. A. R. That obituary, which confirmed his Civil War service, also noted that his son, Dr. B. F. Knause, was associated with the infectious disease department of the New York City Board of Health. Knause lived at 1076 Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn; he resided in Bushwick for twenty years. After his death from a carcinoma, Frances (“Fannie”) Maria Knause (18xx-1937), his widow, was awarded a pension in 1914, certificate 782, 268. Section 204, lot 34079, graves 1 & 2, Greenwood Cemetery.

TRANSCRIPTION

Camp Sherman
Kenner’s Plantation ¹
March 31, 1863

My Dear Folks at Home,

Tonight I again find myself seated to write you a few lines. I have just finished a letter to Libbie and I have got one more postage stamp left and I have come to the conclusion that you want to hear from me worse than anyone else and so I am going to try and tell you how I am getting along. I am pretty well and in good spirits and seeing that I can’t get my discharge, I am going to get well and do the best that I can. I hope that you will get along all right. I am doing first rate but I must close for tonight. — Frank

[April] 1st. I had to close my letter rather abrupt last night for my candle went out and left me in the dark. Today I have been fishing but I did not catch any fish. I left the Hospital on the 29th and came up to camp. Our present encampment is located 13 miles from New Orleans at a small place called Kenner.  The railroad lays on one side of our camp and the Mississippi river on the other side. The cars go to the city twice a day and boats are going up and down all the while on the river, but notwithstanding all of these things, it is very lonesome here.

All of our regiment have gone up to Manchac Bayou on an expedition (all except a few sick ones left here in camp). They have had a fight with the rebels and the latest news we got from them was rather dubious. Two companies of the 177th New York Regt. were captured by the rebels and one of our iron-clad gunboats. Our Colonel is in command of the expedition and if he don’t look out he will get captured with his whole Brigade.

Blackberries are plenty and as big as a good sized plum. We can buy a quart of them from the Niggers for a piece of bread or a piece of meat and I tell you, they do good. I wish that I could send you some for your supper, but of course that is an impossibility. Alligators are plenty and the boys go out hunting them every day. I myself have eaten a piece of alligator tail but I must confess to you that it is not a very desirable dish. Our boys killed one last week and eat him. Corn is up a foot high and Irish potatoes are as high as the corn.

We are camped in a field where the white clover is up to my knees. All the rose bushes are in blossom and in fact, it is just like summer here now. There are 5 large plantations here in a row that have been confiscated and they are now worked by free darkies and Uncle Sam pockets the profits. This is as it should be and I like to see them go into it in this style.

The Inspector General says that he is going to move the Michigan 6th Regiment down to the city of New Orleans when they come back. I for one think that it would be healthier for us all if they would keep us here in the country where we could get all of the fresh air that is stirring. Still if we go to the city, we will have good warm quarters and we will get better living and have a better chance to get our letters and to send letters home.

Give my respects to Mr. Grant’s people. I want you and Mother to write to me real often for a letter from home is a cheering thing to the poor soldier and there is no one on earth that I love to hear from so much as I love to hear from you. You must not look for a letter from me again very soon for my postage stamps are gone and I can’t say when I will get any more. We have not got our pay yet and we don’t expect it till we get our 4 months pay. I guess I will have some then to send home to you. Butter is 50 cents a pound. Eggs 75 cts. per dozen. Cheese 30 cents a pound. Potatoes 8 cents a pound. Apples 5 cents apiece and every thing accordingly.

Well as it is getting late I will close. Give my love to all with a good share for ourself and Mother and little sister Carrie. You must write to me as often as you can. Tell Frank Sweet that I have written twice to him and he has not answered me. My love to you & Mother. Kiss little sister Carrie for me and please do write to your affectionate son, — Frank B. Knause

Co. E, 6th Mich. Vol. Infantry
Camp Sherman, New Orleans, Louisiana

To his parents, B. & T. Knause, Marshall, Calhoun Co., Michigan

¹ Duncan Farrar Kenner (1813-1887) was an American sugar planter, lawyer, and politician from Louisiana. He served in the Confederate Congress. In 1864, he served as the chief diplomat from the Confederate States of America to England and France. Following the capture of New Orleans in 1862, much of Kenner’s property was confiscated and his slaves were freed.

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