Five Letters
By Adam Tyler
The common theme in these letters is that they were written by Union soldiers, either privates or sergeants, discussing the attacks and battles from the Confederacy.
Private Isaac Oliver:
A Union Letter
This letter was written on October 12, 1862 to Oliver's friend I B Ikeler. Oliver was a private in Company F, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (2nd Bucktails). In the letter, Oliver discusses on how he has had to adapt to his new surroundings and be thankful for what he has got.
Camp Mcneal Meredian Hill
October the 12.1862
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well at present and hope that those few line may find you enjoying the same blessing. I started at soldiering beter than two months ago. I inlisted in a company called Co. F 149 Reg. P.B.V. We are now in a camp called camp McNeal on Meridian hill near the sity of Washington. We are not near all the time in camp. We are the most of the time out to guard hospittle at town and other places part of the regiment has moved there tents to town, I expect that hour company will move before this weak is out, but I do not no for sure; it has bin warm and dry ever since we have bin down here until last fri night about 1 o’clock, it comenced raining and poured it down untill about four. I had to go on guard at four so I got shet of standing in the rain for that night since that night it has fellt like husking corn it is raining this after noon.
I am in my tent my seat is a knapsack, my deck is a portfolio this is as good a seat as I ever git. Without it is a chore. It is said that he that is born of Woman and inlisteth in the 149 Reg Co. F, his days are few and short of rations. He cometh forth tato and retireth at rollcall much soldiering hath made him sharp, yea, even so that the sete of his britches is in danger of being cut through. They are all honest, they take nothing that they cannot reach they capture the most butifull prize packages of paper and walk off rejoicing.
The boys are all brothers and work to each others honor. They as grate set of fellows for fun and have all the furnishings able for what one dont know another do and so they have some thing a going all the time. So the time goes I can’t tell whare if it gets wet and mayby it won’t be quite so nice as it has bin since we have bin down here. No more at present. I send my Respects to all inquiring friends. Tell all that inquires after me that I want them to write to and I will answer those leters as soon as I can write and tell me who is there and who has went to war. I want you to write and answer this as soon as you get it and oblige yours,
October the 12.1862
I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well at present and hope that those few line may find you enjoying the same blessing. I started at soldiering beter than two months ago. I inlisted in a company called Co. F 149 Reg. P.B.V. We are now in a camp called camp McNeal on Meridian hill near the sity of Washington. We are not near all the time in camp. We are the most of the time out to guard hospittle at town and other places part of the regiment has moved there tents to town, I expect that hour company will move before this weak is out, but I do not no for sure; it has bin warm and dry ever since we have bin down here until last fri night about 1 o’clock, it comenced raining and poured it down untill about four. I had to go on guard at four so I got shet of standing in the rain for that night since that night it has fellt like husking corn it is raining this after noon.
I am in my tent my seat is a knapsack, my deck is a portfolio this is as good a seat as I ever git. Without it is a chore. It is said that he that is born of Woman and inlisteth in the 149 Reg Co. F, his days are few and short of rations. He cometh forth tato and retireth at rollcall much soldiering hath made him sharp, yea, even so that the sete of his britches is in danger of being cut through. They are all honest, they take nothing that they cannot reach they capture the most butifull prize packages of paper and walk off rejoicing.
The boys are all brothers and work to each others honor. They as grate set of fellows for fun and have all the furnishings able for what one dont know another do and so they have some thing a going all the time. So the time goes I can’t tell whare if it gets wet and mayby it won’t be quite so nice as it has bin since we have bin down here. No more at present. I send my Respects to all inquiring friends. Tell all that inquires after me that I want them to write to and I will answer those leters as soon as I can write and tell me who is there and who has went to war. I want you to write and answer this as soon as you get it and oblige yours,
Isaac Oliver To I B Ikeler
Direct your letter to
Co F 149 R.P.BV
Camp Mcneal
Washington D.C
in care of
Captain ES Osborne
Sergeant John T. Greer:
A Union Letter
This letter was written to Greer's sister, on April 8, 1862. Greer entered the service as the 7th Corporal of Company G, 4th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. His letter is in Ceredo, West Virginia, which was just Virginia at the time. In the letter, Greer discusses how he wants to go home and hopes that he can eventually.
Ceredo, Virginia
April 8th, 1862
Dear Sister,
I take my pen in hand to in form you that I am well at present hoping that these few lines may find you all well and enjoying good health. We are all well at present and still here at Ceredo. I received your letters that you sent by Ephram and was glad to here that you was all well. I expected to have been home before this time but things has turned out so that I could not come but I think I will get to come now before long. I cant tell when we will leave here but I expect we will leave be fore long but I think I will get to come home first. The is some of our boys gone home now and I want to try and get a furlow as sune as they get back. Ephram brought me a piese of the wedding cake bak and I thought that it eat very well but the shugar suited my taste the best but the both suited my tast very well. I dont believe if it was not for som one a pasing by once and a while that I would never get a letter from home for I have never got but one letter that come by male yet. I suppose that Sam Love is above a common man or else he would wright once and a while to me. I have rote two or three letters to him and I dont intend to wright any more to him for I dont care for no one that dont care for me for I am jis as independent as any one. I have rote two or three letters to the Rebbs out in Jackson and the never rote any answers so let them git while they are yong and full of secesh let them go the will find out somday which way the money goes it goes the word. So nothing more at present but wright sune, John T Greer
Head Quarters
Ceredo, VA
John T Greer of
Company G, 4th Va
Foot Volunteers
When this you sea
Remember me
John T. Greer of Mason
County Virginia, 1862
James Powers:
A Union Letter
This letter was written by Private James Powers to his sister, on December 23rd, 1861. Powers was a member of Company D, 5th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. The letter discusses Powers in the line of war. I think the battle he refers to in the letter is the Battle of Dranesville, Virginia, which took place on December 20, 1861.
Camp Griffon, VA
Dec. 23rd, 1861
Dear Sister Mary
I take this opportunity of writing these few lines to let you know that I am well and hope you and all the rest are the same. We are still at the same place and not doing much in the fighting line. A part of McCalls division next to us on our right had a Battle with the enemy last friday and the rebels were routed with severe loss. It was not our luck to be in the muss we were drawn up in line of Battle impatiently listening to the cannonading and waiting for our General who was at Washington he came back on full gallop but the fight was then over however he was highly pleased to see us out so ready and such good numbers we gave him three cheers and says he boys you turn out some when there is a prospect of a fight if you dont on drill says he I thought you were a whole Division. The fact is so much drilling is about played out and we play the old Soger(?) all ways to get rid of it.
We ran out 3 or 4 miles yesterday expecting a fight but we came across no rebels the Majors Orderly saw fifteen rebel Cavalry thats generally our luck we go out cheering and in the best of spirits and come back cussing and swearing we have had very fine weather but to day it is pretty rough and a little snow falling no more at present but remain your Affectionate Brother
James Powers
write soon
Sergeant Horace B. Morrison:
A Union Letter
This letter was written to Morrison's cousin, on November 3, 1863, during his regiment's involvement in the siege of Fort Sumter. Morrison entered the service as a private in Company D, 4th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry and was discharged as a sergeant. The letter discusses Morrison's view of the war when his troupe is attacking.
Morris Island, S.C.
4th Regt, Co D
Cousin Luther,
I am injoying good health and hope this will find you injoying the same. John Sanborn is in the hospital at Beaufort Hospital No 9. I have a letter from him every week he is a getting along first rate. They have promoted John to Corporal he dont know it yet. I am going to write to John to night I am going to direct it Corp. Sanborn he wont know what it means. They have commenced on Fort Sumter again. They have been bombarding it for five days and nights. I was on picket at Fort Gregg yesterday. They shot away the flag on Fort Sumter twice the first time they shot it away a Reb come up on top of the fort and begun to wave it and put the flag up in the afternoon they shot is away again. When the Reb come up to put it up away went our guns at him bang bang bang. I guess that fellow went to his long home. They havnt put up the flag yet. They will charge on it before many days. Fitzgerald has got his discharge and gone home perhaps you will hear about him before you get this. I dont think of anything more to write this time so I will close.
From your cousin
H. B. Morrison
William Henry Harrison Canter:
A Union Letter
This letter was written to Canter's mom. Canter enlisted in Company A, 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861. He was 6’2-1/2" tall, light hair, light complexion. He was a farmer from Maybees Corner, Jackson County, Ohio. The letter discusses Carter and his troupe becoming overwhelmed by the Confederates.
May 23, 1862 Roller, MD
Deer mother,
Ituk this time tunnite to informe you that iwas well and hope these fieu lines will finde you all well. We are in roller County. Yesteday we went 40 milse back to flat top mountain. If we would stade on the easte river twenty four ours longer we woode aseede Richmonde.
Three thousan come in behinde us and tha hapend to be too Companys of the Zouave was there and afieu Cavalry. Tha foute them half aday. The rebles had three thousande againste too hondarde. The too Zouave Companys charged on them and tuk won Cannon from them and tha saw that tha coodent holde the Canon and tha spiked the Cannon.
We come out in the evening and loude to surrounde them. Tha was six thousande rite behinde us. Tha was too meney for us and then tha was after our team of horses but the horses ran away acomen back to us.
Our Cournel he bet ahondard dollars that the wor woode stop in thirty days. I wish hit was over now for iam tierde astayen here in the sirvise.
Imuste stop ritin soon. Direct your leters to roller Md in care of Captain Hayse. He was our lieutenant but he is our Captain.
Tell all to rite to me.
This collection of letters by privates and sergeants of the Union represents what the war can do to people. In all the letters, there is evidence that war makes us closer to friends and family, even if they are not with you at the time. It is also illustrated in the letters that all these men wish to be back home, which makes us think we should be grateful we didn't have to be in a terrible war. How would you react if you had to adapt to the war? Would you choose to?
This collection of letters by privates and sergeants of the Union represents what the war can do to people. In all the letters, there is evidence that war makes us closer to friends and family, even if they are not with you at the time. It is also illustrated in the letters that all these men wish to be back home, which makes us think we should be grateful we didn't have to be in a terrible war. How would you react if you had to adapt to the war? Would you choose to?
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