81st Pennsylvania Infantry

Item LTR-9105

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 2 pages, written in period ink.


Saturday Nov 30, 1861
Near Fort Worth Virginia

Dear Martha,

I take pen in hand to let you know that I am well and in good health hoping that this will find you the same. We have moved from Good Hope to Virginia. I see it is reported in the papers that the 36th Regiment is all cut up but that is all fudge. We are all alive and kicking awaiting for future glory etc, etc, etc, and I suppose that we will soon have a chance to show ourselves before long. We came near being caught in a trap the other day when we went in the cars to Springfield about a mile and a half from Manassas Gap. We sent out a scouting party when they came across a similar party from the rebels. After exchanging a few shots they both retreated, when we sent out another party we following right after when we had not proceeded far before we met our scouts who said that the enemy were in sight and that they were about 20,000 strong and so we though it wiser to retreat as we were only 5,000 strong. So no more at present as I am in a hurry.


Your Brother,

Jas C. McKernan