168th Pennsylvania Infantry

Item LTR-11028

Description

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


Camp Curtin
Harrisburg
 
November the 5^th 1862
 
Mr. Ben and Rebecca Mars
 
Dear friend,
 
It is with much pleasure that I take my pen in hand to answer your kind letter which I got this morning.  I was glad to hear from you folks.  I am always glad to get letters from friends.  And especially from those that I have liked when I was with them.  Letters is a good thing for us.  If we did not get letters here I do not know what we would do here as it is a very dreary place to be.  We are shut up and can’t get on the outside of our lines without we get a pass from our officers which is harder to get at all times as six passes is all we can get a day. We are all well that you are acquainted with except the Captain.  He has got the fever and is pretty bad with it.  I suppose that you have heard of the five that has been sent home.  There is a great many cases of smallpox in camp now.  One of the sixteenth died last night.  It is nothing new to hear of death here as there is someone dying every day with camp fever.
 
We have very pleasant weather here now.  I don’t know what we would do if it was rough and cold.  We have not gotten winter quarters yet and don’t know when we will.  We have got tents now that will not turn rain.  I don’t know how they would turn the winter storm.  But when I tell the truth I think that this war has got to be a kind of speculation to men of office and they don’t care for the men that has got to stand the hard times.  If I would speak as I think, I would say that this war is making some men rich at the price of blood. But I need not tell you what I think as it will not make it any better.  We got that box today which your folks sent to us.  It was badly spoiled. I was glad to hear about that fuss that it was not so bad as it was reported to me by friends.  I hope that it is all over.  It is all over here now or at least I don’t hear the parties say anything about it. I have not much to write as we are not doing much but stand guard and drill.  We don’t know how long we will stay here.  We have got no arms yet. I must close this letter as my candle is nearly done and I must get to my bed or go where I call bed. Give my love to all the friends and be sure to keep plentifully to yourselves.  And speak a good word to the girls for me as I can’t get the chance to speak myself.  I have nothing more to say tonight but will bid you a good night.
 
I am your sincere friends and well wisher,
 
W. B. Mitchell
 
To Mr. Ben and Rebecca Mars