Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Wartmann, J. W. 'J. W. Wartmann to William H. Herndon' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: letter]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon392.html

Rockport Indiana November 1 1866

My Dear Sir:

Your favor of Oct 24th ult, came duly to hand; and I send herewith such answers to your several interrogatories as I have been able to procure. I have named the kinds of birds, fish & game most common in our country: There are others of rare varieties which can hardly be said to belong here. I give the names as they are Known by here.

1st Birds — . Humming Bird, Blue Bird, Robins, Blue Jay: Wood-Pecker: Quail (a species of the Pheasant — usually hunted & bagged as game) Pheasants: Meadow Larks: Red Bird; Thrush: Owl: Night Hawk: Chicken Hawk: Whip-poor-will: Ground Robbins: English Snipe: Crane (water-fowl), Turkey Buzzard: Crows: Black Birds: Wild & Tame Pigeons: Wood-Cocks: Turtle Doves: Wren; Rain Crow; Swallows: Martins; Cat Birds. King Fishers (Water fowls).

2d Fish: Cat Fish — . 2 Kinds, Blue & Mud: Buffalo: Yellow White and Grey fin Perch: Carp: Bass (not many); Toothed Herring; Skip-Jacks: Black-fin Suckers. Pike (more in the White than Ohio River): Gar-fish; Shovel fish: Sturgeons, Minnows (very small — , usually used as bait for larger fish); Sun fish: Eels: Soft-Shell Turtles

3d Game Deer: Squirrels: Rabbits: Coons: Wild Turkies: Wild Ducks: Oppossum: (Musk-rats, Otter, Panthers, Wild Cats Catamounts Red & grey foxes and a few Bear were in this Co, in Lincoln's day, and were hunted as game, but, with the exception of the Bear, were never eaten). Coon hunts at nights was, & still is, a favorite sport for boys & young men.

The game usually hunted for Eating purposes was, in L's day, & still is, Deer, Squirrels, Rabbits. Wild Turkies. Wild Ducks & Pheasants & Quails & 'Possums I, myself, have known persons to have little other meat to Eat during the fall & winter than, Deer, Squirrels, Wild Turkies & 'possum & rabbits:

The kinds of game I have named is common all through Southern Indiana.

I trust these imperfect answers may do you some good. I shall always take pleasure in answering any questions I can for you.

Very truly Your friend
J.W. Wartmann

P.S.
I spell my name thus J.W. Wartmann

P.S. No 2.
We beat in this Co' the "Cops" ^[1] by an increased majority over any previous Election.

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2728 — 29; Huntington Library: LN2408, 1:216 — 17

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