40th Pennsylvania Infantry - Twice Wounded

Item LTR-6975

Description

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


Headquarters, 11th Regiment
Washington
Camp Indiana
Company B

July 30th 1861

Mr. William Boyle

Dear Sir,

We arrived here safe on Friday evening, the 26th inst, and are now encamped in a nice grove near Washington City. We are all well, except two of us, who have the measles. We hope you are all well and getting along right well, with your harvest. There are about 180 thousand men around this City. All equipped for service. We expect an awful battle near here inside of a month. If we are whipped again, we will try it again. We are bound to conquer or die. I must tell you how we faired between Camp Wright and here. We were treated with all the cheers and kind treatment that a people could tender to soldiers of any class. Things were a little quiet in Baltimore, not much was said about “union or secesh.” We are right in the heart of our enemies. There are hundreds and thousands of them on all sides of us. The 3rd P.R.C that is. The 3rd Regiment captured a real snakish looking rebel last night. We do not know what may be done with him yet, as he has had no trial yet. As I have nothing strange to tell you, in closing hoping that you will not fail to write and when you do to tell us all about old Camp Wright, how many men are there and so forth. We all took another oath which calls us now, into the U.S. Service for 3 years unless sooner discharged. Don’t fail to write soon and give us all the particulars.

Yours truly,

Samuel Carbaugh

My address:

Samuel Carbaugh
Company B, 11th Regiment P.R.C.
Washington, DC

In care of Colonel T. F. Gallagher