178th Pennsylvania Infantry

Item LTR-7157

Description

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


Yorktown
January 24, 1863

Dear Friend
Dear Sir,

It being Saturday and having no drilling this afternoon, I will devote a few moments in giving you the news of Camp Yorktown and Company G. In the first place it is dull and has been for the last three or four days. It has not rained much but we have had a very hard wind storms. On the 16th the wind was so that the boats had to anchor in the harbor. It blew so hard that we thought every moment that our house would tumble or be carried off in the air. There were three of the tents of the company turned up side down. It makes an awful mess. It took all as busy as hatters to keep them from being carried away by the wind. The boys on the right of us are busily engaged stockading their tent. This makes quite an improvement. It makes almost twice as much room when they get these done. We will be right well fixed. Most all have bunks to sleep on. Those that have not have boards. This will do right well for a soldier. Much better than I expected to have it after leaving Harrisburg. This we can hardly expect to last.

I have nothing new to tell you as we have the same thing over and over from day to day and week to week except battalion drill. In this drill we have something new almost every time. I like to have a change in drill as well as any. This is interesting to me. Most all like this drill. Our pickets brought three rebels in yesterday. They say that there is no more than fifty pickets out along the line between the White House and river. The General does not trust them. It is supposed by most of the men they left them selves be taken for to see how strong a force we have and how well fortified and where the weakest places are. They so entice our pickets to go up with them and they would tell them where to go to take them. But we have been caught in too many such traps to trust it. We think their intentions was to get all information they could and then get our men to send out a small party of men with them to take these pickets and they would have enough to take us. They will miss it this time. They will be kept where they will do no injury to no one for a while.

Was it a little like the man our men caught throwing rockets as a signal. They do not trust any of them anymore. Last night there was one man brought in I know not where from. There is one brought in almost every night. I received a letter from C. A. Follner last night. He spoke about you attending their singing he said he did not attend any place but at home. I can believe as much as I please of it. For you and him write about the same. I received a letter from my old friend A. Montgomery last night. He told me all about what was going on for the last three months and perhaps a little more. From what he says you young people must have fine times this winter. You wished to know whether I got around some of the stock. Tell Charley there is nothing but darkeys in this place and them I hate worse than a blacksnake.

So do most all the soldiers. So you see there is no chance. The Generals and Colonels are about all the persons that have women here. These are all the women I have seen since I came to Yorktown. The most numerous things that is in this place is rats and n****s. You may go where you can see the rats and n****rs running. The fort is just livid with them. It beats all for rats I ever saw. It is nothing to go out at any time and knock one over. The fort appears to be adapted to the dark colored race. I saw an Ox team this morning.

The health of the Company is generally good. Exceptions are some friends have the camp disease. The Captain and 2d Lieutenant have not been well for the last week but nothing serious. The Colonel received orders last that he could have his choice to go to Baltimore, Washington City or Philadelphia from this. I suppose we will have to leave this place. Most of the regiment would rather stay here as far as I can hear. You need not keep your things so close for I hear from you once and a while. Anyhow let me know some of your adventures at least that is with the fair sex.

It would do any heart good to have the pleasure of spending an hour, yes half that time with a lot of our hometown girls. I have not spoke to a girl since I left Harrisburg. I must close or you will get tired of reading this nonsense tonight. Do give my best respects to all the family.

Yours with pleasure,
C. D. Levan

Excuse this C. A Wagner

Direct to Yorktown VA, Company G, 178th PA

The Colonel’s wife and daughter arrived at this place this evening. I tell you it made the Colonel feel good. He gave them both a sense, like we would want to meet them.

If you see my woman please tell them I am well and feel lively.