1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery - Battery G

Item LTR-6371

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 3 pages written in period ink.


Headquarters Battery G, 1st PA Light Artillery
Maryland Heights, December 18, 1864

My friend Edna,

I trust you will pardon me for using this large sheet to answer your very welcome epistle of the 7th December; but really my only apology is the want of a smaller one. We have just entered new quarters and our arrangements for correspondence as well as business is very imperfect – am I forgiven for this breach of etiquette?
I need not say I was pleased to hear from you for, strangers though we are. I became interested in the correspondence began in this rather romantic manner, especially as the fair unknown is a resident of my native State which is indeed ever dear to me. As you say, there is no place like home! Go where we may, meet with scenes and kindest friends God has vouch safe to man, and still we revert with the most pleasurable emotions to the happy scenes of gone days when we gathered around the hearthstone and beneath the old Rooftree that sheltered us in our childhood. O live well and fully the lamented Howard Payne appreciated the sweets of home when he composed those immortal lines “Home Sweet Home” himself an exile. How well he could describe the lone wanderer, far from any native land, amid a rough unlettered people, who it seemed to me never knew the secrets of the human heart: with its pine and delicate feelings. I did and often think of those dear ones I left behind! Yea, my heart went out to them and my yearning soul treasured up every kind word or tender smile that had been bestowed on me in the happy days when basked in the joyous sunlight of their love.

I am glad you can understand those feelings and have a just appreciation of a wanderers love of Home. In responding to your advertisement, I had no other object in view than forming the acquaintance of a lady from the “Old Granite State” who loved her country and its defenders enough to contribute to their happiness, by tendering a correspondence that can but be cheering and advantageous to him as he toils on behalf of the noble institutions our fathers bequeathed us and the no less noble principle of freedom Justice and Right. That God may bless all such kindhearted and sympathizing girls is the prayer of one who humbly endeavors to sustain our Glorious Country and the lofty principles involved.

Your excellent epistle shows that you are a person capable of giving utterance to words of comfort and cheer in a language that speaks directly to the heart and I sincerely trust you may find some merit in my humble letter or that your own kind heart may prompt you to continue the correspondence for my sake.

It could be useless to tell you what I am: my letters must my vouchers. Their language must be the key to my heart and your own judgement must tell you whether or not I am a fit person for your acquaintance. The language of self-praise is common to all and is easily spoken and I will not indulge in the use of it even under existing circumstances.

If you see fit to favor me with a regular correspondence, you will find me prompt and under all circumstances gentlemanly toward you. Allow me to make a suggestion. It is natural you know to have a desire to see our friends and I suggest therefore that we exchange photographs with the assurance that the favor will be respected as though we were personally known to each other. I am having some made and if the proposal meets your approbation you shall see the soldier who solicits the favor.

One thing more, I have no good reason to withhold my real name and therefore take great pleasure hoping to hear from you soon in subscribing myself.

Your friend with great respect,

Alfred W. Metcalf
Battery G, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery
Harper’s Ferry, VA

Miss Edna Shepard
Holderness, NH