Individual Details

These letters were written by Delance DeWitt during the Civil War. They were mostly written to his sister, Lydia (Mrs. John) Gunn. After Lydia's death her grand daughter Lilly Kaylor (Mrs. Everett Kaylor) had them in her possession. She is no longer living, but Mr. Kaylor is. Where the originals are at, I do not know as Mr. Kaylor is in very poor health at this time. My husband is also a grand child of Lydia DeWitt Gunn. Delance DeWitt was born in Kentucky and came to Adams County with his family, Price and Sarah Albert DeWitt.
Submitted by Marie Gunn, Camp Point, IL GRGS member.

.........Shelbyville, Duck River, Tenn.
July the 12, 63, Shelbyville My Dear brother and sister,
It affords me the opportunity this Sabbath day to write to you a few lines in answer to you. I am well at this time and in good health and I hope when these few lines comes to hand they may find you as they leave me. I would like to see you both, once more but I don't know when that will be on earth or not but I trust in God that we may meet again on earth but if we don't meet again on earth let us try and meet in heaven where we shall not part no more. While I am so far away from home and friends, I hope that you all will pray for me that God will spare my life, to come home and see you all again on earth may God bless you all and help you to pray for me. I think that I will come home this fall from the prospects now. The rebels are coming in all the time. Hundreds at a time. We have had some hard fighting to do. Since we have left Franklin to this place. The day that we took this town the rebels came like mad men and plunged right into the river and some got drownded, that way about one hundred got drownded in Duck River all of the Tennesse troup. They say they won't fight against us any longer for we are guarding their property and protecting their women and they won't fight any longer and they are comming in and taking the oath and they say this war will play out and they say it will be over in four months at most and I don't care how soon it will be.
Dear brother and sister I might close my letter hoping to hear from you soon. So no more at this time. Write soon as you get this so no more good bye for this time. I still remain your true friend
Delancy M. DeWitt to John Gunn and Lyda L. Gunn.......

..........Dear Mother it is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and in good health and I hope when these few lines come to hand they may find you as they leave me. I would like to see you all but I can't now. But I hope the time will come when I can come home and see you all. I send my love to all the family one and all. Write soon and give me all the news so no more at this time. I still remain your son D. M. Dewitt. To Sarah DeWitt good bye for this time...

Birth	3 May 1837	Kentucky, United States
Marriage	27 Jul 1856	Pike, Illinois, United States - Caroline L. "Lettie" Cadwell
Census	5 Sep 1860	Perry Township, Pike, Illinois, United States
Military	Bet 11 Aug 1862 and 7 Jun 1865	Union - 78th Regiment, Illinois Infantry
Census	1870	Jackson Township, Shelby, Missouri, United States
Census	1880	Higher Moniteau, Randolph, Missouri, United States
Census	20 Jun 1900	Lee Township, Brown, Illinois, United States
Death	9 Aug 1906
Burial		Lierly Cemetery, McKee Township, Adams, Illinois, United States

Spouse

Caroline L. "Lettie" Cadwell (1830 - 1913)

Father	Price DeWitt (1798 - 1854)
Mother	Sarah Albert (1802 - 1888)
Sibling	Angeline DeWitt (1820 - 1850)
Sibling	John Henry DeWitt (1822 - 1892)
Sibling	Zachariah DeWitt (1825 - 1847)
Sibling	Elizabeth Dewitt (1828 - 1901)
Sibling	Eveline DeWitt (1830 - 1904)
Sibling	Clinton P. DeWitt (1835 - 1861)
Sibling	Peter Price DeWitt (1837 - 1840)
Sibling	Aseneath "Senith" DeWitt (1840 - 1902)
Sibling	Lydia Leticia "Lida" DeWitt (1845 - 1928)
Sibling	William Price DeWitt (1847 - 1918)

Notes