Poe Archive

THE INTRODUCTION
The letter was written by Edward Leroy Lemert to his friend Jasper S. Ross. Both men served in Company A of the 42nd Ohio Infantry from 20 September 1861 to 30 September 1864. Edward was just sixteen when he mustered in.

THE LETTER
The letter is remarkable in that it illustrates how heavy a price some families paid for the Civil War. In it, Edward describes how he lost all three of his brothers to the war: Nathan Fleming Lemert of the 22nd Ohio died in St. Louis, Missouri from disease on 11 November 1861, John Alexander Lemert of the 76th Ohio died on 1 December 1863 in Chattanooga, Tennessee from wounds suffered at Ringgold Gap, Georgia, and Thomas Jefferson Lemert of the 135th Ohio died 14 September 1864 from starvation at the infamous Andersonville Prison in Georgia. Although Edward dated the letter, January 12, 1864, it was almost certainly written January 12, 1865, as it was obviously written subsequent to Thomas’ death and to Edward’s mustering out, both of which occurred in September 1864.

Edward’s father died before the Civil War in 1855 and so the brunt of these tragedies was borne by Edward’s mother. Unknown to Margaret Lemert, her son, Edward, who was away at Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (Hiram College), enlisted in the 42nd Ohio Infantry. When she had discovered what he had done, she went to the front with orders for his release (likely due to his age), but he refused to come home with her. Two months later her son Nathan took ill from typhoid fever and she made her way to St. Louis to be with her son and was at his side when he died in a military hospital. Eighteen months later, Edward was wounded at Champion’s Hill and six months after that, John was wounded at the Battle of Ringgold Gap, Georgia and died four days after in a Chattanooga hospital. Finally, less than a year later, Thomas J. would die at Andersonville of starvation.

A brief history of the family was written by Patrick McVicker and can be found at the following site:

http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/oh/oh-footsteps/2003/may/v03-078.txt

FAMILY
Edward Lemert was born 22 September 1845; his parents were Beverly Wirt Lemert and Margaret Fleming. He had nine siblings, three brothers and six sisters: Mary Ellen (b. 25 December 1828), Elizabeth P. (b. 24 July 1831), Laura (b. 10 June 1832, died 6 April 1844), John Alexander (b. 20 November 1834), Thomas Jefferson (b. 9 November 1836), Julia (b. 27 October 1838), Minerva Lambert (b. 9 December 1840), Nathan F. (b. 8 September 1842), and Harriet B. (b. 23 July 1849).

Edward married Harriet E. Vavoorhis 19 March 1870. They had twelve children. Edward died 14 August 1933. His mother, Margaret Fleming Lemert died 28 December 1898.

1850 CENSUS
Edward, age 4, is enumerated with his family in the 1850 Census and living in Jackson Township, Musconquin County, Ohio. Enumerated with him are his parents, Beverly, 50, and Margaret, 40, Elizabeth P, 19, and John A., 15, Thomas J., 13, Nathan, 7, Julia, 11, and Harriet, 10 months. Mary Ellen was married to Henry A. Montgomery 12 January 1847 and they are enumerated in the 1850 Census and living in Newark, Licking County, Ohio.

1860 CENSUS
Beverly Lemert died 23 September 1855. The family is enumerated in the 1860 Census with Edward’s mother, Margaret, 50, as the head of household. Also enumerated is John, 26, Thomas 24, Julia, 22, Nathan, 17, Edward, 15, and Harriet, 11.

1900 CENSUS
Edward is enumerated in the 1900 Census and living in Osage, Pawnee, Oklahoma with his wife Harriet E. Also enumerated in the household are Mary Lemert, 18, Ellin Lemert, 15, Edward C. Lemert, 14, Milo L. Lemert, 10, and Nathan L Lemert, 8.