71st Pennsylvania Infantry - Wounded at Spotsylvania

Item LTR-278

Description

4 page original Civil War soldier's letter, written in period ink and war dated.

Camp near Mountain Run, VA

March 6th 1864

Dear Friend George,

Your long expected letter of the 27th came safe to hand. I would have answered it before this but could not concentrate my mind to writing. Indeed I feel very little like doing so at present. But I expect every minute to hear the spicy and exhilarating piece of information. Jim, Your for picket in the morning. If such should prove to be the case your humble servant would not be able to write for 4 to 5 days. As you must know, we remain 3 days on picket for 24 hours. After our return, we don’t feel writing the most pleasing way of spending the fleeting moments. In reference to our recruits, as yet our company has not received any. As a general thing, the new men are clean and soldierly in appearance. Yesterday about 20 who had served in the rebel army were sent away. It is supposed they will be sent to Pope to fight the Indians. This is no more than right, as they are not always to be trusted on picket. And even in case of being captured in battle, they would be either shot or hung by the rebs. On last muster day, our Regiment paraded about 300 muskets. We look remarkably well and in numbers looked like a young Brigade. I think we have about the tidiest and most regular camp in the Division. Our men have recently look with more favor on the subject of re-enlisting. About 40 have already done so. Some 4 in our Company, Gilliam, Butterworth, Hays and Owens. So has W. Watson, who is at present Orderly Sergeant of Company E. He, I suppose, has strong inducements for doing so. We continue to have very interesting meetings at the Brigade Chapel. Our Chaplain has commenced a singing school, which is very well attended. The class meets on Monday and Friday evenings. On Tuesday evenings we have lectures. Last Tuesday Chaplain Collins delivered one on the philosophy of reading history. Our Chaplain delivers the next and his subject will be spirit rappings. He preached a splendid sermon this morning on 2nd Cor., 4th Chapter, 3rd verse. We had excellent singing. The chapel was filled with Uncle Sammy’s nephews and one niece, a very interesting young lady. She looked like a pretty flower amongst weeds. I tell you we feel proud of our chapel. It is really a cozy little place and we appreciate its comfort. On Sunday evenings we have our Bible class. Chaplain Collins presides. As you are aware, he is more or less of a universalist. He has hard times dodging a certain dogma but I must say he never intrudes his peculiar views but exhorts in such a manner that the most evangelical could not find fault with his manner of presenting gospel truths. Rimbaugh has recently sent me McClellan’s report. It is a very interesting document and doubly so to those who took an active part in his campaigns. Although our regiment took on one occasion a very prominent part, yet no mention is made of it. I allude to “Peach Orchard” in the report the place is called “Allen’s Farm”. Another regiment gets the credit but this is nothing unusual. As a regiment we have never had the fortune or the misfortune to be a newspaper regiment. So we need not think strange of the omission. I think Uncle Sammy should be more energetic about the draft. By putting it off from time to time, we are loosing the most favorable season for active operations.

The new men ought to be in the ranks now so that they might be drilled and in good order for active service. You know this can’t be done in a few days. It seems as if the government did not know its own mind about the matter and was anxious to please certain parties than to bring this war to a speedy issue. The draft ought to have been put in force months ago. Then we would have been ready to assume offensive operations with good prospects of success. If something more energetic is not done to recruit the army, I am of the pinion the coming campaign will be rendered almost futile. From old evil scarcity of men, in every battle of the way we have had to contend against superior numbers under such circumstances. It will take years to crush the rebel military power.

I was sorry that your sickness deprived you of your intended visit to Wharton Street S. S. Our folks have moved to Number 1104 Lenzt Street below Federal Street. Please call when you again visit the city. Don’t you think you ought to follow the example of your cavalry friend and take unto yourself a rib? But please leave a spare rib or two for your old messmates. Please write soon and remember me to all inquiring friends. All the boys are well and wish to be remembered.

J. McE