17th & 27th Pennsylvania Infantry - Staff Officer to General Meade

Item LTR-10489

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages, written in period ink.


Willard’s Hotel

May 22nd 1861

My Dear Gertrude,

I came to town this morning, being entitled to the privilege on account of being on guard all day yesterday. I have just had a fine bath here and feel very much refreshed. The reading room is crowded with persons both writing and waiting for an opportunity to get to the table to write. Everything seems very quiet here now. Most of the Regiments are encamped out of town, so that you do not see so much of them about the streets.

I wrote to you yesterday, but in coming to town today, I was asked to take the mail and much to my disgust, I found my letter to you was among the number. Your letters reach me regularly. There has not been a day I have not received one from you and I can tell you they are a great comfort to me. I laid awake last night on on the grass on the bank of Rock Creek, thinking of you. I could picture you as distinctly as can be, both in the parlor and in your own room.

I have been very well. Likewise, Johnny and I think camp life agrees with us all. I believe a young man by the name of Thomas of Company G is very ill. He is a son of the Conveyancer on 3rd or 4th Street below Walnut. He caught a very bad cold, which settled upon his lungs. I believe this is the only serious case in camp. Young Arthur McLellan was taken to town from the encampment. He had something like diphtheria.

The Reverend Mr. Maxwell has just passed through the room. I wonder what Mr. Cooper and himself are after. I wish they would elect Mr. Cooper or Mr. Brooks Chaplain of our Regiment. Mr. Maxwell just this minute came up and spoke to me. He says there is to be a flag raising at 12 o’clock over the Post Office. At which there is to be a grand celebration. As it is now 5 minutes after 12, I do not think I shall trouble myself about it. But shall just finish these few lines to you. Which I have just difficulty in writing, as I have to dip my pen 5 times into the ink pot for each word. It is so horribly thick and muddy, that is the ink. I wanted to have dined with Captain Ricketts today. But the Colonel has ordered us to be back by 3 ½ o’clock. I believe he expects General Scott to review us and wants to have us all there on the occasion. Our parade takes place always at 4 in the afternoon. We have quite a nice parade ground and the people are commencing to come out of town to see us. Every one compliments us highly. They say we are better disciplined and our encampment much finer than any Regiment here. I just got into conversation with a gentleman and he informed me he was connected with the New York Illustrated News and intended coming out to make a picture of our encampment. He said he saw us as we passed by Willard’s on Sunday last. And he thought we were decidedly the finest looking Regiment he had seen. Everything being so complete, a great many of the others came only half provided and I can now see the wisdom of keeping our troops at home till they were well provided for.

George Ingham has just come in and is writing at the table with me. He informs me he has received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the regular Army. He has just been paying Mr. Cameron a visit with Ben Brewski. Sherman’s Battery has just passed. It looked very fine, each piece being drawn by 6 fine horses.

I was very glad to hear Capie was getting on so very nicely. I hope now she will feel stronger than ever. Give herself and Effie my love.

Two months longer seem a long time to look forward to. Situated as we are, my dear Gertrude, but will be very short to look back upon. I feel I am enlisted in a good cause and I think the South must surrender before long to feel their position. If there ever was an unjustifiable one, it is theirs.

I must close with a great deal of lover to yourself, Ma, Katy, Grandma, your father and all the rest.

I am your most devotedly,

James C. Biddle

They had a very handsome parade yesterday. All the New York Regiments and positions of the others turned out to attend the funeral of a Colonel. I forget his name, of, I think, the 1st New York Regiment.