August 11, 1863

Johnsons Island

Near Sandusky Ohio

August 11th 1863

Dear Sarah,

Your letter has been received I at the same time received one from George Bains stating that he had sent me money which I had gotten, a check for before his letter came to hand, it was a check for one hundred $100 dollars one half to me and the other to a young friend of his who is a prisinor here from Alabama, I of course returned my thanks to him for his kindness, I made the acquaintance of his friend and paid him the money. I received a letter from Mrs. Weaver (1) for her Son, your letter was received I think on the 4th. I had written to you before I received yours and requested George Bain, to inform you of the fact. I wrote a few lines to Mrs. Russ (2) yesterday giving the particulars of Col Owen’s death. (3) you will let her know that I have done so. I am well and have no cause to complain cannot say when we will be exchanged. write as often as you can my love to all my friends kiss my little girls tell Ida, Pa would like to see his child good bye Dear Sarah, from your affectionate Husband 

Capt Henry A. Allen

My thanks to Bowers for Mony received

1. Mrs. Weaver is most likely Mary Weaver, a 61-year-old seamstress from Portsmouth. Her son, Samuel, a Portsmouth tanner, served in Company D of the 9th Virginia and was promoted to 1st Lt. in May 1862. He was captured along with Allen on July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg. Samuel was sent to Johnson’s Island and finished out the war at Pt. Lookout Prison.

2. Mrs Russ is most likely Margaret Russ, born in Maryland in 1809 and listed in the 1860 census as a resident of Jefferson Ward, Portsmouth, Virginia. Her husband is Francis Russ, a mast maker by profession who born in the District of Columbia in 1805. Her son is Samuel P. Russ…a grocer in Portsmouth.

3. Colonel John Crowder Owens (see images below) made a living in civilian life as a ship’s carpenter at the Gosport Navy Yard in Portsmouth. He was promoted to command the 9th when the previous commander, Colonel Gilliam, was wounded at Malvern Hill. Owens fell mortally wounded in the Pickett-Pettigrew assault on July 3, 1863. He died later that evening and was buried along Marsh Creek. After the war, his body was returned to Portsmouth and buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery. See HERE for more details, including UCV member James Crocker’s address concerning Owens.

Colonel John Crowder Owens, 9th Virginia

Grave of Colonel Owens in Portsmouth, Virginia

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