Philbricks and Philbrooks in the Civil War:

Historical Documents and Artifacts (Click on image to see larger version) The Civil War Letters of Capt. Alvah Philbrook, 24th Wisconsin Infantry Editors Note: This issue will complete the series on Alvah Philbrook of the 24th Wisconsin. Letters have been edited for clarity. Unreadable words will be bracketed [ ] and added words for clarity will be in parentheses ( ) R.W.P.   A Widow and Daughter Mourns Sometime after the Battle of Franklin, some men of the 24th Wisconsin, probably led by Captain Parsons, returned to Franklin to search for Alvah's body. This would have taken place during the first week of December 1864, while the Confederates still controlled the area. By the middle of December, Captain Parsons accompanied the wounded Major Arthur McArthur back to Milwaukee. It was then that Alvah's wife and daughter received the terrible news. Caroline Philbrook writes to her mother-in-law about her husband's death:   Milwaukee Jan 20th 1865 Dear Mother, I did not go to Nashville as I anticipated. As you will learn from what I enclose that everything was done to recover his remains. Life is a "Bitter Cup" to me without him who was my precious husband. To know that he lies where he fell is no consolation which most of (the) people have. How terrible. I cannot write about it. All I will say is the world is dark and dreary. Caddie and I are all alone in our Home which we thought would be a happy one. But there is no such hope to comfort us now in our lonliness. My health is better. Caddie is very well. I am yet quite feeble and sometimes feel too miserable to breathe. I shall move into two Rooms and let the rest of my House. The rooms are quite small but I don't care much what I do now -- Is it possible all that made life so dear is gone? O' what would I give to see that smile which was always on his countenance once more. How can I bear it! It distresses my feelings so tonight of it I will say no more -- I hope you are well [and?] happy as you can be under present circumstances. I have those large Photographs of Aunt Sarah's and [ ? ]. I will try and send them by mail but think they will be broken. I thought we could come East before long. But all future plans [never?] will be carried out. Let me hear from you often. Your affectionate Daughter Caddie   January 22, 1865 I will add more to this letter today. Alvah was killed at Twilight just as the new moon was rising. He looked up and saw it, turning to his Regiment he says, "Boys there is the new moon. Look over your right shoulder for it is the sign of good luck." He was kneeling at the time behind breastworks knee high while the Battle was raging. As he spoke these words a Minnie ball struck him in the forehead just above the nose, falling on one side, he never moved a muscle. They recovered some things from his body leaving things of considerable value which they did not know he possessed. He had a small bag of Gold which he carried with him when he first left the state, wishing to keep it for the purpose of relieving his wants if he should ever be taken prisoner or if he returned to keep as a Relic. A very nice Gold pen and pencil enclosed in one case. A "Masonic emblem" which was in the shape of a slipper Gold enameled, which was a gift from myself when he came home. What else I do not know -- His commission were taken from his pockets by his Lieut. I have received all his things but Mother I have not seen them. They were brought to the house by a Captain of the same Regiment. They were expected and carried to a friend's house and the secret kept from me. They are now in the same house. I pass in and out but cannot go upstairs for I sometimes think the sight of his clothes would kill me. When I look them over, which may not be for months, I will give you something of your "Lost Boy" which will be dear to you I know. If I had recovered the coin I would have divided them up among ourselves and now there is someway for they were in 2 _ to 1 dollar pieces. He gave his silver watch to Caddie when he was home. They made their Bargain between themselves. When he was done with it, the gold one he gave me. When he came to leave home the last time, a few moments before he started, he took off his gold watch and said, "Here Caddie take my watch I shall not want it any more" and I could not take it from his hands. I told him to hang it in the case where the silver one was. He changed watches and turned away while the tears stole down his cheeks. He sold most all of his citizens clothes, arranged everything he could of business and I fully believe he was impressed at times. He would never return to us [only?] some of his letters. He failed to get mustered and we both practiced the strictest economy to keep square with the world. He had additional expenses and could not draw a Captain's pay for being absent from his company command. But he often wrote, "Never mind Carrie, we will be happy in the end." My friends made an effort to claim (a) Majors pension for me but it was impossible. I have a letter written day before he fell. And also I find in a memorandum a few words just before he was killed. I do not think he had any thoughts of the event. But too deeply do I realize that he has gone. Time will wean away the keenest edge of my sorrow all tell me. But O! the loss how great. I was helpless for almost two weeks and was [brought?] my [ ? ]. At first I grieved that there was no dying message left me from his lips which always breathed words of affection. And now I am glad for his sake he was spared all that great struggle which it must have cost him to yield up that life which he knew was so precious to us. I will [ ? ] [ ? ] [ ? ] all that he might be spared even one such pang of sorrow as I have suffered. O! how my heart goes out after him now -- I hope he is not all lost to me that we may meet again where no cruel war can ever separate us. He had laid out great plans which were to be carried out when he returned. The both of us thought of nothing else. He was coming home to see you. But all such "bright hopes" are all blighted, never to show again in any of our hearts. I do think as far as I know of this war the Good having been taken and men who are worthless are left. The most lovely cries of that Regiment have been taken. It is startling to the minds of so many here who knew the Regiment. There has (been) many fallen and has so many of those who were noted for there goodness of heart and "Talented minds" and we ask why? Ah! we poor mortals see it not as God sees it and there is some reason unknown to us which will one day be revealed. Alvah and myself thought a great deal of the time when he could leave the Service and be able to wholly provide for you which was impossible in his position and with the prospect of becoming a cripple for life or leaving those who had the greatest claims upon him to the mercy of this world (for my health is shattered now although I may recover in time.) For I could not earn my living in any way and Carrie is about of the same make. But as we have many times said "Mother shall never want, but so much for Human Prospects." And now if it were in my power I could do the same for Alvah's sake because he wished it. O! I should (as) you would grieve so much, for you are where he grew up from a Innocent Child and I think he retained that same innocence and which was so lovely in the eyes of all who were acquainted with him. I love to imagine him as he was when he was a boy and love that picture of him so much. I never shall forget the time I went to Ossipee with him. I had always detested the name of Alvah. Pouring out of a dislike to a great ugly schoolboy who was teasing me. But when I heard his Grandmother and Great Grandmother call him "Alvah" and speak to him so tenderly and he so respectful and kind toward them I thought I never heard sweeter music in my life. And from that time it was the sweetest name to my ear -- When I think of all these things I cry. Tis not so I can say, "Alvah" again and hear his grandmother, brother and sisters speak that precious name again. O! how hard it must [now?] be. And then the bitter thoughts come. It cannot be and I am crushed. I have kept up good courage Mother tonight. This now I cannot go farther. There are some things more I would say but no more. I will send these letters in separate envelopes. I will also send in two days a paper from which you can copy the piece from if you would like to have it published. If you will send one to Mrs. Bartlett I will send you more. This paper this was published in is of a strong democratic sentiment many of his Masonic brother being of these politics. The man who wrote the piece is one of the officers of the lodge and his name is the Hon. H. S. Palmer who has been extremely kind to me and done everything which could to recover Alvah's remains. The time of search lasting three days and they could scarcely bury the bodies again. It was a great risk of their own lives. The Rebels striped the clothing from all the bodies and there was nothing to identify him by and piled them in this trench. They examined the Field 20 rods around from the spot where he fell.   In the summer of 1880, the 24th Wisconsin held a reunion for the veterans who had survived the war. Among the speakers was Captain Parsons. Alvah's daughter, Carrie attended the ceremony and writes to her Grandma Philbrook (Alvah's mother.):   Milwaukee July 28 (1880?) Dear Grandma, Am going to send you one of my pictures that were taken for the "Boys of the 24th" and thought you might not recognize it, as I have changed so greatly since seeing you. Am sorry it does not show the Badge plainer. It's an elegant thing, solid gold. Its intrinsic value is over fifty dollars, while of course to me it is of untold value. When they came to escort me to the Head Quarters I was presented with the Regimental and Reunion badges, then after arriving and shaking hands with all of our boys, many of the 36th ILL -- who were our guests -- and many others, one of the Color bearers presented this in Token of their remembrance of their brave Major -- my father, followed by a rousing three cheers. I don't think a prouder girl lived that day than I. To think after sixteen long years he should be thought of so kindly and that they should deem me worthy of wearing their emblem (denoting "True as Steel") for his sake quite overwhelmed me and I broke down utterly in trying to thank them, but was not the only one, for some of the men who were in his company cried like children. In the procession I rode with the old color bearer, with the old tattered battle flags on either side. The men told me stories by the hour of the brave daring deeds the goodness of and their love for Our soldier. Was recognized by Generals Grant and Sheridan as the daughter of the pet Wisconsin Regiment. Could you only have seen the honor paid to your son's memory would have done your heart good. Mama and I have just returned from Minnesota; her health much improved by the trip. It's a lovely climate. Uncle Simon wrote me that Uncle Alvah was coming home, can it be possible and has he arrived yet? How I should like to see him. [Presume?] Abbie and Clair are at seashore are they both well? How is Uncle Willie, Addie [ ? ] and children (Maria?) and all of you Mrs Bartlett included? Wish we could pay you a visit and it was our intention to do so but mama's sickness took all our spare money so we could not afford it. We received Alice's cards saw Orin when he passed through here, promised to write me but has not. I am still pounding brass but am in a new office -- though doing the same work -- it's large and airy and quite pleasant. They work me very hard though and it was telling fearfully on my health this spring but my vacation has done me good. I have been stealing odd moments to write but work is piling up. Love to all and ever so much for Grandma. Carrie Alice Mama sends love   The last letter of the series is undated, but appears to be a letter by one of Alvah's brothers to either Carrie Alice or her daughter, Olive C. (McCabe) Cadbury:   Though it were so many years ago since these letters were written my eyes were filled with tears while reading them. To think that he should spend so much time ( ___ - ___ ) (and?) [horrors?] [through?] which he was [passing?] to write his mother and sister. [You?] knew father had died just after the war commenced in 1861 August just after the battle of Bull Run, and your grandfather felt a special responsibility regarding his mother and sister. I could not help but notice the comparison in the letters in their appearance one written while on furlough I think the other in the midst of war. The spelling made me think of father for though while educated at an Academy, and Alvah tis had a good public school education, but was faulty in [this?] and [lesser?] in this generation is the [ ? ] in that of anything, excels in mathematics. I excel in spelling as did mother, but I am deficient in mathematics. It seems almost sacrilegious to speak of this fault in my heroic brother. He was a noble specimen of a man and all his letters show the character and the patriotism that led to the laying down of his life for his country. I know you will prize the letters I send you. The last one was written in '64 which could not have been long before he was slain. He did not get the promotion of Major until latter in the war than what he wrote in the letter I send you, but was put on Honor Roll of Gen. Rosecrans. In a letter later he says "I did not get the commission of Major as the Govenor sent a Lieutenant to fill the vacancy and the Major's [ ? ] was not vacated so I returned to my Co. again, I did not care for it anyway, I am satisfied to stay where I am until the war is over." But he did get the promotion, and in the battle in which he died he was acting Lieuteant Colonel and would have received a higher promotion than that he had already received as Major. I know the red tape (proceeding?) (in?) delay about his (letter ends or page missing.) According to the biography written by Alvah's granddaughter, Olive (McCabe) Cadbury, Alvah's widow lapsed into a mental depressive state after the death of her daughter Carrie Alice on May 19, 1890 at the age of 34. (Olive was 2 years old at the time.) Caroline Philbrook died on February 10, 1910. Mother, daughter and son-in-law (Joseph McCabe) are all buried at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The story of Alvah does not end here. Next year (2001), Robert W. Philbrook, P.P.F.A. Director, plans on journeying to Franklin and Stones River National Battlefield and Cemetery in Tennessee and arrange to have a memorial marker placed at one of the two locations to commemorate Alvah's sacrifice during the Civil War. The marker will be provided by the Veterans Administration and is similar to other Civil War era gravestones.