Gratiott Street Prison, St. Louis, Feb. 15, 1865. Dear Wife – I am happy to inform you that I have arrived here safe after passing through a great many dangers. Though I was glad to leave St. Joe, yet I could not help casting a thought back to the many pleasures that I have enjoyed with relations and friends in that neighborhood, but the prison walls have closed around me and I cannot enjoy your company for an uncertain time, yet if the Lord is willing I hope that we may spend many happy hours together after the grim visage of war is seen and felt no more. There is a good many prisoners here but I see but few familiar faces. The prisoners here generally seem to be in delicate health. There has been a good many cases of smallpox, but none at this writing. I have not been long enough here yet to learn much about the rules of the prison, though they are very good as far as I have seen. I have nothing of importance to write you, will only write one page of paper as that is all that will be approved of. Tell my friends all to write me as soon as they can, you will write also. Henry sends his respects to relations and friends. Dear one, I now commend you to our friends and to our God, hoping that we may yet be permitted to live together in peace, if not, let us meet in heaven. Henry will write soon. Your true husband, John H. Utz. “Inspected, L.C.A.”
Community and Conflict - the Impact of the Civil War in the Ozarks
