149th Pennsylvania Infantry - Bucktails - Captured at Weldon Railroad, VA

Item LTR-8032

Description

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


April 4th 1864

My Dear and Only Sister,

I received your kind welcome letter and was glad to hear from you that you were well. And I hope that you may remain so and your child also. But Adaline, I was sorry to hear that my little boy is sick. I have not heard from Mary for a few days and she said nothing about it. But I think that she did not want to let me know anything about it for fear I would trouble myself about it. But I expect to hear from her soon.

Your letter reached me well and I hope this will find you the same. And you said that if I did not get that money that I shant bother myself about it. For you had a paper that you could get it and his bounty and if you have, I am glad of that. For I can’t get it here. But I will try him again for it and see what he says about it. And you said that father wanted to know whether Henry Thomas lost his money by sending it by letters. Yes, he did. For I do all his writing and I put 20 dollar bill in the first letter and that was lost. It was sent to the Burg. And then I put 5.00 dollars in another letter and sent it to Pine Creek and that was lost. And then I put 7.00 in another letter and sent it to the Pine Creek and then I guess that is gone too. That is 32 dollars lost. But I can’t help it. I done my duty for him. But all is was sent home to Mary has gone to her safe and alright. And you said you got a letter from Will and he is well. I have got one from him. I wrote to and he answered it and answered his letter that evening. I would like to see him before I leave for home. For I expect to be at home for harvest. And I think that I will go back to Washington in a few days. That is the talk here now. And I think it is something of it for some have gone home that was drafted before we was. And their time is up.

Yes Adaline, I think I will be at home to see you all before long and all is well again. And I think I must stop my letter for it is getting late and you need not write anymore till I write again. For if we leave to leave here it may be that I would not get it. So goodbye for this time my dear Sister. Give my love to father and mother and to all you too. But I still remain your kind brother.

Tobias Edwards

To Adaline Davis

And tell mother I remember her last words when we parted. Goodbye to you all.