139th Illinois Infantry

Item LTR-9598

Description

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


Camp Lyon, Peoria, Ill
May 26th 1864

My dear wife,

Your kind letters have come to hand one by Mr. Chapman and one by mail and with those written by Freddie have been joyfully received and read. I have written several times to you both and I mean to keep you more positive about matters here. We are getting along fine. Everything seems to go right so far as our Company is concerned. The boys are pleasant and though some of them seem to be somewhat reckless and to have thrown off home restraints. Yet upon the whole they behave quite as well as we could have reason to expect. The prayer meetings are kept up every Wednesday and the attendance is good. The member from the company are good. Many of them attend very regularly and pay good attention. I cannot think of all that were there last evening but will mention a few. Lts Foury and Angrier, Abner & Will Collins, Dexter Bruce, Phillip Lamb, Bicknide, Wetherington boys, etc, etc.. The Peoria people take a great interest in matters of the camp. Day before yesterday a gentleman who is acting with the Christian Home rode through camp and distributed a lot of 2pt tin cans of Horseradish, prepared for us. He left 2 cans with each company. We shall undoubtedly remain here another Sabbath and perhaps more. I wrote you by Mr. Reede you had not better stay in Lee Moiller longer than necessary to make your arrangements. Yesterday I got from town some brown doilling (unbleached) and with the aid of driff porter made me 4 small sacks for the purpose of carrying sugar, salt, etc.. I sewed them up strong & ran a string in the top, so that I expect to find them quite handy.

The things that you sent were quite acceptable. The cookies were excellent. Will you tell Mrs. Fassett that I thank here very much for the cheese. It is excellent and is a great addition to our camp fire. I trust that I feel truly grateful for the kind friends that we have in Leansville and for the many acts of kindness that we have received at their hands. Remember me kindly to her. Mr. Fassett and Hattie. Tell Mr. Howard that I felt very sorry that I did not see him when I left. Give him my regards and remember me to all the friends. I cannot name them all but will mention Abners, Samuel, Benedicts, Oldi, Mr. Frey, Ader, Mary and Jim. My love to the girls. I am glad they are kind and thoughtful. It must be a comfort to you and is gratifying to me. Hattie, Esther, Mary and all. But I shall think of them all quite often. I am glad that Esther is intending to write. I will certainly answer her letter. I did not mention Abner’s name in my letter because I forgot it. He was writing at the same time that I had written. Abner seems to be doing well.

He is a good boy and I am glad to be able to say that he is very very noticed in his attendance at our meetings. You speak about my getting letters. Must say truly that you mention that I should feel bad if I did not receive letters when others did. But I thank you and Freddie very much for writing to me as you have.

Your affectionate Husband
David Hall

I did not think that I would speak to Cleovis at all but when I left the girls I could not help it and she seemed glad that I did speak to her. I felt as though I did not want to part in anger with a single person. I did not read my letter over and do not know whether you can read them when I write them over this way or not. If you have any trouble you must say so and I will not write so any more.