135th Pennsylvania Infantry

Item LTR-6758

Description

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


Casparis Hospital, Washington
February 8, 1863

Dear Sister,

I now am seated for the purpose of writing you a few lines. I received your letter in due time. I was very glad to hear of your good health. I am enjoying very good health again, but you must excuse a short letter this time, as I was on duty last night and I feel somewhat sleepy and am not in good thinking condition.

I have just got back from the Provost Marshall’s office, from taking the morning reports up. It is nearly three miles from here. The walk and the loss of sleep makes me a little dull. I was counting on going to church in the Congress Hall, but I found it would be of no use to go and sleep in so expensive a building. It is a very nice place to go to church. They have a splendid organ and get up some very good music, but still it don’t suit me like the old choir of Saltsburg. There is no loss for church in this city. You can hear the bells ringing in every direction.

H. H. White came back from the army. He was in camp one day, but I did not get seeing him but he told some of our boys that Banks is well and in good spirits. You spoke of the Reserves coming to guard the city. Well, there is some rumor of them coming to the forts near the city, but not to patrol the streets. But if they should come, I suppose that some would get sick and others would like to be at home or some other place.

Since writing the above, I heard the Reserves were at Alexandria and that they will be up tomorrow. If they are there, I can see the transports from the hospital window. I will find out this evening and if they stay here, I will go down and see them. I have just been over to camp, and I seen I. N. Akeright, who was down as a guard to Convalescent Camp near Alexandria and he said that they were there somewhere, but he did not see any of them. He saw David Fruc in the Convalescent Camp. As soon as I find out where they are for sure, I will write to you. John W. Robinson is at the ferry on his way home. He has got his discharge at last; a good thing he much needed.

Well Tillie, there has some of our recruits came on yesterday evening. They are from the north end of the county. I have not seen them yet.

Tillie, I sent my last letter home with Mr. Weaver, which I hope you have got before this time. He did not start the day I thought he would after I wrote the letter. I went and got a picture taken which I sent home with him. It was a little shaded on the forehead, but that could not be helped, as I got it taken with my sword on, just as I am on duty. But as it is, you can tell what I am.

Well Tillie, I must bring this letter to a close, as I have wrote more now than I thought I would when I commenced. Tell Mother that we board in the hospital. They have cooks to do the work. All we have to do is when the bugle sounds, is to go and get our meal and then get up and go away again. Just the same as if we was boarding in a hotel. They draw our rations and we get them cooked, so we have no chance of saving anything. I like the system much better than to do your own cooking. Nothing more, but remain your affectionate brother,

C. Hart