195th Pennsylvania Infantry - NEW

Item LTR-11990

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 2 pages, written in period pencil.


Washington City
September 4^th 1865
 
Dear Sister,
 
Your welcome letter dated the 27th was received in due time and read with pleasure. I shall now answer it, but hardly know what to write. The weather is very hot and also very dry until last night. There was a thunder gust which cooled off a little.
 
I suppose you have opened your school by this time. I hope you have a good one. I must tell you a little about the bloody 195th, as we call it. Colonel Fisher has had some trouble with it since we have been here. The men expected when they came here to be discharged, but find it the contrary. Instead of Fisher trying to get his regiment out of the service, he is trying to keep it in.
 
The men have got up a petition and sent it into the War Department to have the regiment discharged. I do not know whether it will have any effect or not. When Fisher heard of it, he was very angry about it. He gave us a great lecture. He said when we enlisted, we received large bounties and now want to go home, looks very much as if we enlisted for mercenary motives.
 
He also says work is very scarce about home, and there are many men who could not make a living. I don't suppose there is a man in the regiment but what could make a better living at home than Fisher can. I believe he has the ill will of every private in the regiment.
 
I must stop writing for the present, as the sheet is full. Write soon. 
 
From your brother, 
 
W. S. L. 
 
Mother, please send me a couple of dollars in your next letter if you have the change.
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