The Civil War Letters
Suffolk/Portsmouth, Virginia
July 6 to September 22, 1862
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The Civil War LettersSuffolk/Portsmouth, VirginiaJuly 6 to September 22, 1862 |
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July 6th, 1862
Still no likeness of the baby. 4th of July passed as they did their duty like every other day.
There are 64 men left in the Company of the 92 which left Philadelphia - 28 lost to disease, desertion, or killed and taken prisoner. But they are a good fighting company yet.
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July 15th, 1862
They have been on scout and taken 3 Rebel prisoners. It has been hotter than he ever felt before.
He asks her to send clothing, soap, a comb and a few goodies to eat as they live on dry bread and salt meat.
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July 22nd, 1862
He just returned from a scout in North Carolina where they captured 8 Rebels from "a band of Gurellas".
He wants her to send him woolen shirts and various other items.
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August 9th, 1862
$25.00 enclosed. He has not received the box yet. The weather is very hot.
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August 13th, 1862
He sent her $25.00 on Saturday which she should have received. Paydays are far apart and he wishes he could do more in the money line.
He has finally received the likeness of the Baby which he feels is very pretty. He has also received a box - the food is spoiled due to the heat but there is another picture of she and the child that he likes very much.
They are recruiting in Philadelphia and the army will be 300,000 larger.
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August 24th, 1862
They receive papers from home 2 days late so she knows the news better than he does.
Things are well with the Baby and Maggie may return to work in the Mill. He worries that she might overwork.
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September 1st, 1862
He has been on a scout and one of their men was shot close to the heart by a Rebel picket across the river. He will die soon.
He hopes the war will be over soon as he is tired of this way of living.
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September 12th, 1862
He often thinks of her when on picket late at night and wonders if she is thinking of him.
The Rebels are getting close to Pennsylvania and if the Union doesn't whip them now it may be gone forever.
He's concerned about her having enough money and wishes he could do more but he feels that she is doing very well on her own.
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September 22nd, 1862
They heard that 9,000 Rebels were coming to retake Suffolk so they prepared for a fight but they did not come, and he guesses it was a good thing for them that they didn't.
Her brother William is well and has written their mother.
They have been mustered for pay and he asks for stamps. The sutler* doesn't sell them as there is no profit in doing so.
*A person who follows an army, and sells to the troops provisions, liquors, and the like.
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