The following information is from the family tree Web site (undated) http://guyzimmerman.com/scrapbook/aqwn39.htm

William Ervin Bertram was born 24 Nov 1838 in Kentucky. William enlisted 1 Aug 1861 in the Tennessee Infantry, 25th Regiment, Company D. He died 20 Sep 1864 in Elmira, NY, Prison of War Camp and was buried 21 Sep 1864 in Woodlawn Cemetery.

William married Martha WEST on 9 Jan 1860. They had two children: Samuel Alonzo Bertram (1860-1840) and Tennessee Alice (b. 1862). Martha was born and died (1839-1879) in Overton County. Her parents were Stephen West and Eliza A. Brown. Information about the West and Brown families is in separate articles on this site.

Click on the thumbnail images below for larger versions.

From his military records at the National Archives:  Ervin Butram served in Company D, 25th Tennessee Infantry of the Confederate Army. He joined at Camp Myers in Livingston, Tennessee, on August 1, 1861.  Serving with Cleburne’s Division, Hardee’s Corps A.T. Ervin was “slightly” wounded in the shoulder at the Battle of Murfreesboro on December 31, 1862, and sent to a hospital.  He returned to service in 1863 and was promoted to Corporal. He was captured May 16, 1864, near Drury’s (Drewry’s) Bluff near Richmond, Virginia, and turned over to the Provost Marshal at Fort Monroe, Virginia, on May 17, 1864.  He was transferred to the military prison at Point Lookout, Maryland, on May 18, 1864, then to Elmira, New York, on August 15, 1864, and arrived there on August 17, 1864. He died at Elvira prison on September 21, 1864, of chronic diarrhea.  He is buried at the prison cemetery.

25th Regiment, Tennessee Infantry

From Guy Zimmerman:  25th Infantry Regiment completed its organization in August, 1861, at Camp Zollicoffer, in Overton County, Tennessee. Its members were recruited in the counties of White, Overton, Putnam, and Jackson. The unit fought at Fishing Creek and Perryville, then was assigned to General B.R. Johnson’s Brigade, Army of Tennessee. In November, 1863, it was consolidated with the 44th Regiment. The unit participated in the conflicts at Murfreesboro and Chickamauga, served in the Knoxville operations, then moved to Virginia. Here it saw action at Drewry’s Bluff, took its place in the Petersburg trenches, and ended the war at Appomattox Courthouse. In January, 1862, this regiment reported 683 men present for duty, had 55 disabled at Fishing Creek, and suffered 8 casualties at Perryville. It lost thirty-six percent of the 336 at Murfreesboro and thirty-nine percent of the 145 at Chickamauga. The 25th/44th reported 95 casualties of the 259 engaged at Drewry’s Bluff. On April 9, 1865, the 25th surrendered 4 officers and 21 men. The field officers were Colonels John M. Hughes and Sidney S. Stanton; Lieutenant Colonels Samuel Davis, George G. Dibrell, R.C. Sanders, Robert B. Snowden; and Majors Josiah H. Bilbrey, William A. Duncan, Samuel H. McCarver, and Timothy H. Williams.

Butram Family Letters

Fortunately, letters from William Ervin Butram and other members of this family survived to provide insight for modern historians.  These letters were scanned and posted by genealogist and Bertram family descendant, Guy Zimmerman.  They are included here with Mr. Zimmerman’s permission.

Some of the letters below were written by Ervin Butram’s brother, George W. Butram, who also served in the 25th Regiment. He died at the Battle of Chickamauga, apparently carrying the company’s flag.

Mr. Zimmerman’s collection includes letters from Ervin Butram’s father-in-law, Stephen West.  Those are included in the West Family Album on this Web site.

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Two of William Ervin Butram’s letters are transcribed and available on-line

Source: http://www.theborderlands.org/BertramWmErvin.htm (via the Internet Archive)

Corinth, Mississippi
May 10th, 1892

My dear wife,

I this evening drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well. Your father wrote to me that you had a fine girl. You may name it Tennessee. That will be the best name I can select.

I want you to remember me in your prayers. I have thought that it was on your account that I have been preserved through the mercy of God.

I think there will be a chance for me to come home. I am not going to desert. I am going to come home honerable or let by bones bleach on the field of battle.

So I will close by subscribing myself your friend and husband until death.

From William E. Butram
To Marthy Burtram

Source: http://guyzimmerman.com/scrapbook/aqwn39.htm#1909

Head qarters Camp Dexey Zolicoffers brigade
December the 10 1861 dear unkle it is with pleasure that
I take the opertwnity of informing yo all that we ar well and I will tel you something of our times our cavalry had a battle th 8 they killed 15 took 15 prisoners this is not mear report fo colonel Stanton commanded the fight I saw the prisoners myself we got one man woonded two horses killed two or three woonded Colonel Stanton is gaining carrector as fast as any oneverdid som say hes a second washington he was commanding his men and thar was a bullet went thro between his fingers between the xx first and second joint he said it burnt rite bad
but did no injur him any Tell the folks that I would be glad to sea them all but I don’t now when I will hav the opertunity wear 9 miles below Summerest thar is 11 rigments thar that looks for us every day and we lok to go every day Zol is wating for something I don’t now what we ar across the river and ar making brst works a cross a foinin in the bend
of the river for to keep comisarys in so I must com to a clos this from G W Butram to Jackob Butram if yo hav the opertinnity of writing send your leter to the 25 th reg Stanton Co D a few lines to you all from Wm Butram I am well and well satisfied G W told you enough about th fight with out me saying any thing for trewlar only it was a brave and daring trick again we had a fals allarm and we started of in double qick two
mile and then we was halted and turned back and I think we wood hav fought them a verry jolly Fight but they did not come Haskens thinks that He had beter keep out of our way by flight I hav been Drilling for the first time and I think I will Soon get so I can get a bout like right sons more this from Wm Butram to Unkle Jacob Butram
to Marthy Butram

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Historical Background Information

The information below was found on-line (undated)  at http://guyzimmerman.com/scrapbook/aqwn39.htm#1909 and is reposted with his permission here.

Elmira Prison Camp OnLine Library –

Government Documents: September, 1864

Summary
September 8, 1864: Instructions sent on how to send the 10,000 men through meals in three-hour shifts.
September 25, 1864: Report on camp’s conditions. Noted 112 deaths in the previous week with a high of 29 on one day. Accompanied with one endorsement.
September 29, 1864: Instructions for the one prisoner release from Elmira. Accompanied with several endorsements, including one from a doctor commenting on the poor condition of the men.

——————–

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,
Washington, D.C., September 8, 1864
Lieut. Col. S. Eastman

Commanding Depot Prisoners of War, Elmira, N.Y.:

COLONEL: Your letter of the 28th ultimo, recommending additional mess-rooms, &c., is received. If the prisoners can take their meals in the mess-rooms as they now stand by taking three hours in the morning and three in the afternoon, no additions — indeed, if they can get through their breakfast by 11 a.m. and their dinner by 6 p.m., nothing more is necessary. You are authorized to put up such hospital wards as may be indispensably necessary, to be built in the cheapest manner. They will not be plastered, but will be made as close as practicable by battening the joints of the weather-boarding. Barracks for the guard, or additional ones for the prisoners, will not be put up at present. Sibley tents can be estimated for in October.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. HOFFMAN,
Colonel Third Infantry and Commissary-General of Prisoners

——————–

PRISON CAMP
Elmira, N.Y., September 25, 1864
Lieut. R.J. McKee

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

Lieutenant: I have the honor to report that I have made the weekly inspection of this camp in obedience to Special Orders No. 289, and find the police of camp good; police quarters, good; police of mess-rooms, fair; police of guardhouse, good; police of kitchen, good; police of mess-rooms, fair. Some clothing is received daily from the friends of prisoners, but there is still great destitution. The weather is cold for the season, and those in tents especially suffer. There are no stoves in quarters or hospitals. About 500 are sick in hospital and about 100 in quarters who are fit subjects for, and should receive, hospital treatment. Those sick in quarters are fed on the ordinary prison hospital. During the past week there have been 112 deaths, reaching one day 29. There seems little doubt numbers have died both in quarters and hospital for want of proper food.

Respectfully, yours,
B. MUNGER
Captain and Inspector of Camp

[Endorsement]

HEADQUARTERS DRAFT RENDEZVOUS
ELMIRA, N.Y., September 30, 1864

Respectfully forwarded to the Commissary-General of Prisoners with the following remarks: Drainage camp is not goof. There is a pond of stagnant water in the center, which renders camp unhealthy. This can be remedied by bringing water from the river through the camp/ This being done, with more perfect drainage, there is no reason why the camp should not be healthy. Many man are in tents without floors or blankets. Barracks should be erected instead of tents. Hospital accommodations insufficient at present. New wards are being built. Hospital mess-rooms to accommodate about 200 patients much needed. Police of hospital goods, except sinks; an offensive smell enters the tents from these. I doubt whether, with present mode of construction, this could be prevented. Scurvy prevails to a great extent. Few if any vegetables have been recently issued. Greater efforts should be made to prevent scurvy.

B.F. TRACY,
Colonel 127th U.S. Colored Troops, Commanding Depot

——————–

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS
Washington, D.C., September 29, 1864
Col B.F. Tracy,

Commanding Depot Prisoners of War, Elmira, N.Y.

COLONEL: By authority of the Secretary of War all the invalid prisoners of war in your charge who will not be fit for service within sixty days will be in a few days sent South for delivery to the rebel authorities, and, as directed in my telegram of yesterday, you will immediately prepare duplicate parole-rolls to accompany then and an ordinary roll for this office. None will be sent who wish to remain and take the oath of allegiance, and none who are too feeble to endure the journey. Have a careful inspection of the prisoners made by medical officers to select those who shall be transferred. Detail to accompany them a medical officer or two, if necessary, with as many attendants and nurses, taken from the well prisoners, as may be required, and have them organized into companies of convenient size, so that all may receive proper attention. You will send a suitable guard under a field officer in charge of the prisoners, and give instructions in writing as to the service to be performed. The guard and prisoners will be furnished with cooked rations for two days. Require transportation of the quartermaster’s department to Baltimore, and see that the cars are of a suitable character and well provided with lights and water. Direct the commanding officer not to give a certificate for the transportation unless the contract is fully complied with. The quartermaster at Baltimore will be directed to provide transportation to Point Lookout. Furnish the commanding officer with a list of all moneys placed in his hands belonging to prisoners, which lists, with the money, will be delivered to the rebel officer who receives them.

One of the parole-rolls, with the officer’s receipt, will be returned through you to this office as evidence of the delivery. On arriving at Point Lookout the officer in charge will report to the commending officer, Brigadier-General Barnes, and, if relieved from charge of the prisoners, he will turn over to the relieving officer the rolls, money, &c., taking a receipt therefore.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. HOFFMAN
Colonel Third Infantry and Commissary-General of Prisoners

P.S. — Report by telegram to the quartermaster at Baltimore, Lieut. Col. C.W. Thomas, and to this office the time at which the prisoners will leave at least twenty-four hours before their departure.
W.H.

[Endorsement]

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS
Washington, D.C., October 24, 1864

Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War.
The accompany copy of instructions given to Col. B.F. Tracy, One hundred and twenty-seventh Colored Troops, commanding at Elmira, shows that, so far as orders could effect it, every precaution was taken to guard against unnecessary suffering by the prisoners ordered South, but from the within reports it appears that both the commanding officer and the medical officers not only failed to be governed by these orders, but neglected the ordinary promptings of humanity in the performance of their duties toward sick man, this showing themselves to be wholly unfit for the positions they occupy, and it is respectfully recommended that they be immediately ordered to some other service.

W. HOFFMAN
Colonel Third Infantry and Commissary-General of Prisoners

[Inclosure No. 1]

MEDICAL DIRECTOR’S OFFICE, MIDDLE DEPARTMENT, EIGHTH ARMY CORPS,
Baltimore, Md., October 13, 1864
Col. William Hoffman, U.S. Army

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D.C.:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that a train of over 1,200 rebel prisoners arrived in this city today from Elmira, en route for City Point. The officer in charge reported to me that many of the prisoners were exceedingly ill and that five had died on the road. I made a personal inspection of the men and found a number unable to bear the journey. I directed that they should be admitted to the West Hospital, and gave Surgeon Chapel instructions (see Inclosure) to examine those on board the boat. As soon as a report from Surgeon Campbell, who continued the inspection, is received I will forward it with a full report of the case to you. The physical condition of many of these men was distressing in the extreme, and they should never have been permitted to leave Elmira.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. SIMPSON
Surgeon, U.S. Army, Medical Director

[Sub-Inclosure]

MEDICAL DIRECTOR’S OFFICE, MIDDLE DEPARTMENT, EIGHT ARMY CORPS,
Baltimore, Md., October 13, 1864
Surg. A. Chapel, U.S. Volunteers,

In Charge West’s Buildings Hospital:

SIR: You will receive such sick and wounded rebels into the hospital under your charge as may be sent you by Surg. C.F.H. Campbell, U.S. Volunteers, from those now in transit through this city from Elmira, N.Y., And receipt for them on the customary rolls to Maj. E. A. Roberts, in charge of the squad. As it is possible that some cases might have been overlooked you will visit the steamer on which the prisoners are embarking for exchange, and admit to the hospital under your charge such as humanity requires should be taken care of. You will report to this office in the morning the number thus received.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. SIMPSON
Surgeon, U.S. Army, Medical Director

[Inclosure No. 2]

WEST’S BUILDING HOSPITAL
Baltimore, Md., October 14, 1864
Surg. J. Simpson, U.S. Army,
Medical Directors
DOCTORS: I have the honor to report that I went on board the steamer loaded with prisoners of war last evening, in accordance with your order, and examined the worst cases. I found at least forty cases that should not have been sent on such a journey, most of whom were in a very feeble and emaciated condition, but as my hospital had been more than filled by those sent by Surgeon Campbell, and they were all very anxious to continue the journey with their comrades, I thought it better not to remove them. I found no medical officer, hospital steward, or nurse on board the boat with the worst cases. Some one, in my opinion, is greatly censurable for sending such cases away from camp even for exchange.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. CHAPEL
Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers, in Charge

[Inclosure No. 3]

MEDICAL DIRECTOR’S OFFICE, MIDDLE DEPARTMENT, EIGHTH ARMY CORPS
Baltimore, Md., October 14, 1864
Surg. J. Simpson, U.S. Army
Medical Director:

SIR: In compliance with instructions from this office I yesterday proceeded to inspect the physical condition of the rebel prisoners then in transit through this city from Elmira, N.Y., to City Point, Va., for exchange. The train was composed of over 1,200 men, from which number I selected sixty men as totally unfit to travel and sent to general hospital. These men were debilitated from long sickness to such a degree that it was necessary to carry them in the arms of attendants from the cars to the ambulances, and one man died on the act of being thus transferred. Such men should not have been sent from Elmira. If they were inspected before leaving that place in accordance with orders it was most carelessly done, reflecting severely on the medical officers engaged in that duty and is alike disgraceful to all concerned. The effect produced on the public by such marked displays of inefficiency or neglect of duty cannot fail to be most injurious to our cause both at home and abroad. Five men had died on the train on the road to this city from utter prostration and debility, their appearance after death bearing evidence of this fact. Thus it will be seen six men have died from the number sent, and if the above selection of men had not been made and sent to general hospital many more deaths would have been added to this number ere they reached City Point.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C.F.H. CAMPBELL
Surg., U.S. Vols., Asst. Medical Inspector, Eighth Army Corps

[Endorsement]

MEDICAL DIRECTOR’S OFFICE, EIGHTH ARMY CORPS,
Baltimore, Md., October 14, 1864

Respectfully forwarded to the Commissary-General of Prisoners, through the Surgeon-General. From personal inspection I know the facts as stated by Surgeon Campbell to be correct. The condition of these men was pitiable in the extreme and evinced criminal neglect and inhumanity on the part of the medical officers in making the selection of men to be transferred. A roll of the prisoners admitted to the West Hospital is enclosed.*
J. SIMPSON
Surgeon, U.S. Army, Medical Director