63rd Pennsylvania Infantry

Item LTR-8439

Description

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


Camp Hays
September 14, 1861

Dear Mother,

I received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear that you was well. This leaves me well and in good spirits.

Mr. Medley was here yesterday and brought the company some tobacco. A thing that we needed very bad. We were out on drill when he went away and I did not get to see him before he went away. But our captain told me that he was going to start away this morning. But he would be back here in a few days. He told me yesterday that if he went home, if he heard of a fight, it would not be long till he would be here to the tie up our fingers. He says that he could not content himself if he thought we were in danger. He says that he will try and make some of the other big men come with him. He says that if any of us gets wounded, we shall not suffer. For he will tend to us himself. So that we will have one friend to take care of us. But I hope we will not need any care. But I would like to see him with us if he can spare the time at home. You say that you have not got any money from him. Yet, he told me that the relief fund had round out and he was paying money out of his own pocket. But there will be arrangements made to pay money to our widows.

If you want anything, you can tell Jim Kelly, when he comes down. And he will get it for you. Old Mr. Kelly will not be there more than one week, I think. He wants to be there tomorrow night to be at a meeting at Braddor Fields to raise money for the soldier’s family. I have no doubt but that you will get what you want. But you will have to ask for it when you want it.

I have not much more to write at present. There is no news there that we hear that I suppose you have heard that General Rosecrans has cleaned the rebels out of Western Virginia. And that General McClellan will soon commence our Eastern Virginia. I don’t know whether we will be at that fight or not. But if we have to fight, the sooner we get at it, the better. But if it covers off very soon, we will not be in it. For our men are not well enough drilled to go into a battle. I have no more room to write anymore. But I will write more next time. Give my love to Lucy and Robert and J. Kelly and all the rest. No more at present.

From your son,

Frank Shafer

Write soon.