88th Pennsylvania Infantry - Wounded at the Wilderness

Item LTR-519

Description

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

Camp Ricketts
Manassas Junction
June 27th 1862

Esteemed Friend

I take the pleasure to send a few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present and I find you the same in your letter, which I received on the 21st and I was well pleased to hear from you. And I am sorry to hear that Anthony Rhoads is wounded and also that John Zimmerman is killed. Well he died for his country and I am willing to do the same but I don’t believe we will ever see a battle. We did not see any so far but we came pretty near it one time when we were at Front Royal. We were formed in a line of battle but General McDougal would not let us go on. I think he was afraid we would come in a fight. I can’t tell you much just now about the lines. For we ain’t doing anything just now. We are laying still. We expect to lay here for a good while. We will get new clothes in a few days. We have plenty of everything here. We can’t complain at all. I hope the war will be over before long. For I am getting tired of it for it is a lazy life. If we ever get home, we will be lazy to work. It will go hard with us. I think I will now close by sending my best respects to you and all inquiring friends.

Yours,

Jonathan Wiser

Direction

Private Jonathan Wiser
Washington, DC
Company H, 88th Pennsylvania Volunteers

In care of Captain D. A. Griffith