prewar photos of the brothers
The following selections are from Civil War correspondence housed
in the Special Collections and Archives of the University of Kentucky Libraries
in Lexington, Ky. The letters of various members of the Foster and Horine
families of Bullitt County are included in family correspondence of Dr.
Emmet Field Horine's papers. This transcription is taken from a transcript
by Mrs. Dorothy Horine Arnston filed with the letters.
Included here are letters from John L. and Benjamin Franklin Foster to Rebecca
Horine (born 1831) who was the sister of Jacob Horine. Jacob married John
and Ben's sister Emily Ann. Rebecca Horine remained single and died May
13, 1868.
All lived and died in Bullitt County, Ky.
prewar photos of the brothers
From a letter from John L. Foster to Beck K. Horine in Brooks
, Ky
Feb 17th /62
lines for the 15 Reg. K. V. M
In our Batallion all are so brave
We have decreed our Country to save
Marching to Victory. We now declare
Ne'er to surrender but unto the fair
Honor and glory this is the Corps 15
With then 'tis found they it do adore
Yes they Are here, Yes they are here
Lo they Come with sword and drum
See they Come, See they Come
look at our Regiment
Who are like them...
Click here for scanned image
From a letter from Ben Frank Foster to Beck K. Horine
Beck
Hospitle Ky
Jan.16th 1862
Miss Rebecca K. Horine
My Dear friend-
having rec'd a letter from You I take the preasant time As an opportunity
of informing You that I Am Not Very Well Yet but I hope to be able soon
to go down to Dickseys land to joine My Dear Comrads in fixing to kill Buckner
and the balance of the Secesh there are about one hundred of the boys left
here they are all geting better the weather is geting somewhat warmer than
it has been for some time the weather has been very change'ble.
Which accounts for us not getting better faster. for we gaine strength very
slow I wish that I could see you now but I cannot at preasant nevertheless
I hope to see you soon until then I wish you to remember me.
I hope this War will be over in a few months when I may return home And
then Oh, the Wedings which we will go to And I hope one of them wedings
will be Very interesting to me as I expect to be party Conserned
And now Dear Beck As I Am Weak and tiared I Will have to Close. Give my
love to All the friends please Write to Me as soon as you get this and let
me know All about them good boys who staid home to take care of the Girls
And tell me all about the pretty girls Who are spunkey enough to Say they
will have no one but A soldier for a Husband for they are the ones I like
And now farewell
Your Affectionate friend
B. F. Foster
to Beck my Love
P. S. Direct your letter thus B. F. Foster New Haven Ky
in care of Capt Kalfus
15th Regt. Ky Vols
C. Pope Col
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Cpl. Benjamin F. Foster
Bolingreen Ky
Feb. 17th 1862
Miss Rebecca K Horine
Dear Beck,
I rec'd your welcom letter the 9 th snst. and rec'd marching orders the
same night at 8 P. M. We struck tents at 6 A. M. and started for Green River.
We reached green river about 6P.M. Crossed the river, pitched tents in the
land of Dixie about 1/2 mile from the river right on the battle ground.
Where the Dutch whiped the texen rangers. We rec'd marching orders agane
on the night of the 12th at 8P.M. Struck tents agane at 7 A. M. Marched
20 miles to bells tavern. Camped that night left next morning for this place
Marched about 10 miles rec'd the inteligance that our advanse guard had
made the attact when we started double quick Marched 12 Miles to the bank
of the river but before we got there our pickets had run the hole army across
the river. We then opened up our battiries on them they returned one shot
and left. in double quick after firing several of the Union Mens houses
in the place Where they had left their provision. they burned the turnpike
Bridge and blowed up the R. R. Bridge they also burned up the depot, distroying
at least $100,000 worth of propperty our advanse guard took 34 prisoners
of the rangers and killed one. our Cannons killeed 27 of the Cowards, killed
15 at one shot, so they say.
Well Dear Beck I want to see you Mighty bad but I Cannot at preasant. the
Union boys have taken Calombus With the loss of 2,000 men so said. Dear
beck I wish you to write as often as possable.And donot be uneasy if you
donot get letters from me regularly for paper is scarce.
And now as I have no time to spare I will close oh, yes them pretty girls
I have left them and never expect to see them agane. and as there are but
few of the Creatures down here I expect to return home single if ever any
way for I do not get to stay still long enough to fall in love
so farewell write soon remember me
Direct to Bowlingreen Company D 15 Reg. Ky. Vols
Give my love to all the friends and if I never return remember me
I remain yours as ever
Benmagulish Foster
Click here for scanned image
Capt. John L.Foster
Camp Murfreesboro Tenn.
Miss Rebecca K. Horine:
I received A letter from you this evening I was happy to heare from You
and to heare that you was well. I am Also well, the boys Are All Well. Oh
Beck you Just ought to see us sometimes to see what fun we have, on picket.
We get to Crap a secesh occasionaly. But I have not got any shot since I
returned to Camp, but it has not been my fault., for I have done my duty.
And I expect to still do my duty as long as I am able. or until the Rebelion
is Crushed out and the last traitor has throwed down the Stars & Bars
. And took for their standard the Stars & Stripes which must forever
wave "ore the land of the free and the home of the Brave." Well
beck there is no fighting here now except a little skermishing Occasionaly.
Which amounts to nothing sometimes we kill a few and capture as many more.
we have been looking for A Big fight here for some time but I presume the
Rebs, Are too Wise to attact us here.
We are in high spirits. But not on account of Gen. Jo. Hooker's Grand Victory
and capture of Richmond Va. (which all turned out to be a falier) but with
a sense of our own valor. And a belief of our Ability. We do anything, or
go, or take any place which may be Designated by our Greate old Gen. Rosecran.
it may be self Conseit, but we believe we could take Richmon if Gen. Rosecran
will Just say- go there. Well Dear Beck your letter Caught me without news,
this time, I saw Mr. Angell some days since, he was well then. he staid
with me nearly all day. Well I hope to live to return home agane, and then
I hope to see you. But if I live I expect to eat peaches in dixie land this
summer. they are almost large enough now. to begin on. Well Beck please
excuse this and answer immediately.
I am your true friend
John L. Foster 15th Ky. Vols
Compliments to all tell little Hala that I would like to see her but I cannot
Just now