According to the book "Record - Twenty-Second Michigan Infantry, Civil War 1861-1865"--
James D. Hood, Jr. enlisted in company H, Twenty-Second Infantry at Lyon, Michigan, on Aug. 5, 1862, age 19 years. He was mustered Aug. 22, 1862 and taken prisoner at Chickamauga, Georgia, Sept. 20, 1863. James died at Andersonville prison on May 2, 1864 and is buried in the National Cemetery at Andersonville, Georgia, Grave # 860. (See note #4 below.]
A Civil War letter from James D. Hood, Jr. in Co. H, 22nd Michigan Infantry to his twin brother William-
| Nashville Tenn, June 6th/63 Dear Brother I recd a letter from you yesterday was very glad to hear from as it was the first letter that I had recd from you since I came in the State. I recd a letter from you when we were in Kyntucky but we were on the go so that I could not write very conveniently and I kept putting it off from time to time until I was ashamed to write but I will try and do better in the future. I am not very well to day. I went up to the Doctors this morning and he gave me two big blue pills and half a pound of salts. I reckon that I will come out all right in the end. George and John have gone to Murfreesboro to day to guard the cars their and back. 1 We have to furnish a guard for their and Franklin every day. We get all of the riding on the cars that we want. We have to ride on the top of freight cars. It makes it mighty bad when it rains. Our forces shelled Franklin the other day. The butternuts got in their and began to raise hell with us. The Rebs do shoot mighty careless just as you say. We got into a little brush with them in Ky and they shot so careless that they did not hit but two of our regiment and did not kill either one of them. We could see them tumble off from their saddle. You said that you had not washed (sic) sheep yet. They sheared their sheep here the first of April. I wish I had been their last Saturday to have gone fishing with you. A fellow could fresh fish here when we first came here for 50 apiece. Woren Harington was over here yesterday. 2 The 14th Mich. is here. All their is well. Wm Copland is Second Lieu. of Co. B 10th. He has been over to see us. 3
Write soon from J.D. Hood 4 |
Some footnotes to letter:
1 A total of nine enlisted men in Co. H, 22nd Michigan Infantry were from Lyon, Michigan. Two of these were George S. Crandal and John Hughston, most likely the George and John mentioned in the letter.
2 Warren Harrington, originally from Northville, Michigan was in Co. G, 14th Michigan Infantry.
3 William A. Copeland, originally from Midland, Michigan was in Co. B, 10th Michigan Infantry. He had been commissioned 2nd Lieutenant March 31, 1863. He would be taken as prisoner of war October 10, 1864, less than a month after being commissioned 1st Lieutenant on September 24. He would survive the war.
4 James D. Hood, originally from Lyon, Michigan, was taken prisoner September 19, 1863 during the battle of Chickamauga, and died at the Andersonville, Georgia prisoner of war camp May 3, 1864 of disease brought on by "exposure and starvation." [Taken prisoner September 19 and died May 3 are not the US government's official dates. However, they are the dates taken from Confederate records after war's end. See MEMORANDUM FROM PRISONER OF WAR RECORDS below.] James was a son of James and Catherine Hood. Catherine's father John McNelly was killed during the War of 1812.
The above letter was transcribed by Charles W. Paige from a photocopy of the original letter provided by Robin (Hood) Paszczykowski, a descendant of the brother William Hood.
The following is James Hood's discharge/final statement form:
I certify, that James D. Hood, a Private of Lieut. Louis Brown's Company (H) of the 22d Regiment of Infantry volunteers, of the State of Michigan, born in Oakland Co., State of Michigan, aged 19 years; 5 feet 6 inches high; light complexion, Blue eyes, Light hair, and by occupation a Farmer, having joined the company on its original organization at Pontiac, Mich, and enrolled in it at the muster into the service of the United States at Pontiac Mich, on the 22d day of August, 1862, (was mustered in service as a recruit, by Henry S. Dean, at Lyon, on the 5th day of August, 1862) to serve in the Regiment, for the term of three years: and having served HONESTLY and FAITHFULLY with his Company in the 22d Regt. Mich. Vol's to the present date, is now entitled to a DISHARGE by reason of Death. He died of disease contracted by long confinement and improper diet in Rebel Prison Andersonville Ga May 2d 1864.
The said Private James D. Hood was last paid by Paymaster Brewer to include the 30th day of June, 1863, and has pay due him from that time to the time of his death, and whatever other allowances are authorized to volunteer soldiers, drafted men, or militia, so discharged. He has received from the United States CLOTHING amounting to fifty-four 54 19/100 dollars, since the day of his enlistment Aug. 5th 1862. He has received from the United States twenty five 25 00/100 dollars advanced BOUNTY.
He is entitled to commutation of rations from Sep. 20th 1863 when he was taken prisoner to the time of his death May 2d 1864…
Given in Duplicate, at Chattanooga Tenn, this 31st day of March, 1865.
Louis Brown
1st Lieutenant Co. H 22d Mich Infty Vol's
Commanding Company
MEMORANDUM FROM PRISONER OF WAR RECORDS
Hood, J. D. (Jas., Jas. D.), Private, 22 Mich Inf. Co. H, Information Obtained from-Vol. 18, Page 69; Vol. 41, Page 9; Vol. 37, Page 145; Vol. 16, Page 69; Vol 2, Page 363:
Captured at Chickamauga Ga Sep. 19, 1863, confined at Richmond, Va, September 29-November, 1863. Sent to Danville Va Dec. 12, 1863. Admit'd Hosp. Danville Va March 1-64 bronchitis. Ret'd March 8-64. Admitted to hospital at Andersonville Ga May 3-64 where he died in camp May 3, 1864, of Diarrhea, Grave 860.
For additional information about James D. Hood and his family, or regarding this website, contact Charles W. Paige
For more information about Michigan in the Civil War, and for numerous links to other Civil War-related sites, go to Don Harvey's Michigan in the Civil War.
Last modified: Saturday May 5, 2000
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