83rd Pennsylvania Infantry - Very Rare Letterhead

Item LTR-10955

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 3 pages, written in period ink.


McLane’s Regiment
Camp at Hall’s Hill
December 18, 1861
 
Dear Sister,
 
I received your short letter the same time William got one from you.  Mine came in his but was so short I wish you would write larger ones.  Well Maris, I feel first rate as well as ever I did.  I would like to go to a few parties if I was at home.  I believe I will go up home some night when there is a party a going off some night and go back to war again for that is my trade now and I would not give it [up] for any trade of. Nothing more here.
 
But something here – but not much after all.  We get plenty to eat and plenty to wear.  Well Maris, I have wrote so much about our Zouave suit that I will not write any about them this time.  I have not got my picture taken yet but I will as soon as I can.  Tell Mother she must not get discouraged.  I will send my picture as soon as I can.
 
We were out all day a shooting at mark and I shot 25 ball cartridges and hit the mark several times.  We shoot at marks nearly every day.  It is good fun for us boys but I expect it will be bigger fun when we get to shooting the Rebels down.  We all want to hurry it through as fast as possible.
 
Well Maria, I just finished eating a pint of boiled corn and sweet mike which goes first rate.  We buy it from a peddler.  Nothing more here.
 
But Maybe I can write some more here.  Well Maria, I have shaved all my whiskers off but a few on the point of my chin and they are one inch long.  The weather is very nice and warm.  We have got a little stove in our tent and it keeps us all warm.  I think we can winter here first rate.
 
Well Maria, Bill Ayers is bothering me so that I can’t write and I just told him to wait until I got done writing and then I would pay him off, but he is gone now and I will finish my letter.  We are all bad boys in this tent and we are all well.  Nothing more, I believe, but write soon and write a big letter.  Now I have to drill.
 
Goodbye, I remain your brother.
 

1. K.  Cleeland

 
Maria Cleeland