James L. Belote Letters, 1862-1863 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

James Belote, a member of the 19th Mich. Vol. Inf. during the Civil War, died of dysentery on Apr. 20, 1863. In these letters to his wife, Belote comments on soldiering in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Other letters discuss in some detail the battle of Thompson's Station near Franklin, Tenn., on Mar. 4, 1863, where the 19th Michigan guarded a rear bridge.

The transcripts were compiled by Michael B. Russell, Conesus Lake, N.Y., great, great grandson of Belote.