2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery

Item LTR-8679

Description

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


Fort Lincoln
May 14, 1862

Mr. J. G. Girton

Dear Friend,

Hank was writing to you this morning again and I could not content myself in looking in so I came to the conclusion that I would scribble a few lines to you to let you know that I am still in the land of the living and enjoying good health and hope you are the same. I would like most Blaine well to be up there a while to help plant corn and jerk the women. It appears to me I could fetch them around the sharp corners till their tails would crack. We have been having the times this week you had better believe the Captains of the two companies here bought us a sieve to catch fish with. Monday afternoon some of the boys went to try it. They caught pretty near two hundred and Tuesday towards night some more of us went. Since I was with them, we caught 175. All herring. Like the ones you get up there in barrels. Yesterday morning we were ordered out with knapsacks. All cleaned up in order again. Eight o’clock we were marched to Headquarters and there the whole regiment was to be inspected by two Captains of General Doubleday’s staff. Old Company H came off number 1. They were drilled the best and looked the best every way. After we got back each one of us got 40 rounds of ball cartridges and were ordered to keep in readiness to march at an hour’s notice. We express there will be something done before long. There are 12 thirty-two prisoners in our Fort and we expect 11 rifled cannons every day to be mounted in Old Fort Lincoln. After we get all these fixtures. It will hurry the rebels to get through. It is reported here this morning that Lieutenant Strawbridge is going to resign. We would all be very sorry if it should be. But I hope it will not be so. It is raining this morning and everything looks dreary. But we are used to it and like such weather. For we have no drill and we can lay in the tents and have fun. Which we have plenty of every day, rain or shine. The pretty girls are darn scarce right here. But at Bladensburg they are pretty plenty. For all the boys have joined the rebel army.

I forgot to tell you that yesterday after we were mustered in, again for ten months pay which I expect we will get before long. I am afraid if we ever get back, we will be such devils there will be no living with us. For we don’t care what we say or do. Nearly every morning when we get up, there are bones in the beds stuck to our bellys and sometimes our short tails feel pretty greasy before, where the marrow seeps out of the bone while we are asleep. Some bones are pretty big but some are most days little and black. You won’t dare to share this to any girls or else you will have a joint share with them. That will go in at their mouth which I know you would not like. But if you can’t get along without it all I can tell you is to jump on and take a little. Just for the fun of the thing.

Without old fletch don’t quit going with Southhall. She will have more in her belly than went down her throat. But I guess I will have to stop for you will get tired of reading what I have written.

So goodbye.

From your second best friend. For Hank says he is the best but I can’t be much better than I am,

George McEwen
112th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers
Washington, DC

When you write, you can do it separate or all together. Just as you please go it Old Hoss.