11th Pennsylvania Cavalry

Item LTR-338

Description

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

Near Williamsburg, Virginia
March 27th 1864

My Dear Wife,

I take the opportunity to drop a few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present time. And I hope when these few lines come to hand it will find you in the same state of good health. Further I will let you know that we start at Camp Catwallader on 22nd and marched down to the Berks and there we stand. On 23 and go to Baltimore and we arrived at Baltimore at 3 o’clock in the morning and then we take the Steam Boat on 24th and go down to Fort Monroe. And there we start the same day and go to Yorktown and we arrived there in the evening. There we walked about two miles. It rained the whole time and it was just about half foot deep and then we slept and stayed over night and then we started there in the morning and arrived in our Regiment about noon. Then we ran to get our grub. Further I let you know that I have drawn $73 dollars and I have sent $50 dollars to you. And your father shall fetch it. It is in Stroutsburg. I have sent it with the Adams Express Company and I didn’t pay the Express. You may pay it and you go and fetch it before you write.

And I hope you will print them things at home and I think much of you and of my little children. So I must come to a close for this time and you must excuse me for my bad spelling and writing. For I have no news at present to relate to you.

So this is from me.

William Smale

But don’t answer this before you get that money and as soon as you receive that money then you let me know it and direct your letter:

William Smale
Company D, 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Yorktown, Virginia

Further I will let you know that I have sent you $50.00 dollars and if you want it you may keep it all. And if you don’t want it all then you can lend your Father some of it. And if you please let me know if my Father has received that money from Bartholomew and if you haven’t received from my Father. And if you please send me twenty-five cent postage stamps. We cannot get any here. Further I will let you know that we have plenty to eat. We get in the morning and evening meat and bread and at noon we get bean and rice soup.