116th Pennsylvania Infantry - Irish Brigade - Wounded at Gettysburg

Item LTR-9981

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 3 pages, written in period ink.


Camp Near Stephensburg

August 9th 1864

Dear Wife,

I received your letter of the 5th which gave me great pleasure seeing that you and all the family are in good, as this leaves me in at present. Thank God for his mercies to us all.

My dear wife, we are laying in camp since the last letter I wrote you. We got orders to move camp this morning. We had all our things packed up and then the order was countermanded. So, we are in our old camp yet. But we don’t know how long. We thought we would be in Washington before this time. We heard we were going to the defenses of that department. I don’t know whether we will go or not. If we do, I will let you know all about it. Things are very quiet at present, except a few shells fired in the course of the day and night along the picket line. We don’t have any things at present. But I don’t know how long it will last.

Let me know if you heard from Bernard yet and how he is. In your next letter, I wish you would send me their enlistment papers that I left in the drawer. You can fold them up and send then in an envelope to me. As I can’t get the description of the men. Without them the Colonel lost all the rest of my papers and can’t get the description of any of my men for the want of them.

The Colonel is here at present. He only came on a visit to see us. He looks first rate. He is going home again tomorrow. Captain Newlin is in command of the regiment yet.

I send you all my love and best respects. Give respects to all my inquiring friends. This is all I have to say at present.

So, no more at present.

But I remain your affectionate husband,

Eugene Brady