The following are copies of two letters written by Private Peter Frederick Hickman. They are copied here from photocopies of the original letters courtesy of Susan Province. These letters also appear at the back of Susan's book titled "Hickman". Neither of these letters were physically written by the soldiers themselves. When a soldier was not able to write, another soldier who could write would physically write the letter while the soldier dictated.

Peter Hickman was a private in Company K of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry. He enrolled in March, 1862 and was among those captured at Rogersville and confined at Belle Isle Prison. Peter died of disease March 24, 1864, probably at Annapolis, Maryland just after being paroled. He left one child, Andrew Johnson Hickman who was two years old when the letters were written. Andrew Johnson Hickman would become a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
 

The first letter was written on June 14, 1863 from Somerset, Kentucky by Peter Hickman to his wife, Mary "Polly" (Petty) Hickman who was living in Sevier County, Tennessee:
 

Camp near Somerset, Pulaski Co., Ky.

June the 14th 1863

Dear wife

It is with great satisfaction that I once more try to send you a few words. You know that I am well and have been in pretty good health most of the time. I hope this letter may find you and the children all in good health and the folks generally. I had to go to the Kennawa Valley. We had to dodge all the way but we got safe to our regiment at last. I have seen many hardships since I saw you. I was in the Murfreesboro fight. You had better believe the bullets whizzed closer than was agreeable. We are now mounted and have an easier time on a march. Last Tuesday evening we had a fight with the Rebs near Monticello. We whipped the Rebs and made them retreat. It was too near night for us to follow them, and they escaped. There is good news from all divisions of our army. Our troops are gaining advantage everywhere except in Virginia. I think from all I can see here and hear from other places we will before long try whether we can come over into East Tennessee. All accounts say that there is but a small force over there, and I think we will soon come over to see. Our boys are mostly well and in fine spirits and anxious to come in hearing of home once more. I want to see you all very much but I must content myself yet awhile. Tell all the folks that they must write to me and let me know what is going on over there for all [?] over there is very acceptable to us over here. I want [?] to write as soon as you get the chance and let me know how you and the children are and how you are getting along. Time moves slow with me and yet it is the middle of June. Cousin John Mount, Humphrey's John, died a few days back at Murfreesboro. He had been ailing a long time. Also Andrew Hickman died at the same place on the 7th of March. [ a line is lost ] and send it to me and then I can write to them. They are all strongly for the union and the old constitution. James Ruth is in the Federal Army helping to maintain his rights as a man. There are a great many [?] over here and lie around and will and will not go into the service [?] rather they would not come at all than to disgrace [?] us by doing so. Tell all who are over there yet that we would rather they would stay where they are than for them to do as those who come over and will not lend a helping hand to gain their liberties. Henry Overby writes to me from Carthage, Tennessee that he is well and wants me to let his mother know that he is well. He says all the boys from our neighborhood who are down there are well. I send you a comb and would be glad to send you some other things but it is out of my power to do so. I have heard nothing from Lawrence Petty [Peter's brother-in-law(Mary's brother)] since I saw him at Cincinnati until the other day Pat Hamilton got a letter from his brother John who says Lawrence is there and is in good health. He has got a discharge. Pat Hamilton has joined our company and is about 14 miles from here sick. This is all I have that would interest you so I will bring my letter to a close by signing myself your affectionate husband

P.S. I send a one dollar bill a [?] five cent and a ten cent to let you see our currency that we use. I would be glad I could send you more but I am afraid to risk it.

MH

The second letter was also written by Peter Hickman, but it is signed by Peter to his wife Polly and also by his brother, William Hickman to William's wife Julie (Petty) Hickman. Mary Hickman and Julie Hickman were sisters, daughters of Horatio and Martha Petty. William was not enrolled in the regiment. He was probably working as a civilian on a temporary work assignment for the government. The logo in the upper left hand corner is just as it appears in the original letter:
 
 

August the 15th /63

Stanford, Kentucky

Dear wife

It is a great pleasure to me to have an opportunity to write to you again in answer to a letter that I received from you on 11th of August. It's date was the 19th of June which was a great satisfaction to me to have from you and to hear that you was all well. You said that Johnson wanted to see me. I wish he could. I know I would like to see him all the best in the world and you and all the balance of the family and I don't think it will be long till I will see you all again, not as before, but to remain nearer you. Things look favorable at the present time. I received three letters from James Ruth and Abner George [James Ruth and Abner George were Peter's brothers-in-law (husbands of two of his sisters)]. They was well and doing well and their families was well. They said they would like to hear from you all the best in the world. Henry and Ellen said they would like to see you all again in this life again. They want you to write to them when you have a chance. This to father and mother: they requested me to write this to you for you to write to me and I will send it to them. They are both good union men and James is in the army. I met Bill on the 3rd day of August and he told me that you thought sorter hard because I did not send you a hat. You must excuse me for I have not had the chance to send it. I will send you one the first chance I have. I have not forgot my promise about sending you a hat. I will not. Mother, I have not forgot you yet. I have not forgot you following me to the fence crying. Afer [this may have been a nickname for brother William] to his wife: he is well enough at present has had the diarrhea. He took it up at Kentucky River. He is in camp today. He has worked one month for the government at $30 per month. He has quit now. He thought that it hurt him. He had such heavy lifting to do it hurt his back. He is got better since he quit. He is very well satisfied. Here is a comb for his father for a present. I wrote for him as he was not present when the letter was wrote. He has not volunteered and not don't intend to but he is not able to stand camp life. I saw Marion Petty [brother of Mary and Julie (Petty) Hickman, also married to one of Peter's sisters] and he was well, but he has had a spell of sickness but has got over it. He's volunteered in the 9th Cavalry. I heard from Lawrence the other day. He was well and at his uncle's in Illinois. I have had a heavy ride after John Morgan and went through the state of Indiana and Ohio and helped to capture him. So I must close by requesting you to write as soon as this comes to hand.