6th Pennsylvania Cavalry

Item LTR-5781

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages written in period ink.

Headquarters, 4th Corps
Harrison’s Landing, Virginia

July 19th 1862

Dear Miss Ella,

I really don’t know why I should write to you today. I have written twice since I heard from you last, and I have nothing particularly interesting to tell you. But if the egotism of the first five lines above does not intimidate you, and you still have courage to go on, I will try for your benefit to probe out the motives which activate my pen.

In the first place, it is cool, that is comparatively speaking; the sun has only shone for a few moments today, and the clouds have prolonged the refreshing influence of last evening’s rain, for lately we have had a series of most timely showers, tending greatly to our comfort and such has been our experience of hot days that I am determined to seize upon this intermission, rather than await the return of their fiery reign. And then I discover another reason which is more a whim than a reason; I want one more letter to reach you at home before you go away, which like the old shoe which Mrs. Grimeridge threw after her parting guest, may renew my good wishes and wish you God’s speed on your journey. Pray don’t criticize my simile too closely, or you may discover too great a resemblance to that worthless article and deserve all my apologies necessary for imposing upon your friendship & good nature. But you may remember in some of those abstruse and philosophical disquisitions we occasionally indulged in at home, I used to reserve to myself the prerogative of saying what I chose. So since I write as I talk, all my friends who are kind enough to let me write to them, must let me write where and what I please. Is the condition that I am “overcome with the heat” and asks me reproachfully whether I am sick and why I didn’t write and tell her all about it. I did write and requested her to threaten you with the most severe malines if you cause to frighten her again. My regards to Richard when you meet him. Who will take you on to Newport, your friend Mr. W., now that Mr. Clem Barclay is at Monroe?

Very truly Yours,
Wald Jackson

I shall expect a letter as soon as yours arrive.