41st Pennsylvania Infantry

Item LTR-8037

Description

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

Camp McCall
August 20, 1861

My Dear Wife,

I take the present opportunity of writing a few lines to you to inform you where I am and how I am getting along. I am well at present and hope these few lines may find you in the same state of health. We are encamped at present about 7 miles below Washington close to the chain bridge on the Potomac River. We have a very bad place for our encampment. It being a stubble field and the wet weather causes it to be very muddy. It has rained every day since we left Camp Curtin which was on last Saturday a week and it has very little appearance of clearing up yet.

To take everything into consideration we get used very badly. We get three hard crackers a day and feel very proud in sitting down to such a meal as that. Who wouldn’t be a soldier besides we get a little black coffee once in a while and that is made so strong that it would carry an iron wedge.

We have a very comfortable place to sleep in. We have six of us to crowd in a tent – about 6 feet square and the wet weather makes it have a very soft floor and we have to crowd on top of one another at night to keep the rain off which comes through our tent. Now I would like to know who wouldn’t be a soldier.

The whole regiment was out on picket about 7 miles from camp. We had a very pleasant time and all got back to camp safe. We have no drilling to do on account of the wet weather. But will have to go at it when it clears up.

I wrote a letter to you before I left Camp Curtin and never got an answer. I heard that you were sick and have not heard of you since. I do not know whether you got it or not, but I want you to write as soon as you get this and let me know how you are getting along. We may have to march to another camp before long but our letters are sent after us. We do not expect to get into a fight soon and we all expect to eat our dinners at home on Christmas and have a good spree. But still they are making preparations if anything happens. They have over a hundred at work every day when the weather is fit, chopping down trees apple trees and everything that comes in the way. But I do not expect to see any fighting for a while. I will bring my letter to a close by wishing you well and hope you will write as soon as you get this for I would be very glad to hear from you. I hope that things will soon be settled and that I may reach home safe again. No more at present but remain yours until death.

Levi Akins
To Lucinda Akins






P.S.
I would like to be at home again with you to rest in your arms. I know we would have a good time. I hope the time is not far distant when we will meet again never to part until death. But we must both be in good heart and not lament. And when I get home we will tend to the pictures. Good bye cheer up for who wouldn’t be a soldier. L. Akins

Direct your letters to
Levi Akins
Company G
12th Regiment
Washington, DC
In care of Captain Diven