34th Pennsylvania Infantry & 9th Veteran Reserve Corps

Item LTR-6344

Description

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

Philadelphia
Tuesday, September 16th [1862]

Dear Father,

Yours of the 12th was just received. It is a great pleasure to know you are quite well. I was glad to receive the money as I want to get me some good woolen shirt before I return to my regiment and a quantity of writing material. My letters have been sent me from Washington once but it seems as though there should be more. I received one from you Saturday. But thinking you would not get the answer before Thursday next. I delayed writing. I think if Joseph had seen as many wounded men as I have, he would not have thought my leg was very bad. I shall probably be here 2 or 3 weeks yet. I saw B. A. Royce yesterday. He is some better but has no use of his legs yet. There is two more of our company here in this city detailed to work in hospitals. One of them is in this building and I never saw him until this morning. There is 12 more patients here. I could get detailed but wide out. When I cannot go with any regiment anymore I will come home. I see they have been engaged again under General Hooker. The papers speak complimentary of them. I would give everything imaginable to be with them and help chase the rebs out of Maryland. I see McClellan is giving them particular fits and if he cannot do it we have no General that can. You have no idea how he has won the confidence and esteem of the entire army. On the eve before the Battle of Malvern Hill, I saw him ride through a field that was strewn with wounded and dying and every man raised and cheered him that could. He passed by with head uncovered and a small countenance but told them to get to the landing and he would have them taken care of. And even then they held confidence in him when overpowering numbers of rebels were grilling us and the troops exhausted and no reserve or anything else to fall back on and our supplies all gone and all communication cut off from York River and still by his skillful Generalship massed his army and saved it from the clutches of the rebels. Still the newspaper slandered him and slurring the late battles in front of Washington. They had him reported a traitor called him a scoundrel and said he should be hung. He was reported arrested and everything else but whose army saved Washington and what caused all this cheering here last night why the good news from McClellan. I must drop this off discussed subject.

I have visited the Navy Yard and saw the Old Ironsides and several other gunboats. She is a formidable looking object and have been in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed. There is the old bell that rang the glad tidings over our land and the portraits of all its signers and some statues. I can’t get out of hospital early enough to visit the U.S. Mint. My paper warns me to close. My love to all.

From your affectionate Son,

G. M. Brown