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| Letters to the Editor |
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| [Editor's Note: I had started this project as a way to preserve a bit of history for the family and make it more accessible to them. The following letter(s) are the reason why it is available in this format.] |
| January 15, 2002 |
I found your Civil War site just a few days ago, while searching for information about my gr-gr-grandfather, Arthur M. Kinkade. I knew that he had served in the Fifth Cavalry, Company M, from Illinois, and now I am so appreciative of your efforts to put these letters online.
I can now understand much better what the Civil War was like for this small group of men in Company M. It was really incredible to know that Arthur was buried in the same grave (probably unmarked?) as James Martin. (Letters of November 8, 1862 and November 17, 1862.) From Arthur Kinkade's death certificate, I knew that he had died from "chronic diarrhea" or dysentery. He was age 48 when he enlisted, and remaining at home in Richland Co, IL was his wife and several children. His wife Emily gave birth to their youngest son while he was away in the cavalry, so Arthur never saw this child.
McDonald Kinkade was Arthur's son, who enlisted in the same unit at the age of 18 in 1861. McDonald re-enlisted after his three years were up, and served at the siege of Vicksburg. His name is on the list of Illinois soldiers at the monument at Vicksburg.
I read somewhere that Illinois sent over 200,000 men to fight in the Civil War, so I feel very fortunate to now have the history of the M5CAV from Illinois. Thank you again!
Barbara Van Hout
(email withheld)
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