30th & 104th Pennsylvania Infantry - Wounded at Fair Oaks

Item LTR-5077

Description

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

Camp Todd
Annapolis Junction
August 25th 1861

Darling Wife,

Your letter of the 23rd inst. was received yesterday. You have no idea my sweet wife how happy it makes me to receive letters from you so often. If it was not for your darling, dear missives, my life, as a soldier, would become burdensome I think. I have the dearest and most attentive wife living. She seems to anticipate all my wants and wishes. When I am sad and low-spirited, which by the way, is very often, a letter from her reaches me and for the time being I am happy. To be candid with you beloved, I am satisfied that I did wrong in leaving you for the war. It grieves me very much that you should be so depressed in spirits and grieve so much for my absence. Do not do it darling. It makes us both unhappy. Be cheerful and look forward to a speedy reunion. You will soon have other cares to occupy your mind. Our infant, if God in his mercy should permit it to live, will be a great source of comfort to you in my absence. Your mind will be occupied and with the cares and wants of the infant and I in a measure be forgotten. Yes, darling, I will visit you when sick if I should be cashiered for it. I told major Todd, in a conversation some days ago, that if my wife should become sick and I could not get a furlough to visit her, I would go anyhow, let the consequences be what they would. He said he would do the same thing. It would not bring disgrace on me darling but would raise me in the estimation of my fellow officers and all who knew the circumstances.

There is a report current in camp that we are to be sent to Washington on Wednesday next to join General McCall. For my part I don’t think such is the case. General McCall wants us and General Dix and Colonel Roberts don’t want us to go. They have been fighting over our removal for some time. I must say I would much rather remain here than go to Washington and remain in camp for a long time, as we would have to do if there is the hot sun, without shade. If we are to remain in camp this is a pleasant place to be encamped. One has a good chance to see their friends as they pass in the cars. The mails are regular and we have plenty to eat and plenty to do. It is a much pleasanter place than Annapolis. You see I have changed my notions of this place lately.

Yesterday, Sergeant Cope of my company was shot accidentally by Bayard Shellady. He was wrestling with another man and had his pistol in his pocket and in turning over the pistol went off, the ball entering Cope’s hip, who was standing nearby. The wound is not dangerous but it may lame him for life. Cheyney took him to Annapolis to have the ball extracted. The day before two men of the Wisconsin Regiment stationed near us got into a quarrel when one of them was shot and it is supposed mortally wounded. The ball entered his stomach and came out at his hip. He is still living but Dr. Breneman who attends him says he will die. He is in the hospital right back of my tent and his groans at night are very distressing.

Tell Watts to do his best to get us out of this regiment. It appears that I am not the only one that is anxious to be transferred. Captain Barton and Captain Neff are working for the same thing. They are anxious to get into Colonel Hambright’s Regiment now forming in Lancaster County. You can say to Watts that other influences are at work beside his to affect our transfer. Tell him also that in case I should be so fortunate as to be attached to his regiment, I will show him a company that can’t be beat in drilling and that the majority of the men composing it are gentlemen.

I see an order from the Adjutant General of the United States to the effect that all the volunteers are to be paid off the 1st of the month and every two months thereafter. If such should prove true, I will send you more money. I hope what I have sent you will purchase what you want for the present. I paid all charges on the package I sent you. Hope you did not pay also.

Oh, if I could only be with you. I would be so happy. God bless you and unite us soon.

Your loving husband,

John

N. B. I don’t think I will take the small pox, having been so lately vaccinated. My love to Watts and Annie.

I can’t make out the question you ask. It is written in lead pencil and reads something like this: “Who is Mests?” Please enlighten me.