Abstract:
William Thomas Roszell, my great grandfather, was a seventeen year old boy when the civil war began. One year later in August of 1862, he joined the Union cause. As a member of the Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment, he fought in many important battle of the war including Second Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg and Fredericksburg. This paper most closely examines his experiences in the Wilderness Campaign of the Spring of 1864.In the letters he wrote home, he described several aspects of the civil war experience. He wrote of more than just the combat experiences. He also wrote of life in the army camps, food served to the soldiers, the weather during the war and he constantly asked for letters from home.Throughout his nearly three years in the Union army, he saw many sights and met many people. He also was wounded twice. The first time, shortly after joining the army, he received a small nick in the arm. In June of 1864, during the assaults on Petersburg, he was seriously wounded. Hit in the leg by a minnie ball, he was out of combat and in the hospital for several months after receiving the wound.He was furloughed home for two months in the Fall of 1864, but had to return to the army because he had reenlisted. Following his return to the army, he spent most of his time staying or working in various hospitals. He did return to the front lines for a brief time in the Spring of 1865, but still unable to march, he was soon returned to the hospital. In June of 1865, he was discharged from the army. Though anxious to see his family, he took the opportunity of being away from home and having money to do some sightseeing before going home to his family.
