155th Pennsylvania Infantry - NEW

Item LTR-11987

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 8 pages, written in period ink.


Half a mile from Fort Ellsworth
6 miles from Washington
September 10^th 1862
 
Friend Cornie,
 
Well, here I am in Dixie, encamped on the side of a hill on the ground with my knapsack for a desk, and the sun pouring down, for we have no tents and there are no trees on the ground. We arrived here last evening at 10 o'clock, but I think I had better go back to Pittsburgh and take a fair start. We left Pittsburgh at 9 o'clock.
 
Part of the company and I were in an open freight car next to the engine, the smoke and soot coming in pretty thick. It was a coal-burning engine, and such a dirty set as we were in the morning, you never saw. Just like coal diggers. We got to Harrisburg next morning at 10:00. Spent the day in town getting our arms and equipment.
 
Spent the night and next day at Camp Curtin, and at midnight of Friday, left in freight cars for Baltimore. The weather was beautiful, and Lieutenant [John] Markle and I rode about 20 mi on the cow catcher. It was grand. I shall do so every time I get the chance.
 
We arrived at Washington Saturday night. I had a piece of bread for supper, slept in barracks near the depot, had a very good breakfast of coffee, bread, and fresh beef, walked around the city until 11 o'clock, and then started to march to Camp Chase. We crossed the long bridge and got to camp at three. It was very warm and dusty, and we had nothing until Tuesday morning but crackers and pork.
 
Indeed, we had had no regular meal after we left home, except dinner at Harrisburg and breakfast at Washington. But “who wouldn't be a soldier.“  I have not felt hungry or real tired since I left.
 
Monday, our tents arrived, and we had just got fixed when yesterday afternoon, the order came to sling knapsacks, strike tents, and march. We started at 6:00, marched 8 mi, arriving here at 10:00. We slept in the open air. I would rather do so than sleep in tents as long as the weather is pleasant.
 
We had plenty of room. The road was very dusty, and as we were the third company from the rear, there was a perfect cloud of dust. We were covered from head to foot.
 
You would certainly have laughed if you had seen me. We run each other some about such things, digging ditches, et cetera, but for my part, I think we are better friends for it.
 
There, I had to stop and prepare to receive rain. We had no tents and had to cover our rifles and ammunition, of which we received 40 rounds to each man today. It rained slowly for half an hour and then cleared up. Our tents came at seven, but the wagon with ours is upset a quarter mile from camp, and we had to go out and carry them in, and then pitch them by moonlight.
 
It was a beautiful scene: the mule teams and white wagons, the men running to and fro with noise and bustle, and the scene lit up by candles. The cook fires and the silvery sheen of waving moon. We are expecting orders to march every minute. Where to, I have not the slightest idea.
 
From the hill above Camp Chase, we had a fine view of the Potomac, Washington City, et cetera, but here we see nothing. The forts of which we heard so much a year ago are all around us. They are kept in perfect order, except that some of the guns have been taken away. The trees are all cut down where they might obstruct the range of the guns.
 
The country is beautiful, but ruin and desolation reign. No moving thing is seen except soldiers, baggage wagons, and ambulances. We are just back of Alexandria, and several women and girls have been in camp with pies, etc., but a look at them is enough for me.
 
I was appointed orderly sergeant at Harrisburg. My position is the hardest in the company. I have very little time except after six in the evening, but I would rather be busy than lying idle half of the time, playing cards, etc..
 
I like camp life so far very well. The novelty may wear off in time and get to be a story, but I expect to make the best of it and not get downhearted. I have many things to remind me of those left behind, one of which, a photograph, does remind me of one whose best wishes I know I carry with me while in Virginia's “bloody soil.” One with whom I connect my dearest recollections. I had no opportunity to thank you, Corny, for your photograph and accompanying note, but I do so now. I expected to have seen you again and thanked you in person, but we left very suddenly. I wanted to say goodbye in a less abrupt manner, but I consider myself very fortunate in seeing you at all.
 
I intended to have asked you to write to me, but I can do so now. I had no idea of speaking of it as I did at your gate, but we'll let that pass. I am writing in my tent with my candle between two shoes for a candlestick. So, under the circumstances, I hope you will excuse my bad handwriting, blots, etc.. But it is 11 o'clock. I must write to Father, go to sleep, and be up at reveille at half past five to call the roll.
 
Remember me very kindly to your father and mother and sisters, and if this unworthy scroll deserves an answer, address:  Orderly H. A. Breed, care of Captain John Markle, Company F, 155th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, (Colonel Allen's Regiment) Washington DC.
 
And believe me, your sincere friend, 
 
Henry A. Breed
 
P.S. Near Fort Worth, September 11, 1862. I had intended to send this letter this morning, but at half past one this morning, Colonel Allen woke me up and ordered me to have the men pack their knapsacks and prepare to march. The regiment was drawn up, and we loaded our rifles with ball and started. Marched 3 miles to this place, arriving at daylight. We had breakfast at 4:00 this afternoon.
 
I am beginning to see something of a soldier's life. This morning it rained hard, but I put on my overcoat, laid down on the wet ground, and slept two hours. We are in a large level field and can see the Capital. Not a fence to be seen, all having been used for firewood.
 
Colonel Clark's regiment from Allegheny is just now over the road from us. One of the officers told me that we would probably stay here two or three days, and then go out to the front of the army, and either do picket duty or dig rifle pits. (now laugh). I have tried to find out where Will and Albert Dilworth's regiment is, but can learn nothing about them. Our tents have come and we are comfortable again, but I fear I have written too much already of such uninteresting matter.
 
So, good night. 
 
Henry