Corporal John Ritger enlisted in Company G, 26th Infantry, Wisconsin, on August 21, 1862. He was born in 1843 in Schuyler Township, Herkimer Co., N.Y., the son of Jacob Ritger, a farmer, and Katherine Seubert. The parents were Catholic, German-speaking immigrants from separate areas of northern Bavaria. The family moved to near St. Anthony, Addison Township, Washington Co., Wis., about 1848. An older brother of John’s, Andrew Ritger (born 1840), was a Private in Company C, 8th Infantry, Wisconsin, and died of yellow fever at Young’s Point, La., on June 29, 1863, during the Siege of Vicksburg. John was gravely wounded at Gettysburg and died on July 20, 1863.
This is either John or Andrew because there are no other Union soldiers in that part of the family. This could be John, since the enlisted records say he was short and dark and Andrew was tall and fair; and this fellow just looks a little short and dark.
His five letters appear below.
Scott Leonard
Camp Near Brook Stasion
Feb 12th 1863
Dear father and Mother and Brothers and sister I will write a few lins to you that I am all well yet and hope that you are the same
and we Marched back 10 mils tords Staford near the stasion so the temsters can bring enouf profishions for us and I think that we will stay hear about three weeks. and the talk is that we will go back to Washington for profose gard. and if we com to washington then we will haf som good tims for thare is not much to Due
and nues i canot write much for this time and i haf not got that letter with that money and i dont think that i will get it. and i can send you 25 Dollars but it is not safe for to send it with the Male and so i lended it to our lutenant till the next pay Day and i tink that will bee the first of March and then i think i can send it with the Express. Now I Will Close My letter and send my Best Respects to you and to all that asks for me
John Ritger
*****
Feb 23th 1863
Dear Father and Mother and Brother and Sister
I will write a few lins to you that I resived your letter to night and saw that you are all well yet and I am the same yet. and I got them 12 Post Stamps and was glad to haf them. and I send you a Nues paper last last Weak and a little letter in it and Knues I canot write you much for this time
but we haf got about 8 inches of sno hear now and quite Cold but it wont last long. and we haf got prity good tims hear now and I haf not got that nues paper but I think it will be along sum time this weak. No More for this time but you must Excuse my poor writing for it is don in a hury
Yours Truly
John Ritger
P.S. as be fore and I sent my Best Respect to you all and to all that asks for me
Amen
*****
March 7th 1863
Camp Near
Brooks Stasion Va
Dear Father and Mother and brother and sister I will write a few lines to you
I am in good helt yet and hope that you are the same yet.
and we are in Camp yet and I dont no when we will leaf hear and we haf got good times hear and we haf got as much to eat as we want we get fresh bread and plenty pork and beef and rise and beens peas and coffa tea Shugar and every 4 days a drop of wisky but think our good tims wont last long for the Rebels are Crossing the Rapahanick again and neus I canot write much for this time only that our genaral Sigle has resined and is at home and I haf not resived that tobacko yet and I think I never will get it
and I will send to George a musket so that he can shut the Chipmunks
And hear I will Send you my likeness so you Can see what kind a looking felo I am now
And now I will close my letter and Send my Best Respect to you all and to all ho asks for me
PS as be fore
John Ritger
Co. G. 26th Regt. Wis. Vol
Washington
D.C.
*****
Camp Near Brok
April 26th 1863
Dear Father and Mother and Brothers and Sister
I will write a few lins to you I am all well yet and hope that you are the same yet and we are on the same plase yet but we haf got marching orders but I dont no wen we will leaf. and we haf ben paid off yesterday for 6 monts and we got 52 Dollars and I Send 50 Dollars in a letter to day I and Charles Shuh send it in one letter and Send it on the Express and directed it to Charles Shuh Father and you Can get it from him when he gets it
and Now I Will Close My letter and Send My Best Respect to you All and to all that asks for me
Your Truly
John Ritger
Aman
*****
Va. May 9th 1863
Dear Father and Mother and Brother and Sister now I will write a few lines to you
I received your letter yesterday in good health and saw that you was the same yet
and we had an other march and a battle to but I came out safe but we half got a good many wounded and we are on the same please again in our old Camp and other news I cannot write much for this time.
but I half send you 50 Dollars the 26 of April and a letter at the same time.
and now I will Close my letter and Send my best respects to you all and to all ho asks for me
John Ritger
Scott Leonard <dcscott20002@gmail.com>