36th Pennsylvania Infantry

Item LTR-613

Description

4 pages, original Civil War Union letter written in period ink and war dated.

Camp Hunt, VA

November 20th 1861

Dear Brother,

Having my work all finished and alone I will write you a few lines to let you know what is going on in this vile region. I have been writing a part of the day and in fact since yesterday morning for the captain until now. I am done. The whole division except one Brigade (4 regiments) have gone out to Balls Crossroads, to a review about twelve miles from here, and perhaps for a battle. It is supposed that they with fifty thousand more will make an attack out there somewhere. It is also reported that there is a review there today consisting of 60,000 people. I doubt it some. I hear the old cannons roar over there now. Our regiment started this morning before daylight each taking 40 rounds of cartridges with them and their knapsacks, also provisions for two days. The rebels captured thirty-one of our men out there the other day who were our foraging. They went outside of our pickets. We are having some very cold weather here, though we have not suffered from it yet. If you could see what a nice little house I am sitting in now, you would think we were all right. Though not everybody has a good a place as we have. Tell Rebecca I received her letter and that she must be a good girl and wash the dishes clean. Then when I come home I will bring her something. I could read her letter quite easy but I guess somebody helped her to spell. I expect you have seen L. Stevens before this time and have heard more than I can tell you. I will stop until morning as the mail may not go out tomorrow.

Thursday morning.

Our fellows came back last night without a fight. The review was at Munson’s Hill, about six miles from here. I will send you a paper giving an account of it.

The mail is ready to go out and I will have to close.

I remain as ever your affectionate brother,

R. Wilson

That is all a lie about John Harrison.

Mr. Chas. Wilson
Huntington