Research at Fort Duffield
This page brings together primary sources related to Fort Duffield and the Union forces at West Point, Kentucky:
Wellington C. Wells’s diary, the letters of Pvt. John C. Love, contemporary newspaper accounts, and other
documents that illuminate life on Muldraugh’s Hill during the winter of 1861–62.
Wellington Diary — So Much to Say →
✦ Companion Source
Key Diary Entries for Researchers
Wellington C. Wells kept a daily diary from October 25, 1861 through March 31, 1862 — covering the same events,
people, and places documented in the letters below. These landmark entries provide daily context that no single
letter can.
Nov 7 — Birth of Fort Duffield
Nov 28 — Thanksgiving at the Fort
Dec 4 — Death of Pvt. Chamberlain
Dec 12 — “Half underground” hut
Dec 14 — “50 houses, no two alike”
Dec 25 — Christmas Day ride
Jan 4 — Farewell to Fort Duffield
Jan 21 — Zollicoffer killed
Feb 17 — Fort Donelson falls
Mar 19 — Boarding the Jacob Strader
Mar 23 — Arrival at Nashville
Letters and Diary Cross‑References
Many of the letters on this page line up exactly with Wellington’s diary entries. Where that happens, you’ll see
a note and a link to the same day in the diary.
📖 Same day in the diary: Wellington’s diary: “Very windy… Got a paper from G.J. Hitchcock.”
Read full diary entry →
The Letters of Pvt. John C. Love (1861–1862)
Private John C. Love served in Company C, 9th Michigan Infantry, stationed at West Point, Kentucky
and Fort Duffield during the winter of 1861–62. His letters home are among the most vivid personal accounts of
daily life on Muldraugh’s Hill — sickness, weather, fort construction, rumors of Buckner, and the hardships of
camp life.
Letter Index
- Nov 1, 1861 — Arrival at West Point
- Nov 7, 1861 — “Unsivilised Kentucky”
- Nov 20, 1861 — Digging the Intrenchments
- Dec 1, 1861 — Storms, Snow, and Review
- Dec 20, 1861 — Smallpox Vaccination & Fort Completed
- Dec 23, 1861 — “Send pies, cakes, and apples”
- Jan 4, 1862 — Typhoid Deaths & Marching Orders
November 1, 1861 — Arrival at West Point
Exact Transcription
West Point Kentucky Nov. 1 '61
Dear Parents
It has been some time since I have writen to you...
(Full transcription already provided in your Love 1 Dec 1861 file)
Readable Version
Cleaned modern version of the November 1 letter.
November 7, 1861 — “Unsivilised Kentucky”
Exact Transcription
West Point, Kentucky, Nov. 7th, 1861
Dear Parents.
It is with pleasure that I drop you a few lines...
(Full transcription already provided)
Readable Version
Cleaned modern version of the November 7 letter.
November 20, 1861 — Digging the Intrenchments
Exact Transcription
West Point Ky. Nov. 20th 1861.
Dear Parents
It is with pleasure that I sit myself down after my days work is done...
(Full transcription already provided)
Readable Version
Cleaned modern version of the November 20 letter.
December 1, 1861 — Storms, Snow, and Review
Exact Transcription
West Point, Kentucky December 1
Dear Father And Mother
I received a letter from you Friday...
(Full transcription already provided)
Readable Version
Cleaned modern version of the December 1 letter.
December 20, 1861 — Smallpox Vaccination & Fort Completed
Exact Transcription
West Point, Kentucky, Dec 20th 1861
Dear Father and Mother.
I received a letter and three papers today...
(Full transcription already provided)
Readable Version
Cleaned modern version of the December 20 letter.
December 23, 1861 — “Send pies, cakes, and apples”
Exact Transcription
West Point Kentucky Dec. 23
Dear Parents
I take the present oportunity of dropping you a few hasty lines...
(Full transcription already provided)
Readable Version
Cleaned modern version of the December 23 letter.
January 4, 1862 — Typhoid Deaths & Marching Orders
Exact Transcription
West Pointe, Ky Jan 4th 1862
Dear Parents.
I take the present oportunity of writing you a few lines...
(Full transcription already provided)
Readable Version
Cleaned modern version of the January 4 letter.
November 10, 1861 — “My Sweet Darling Kitten”
[Your Nov 10 content here]