1863 CIVIL WAR SOLDIER LETTER CAMP NEAR CULPEPER VA - 2ND PA CAV GOOD CONTENT
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:198241 |
Civil War soldier's letter, 4 pgs., approx. 5" x 8", datelined "Camp near Culpeper, Oct. 7, 1863" (Virginia), from Bernard Ferry to his Sister. The writer of this letter, Bernard Ferry, of Philadelphia, enlisted in the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment on Sept. 18, 1861. The 2nd Pa. Cav. fought at 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Yellow Tavern, Cold Harbor, the Petersburg Campaign through Appomattox. Great content, in which he ponders whether he should re-e...nlist after his 3 years are up, as the Captain has been pressuring the men to do so, but the "best men" have resisted so far. He writes of the many inducements, such as $400 in extra Bounty money, and a furlough home, and hopes that God will help guide him to make the right decision. TRANSCRIPTION (spelling corrected): "Dear Sister, I have just rec'd your ever kind & most pleasing letter, happy at hearing you & Cecilia being well. I am in very good health at present, thanks God for his abounding mercies to us all. Dear Sister, I know that your heart is sad after our most dearly beloved Mother. Your remedy of praying for her soul is the just way of getting over such a heavy loss. Mother was a good shepherdess in raising us in the path of virtue. Our compence in the way you have mentioned is all that we can do. I sincerely trust in God to give a Christian heart that our Prayers may be heard in heaven in her behalf. I trust that God will grant me the request of a heart that only belongs to a Christian, so that all the stumbling blocdks may be cast aside for me to pursue the path of virtue in my days to come. Dear Sister, there is an Order from the War Department for all the Volunteers of the 3 years now to reenlist with a bounty of $100 Dollars in hand, which means for the time put in & 300 Dollars more to be paid in every 2 months $50, along with the usual pay until the whole of the bounty is paid; they start on the next 3 years now, counting a year of the first term in the second entry. At the first trial that the Captain made to win the men over to join, he got 5 men. 2nd time he got 36 of the company to say yes. The best of the men stand out against yet. I have concluded to serve out the first 3 years, which will be out in the next fall. If the war continues further, there will be Bounty for old Veterans the same as now. I forgot to state Capt. Hanson will take his company to Philadelphia to recruit for the Regiment all that goes the 2nd time. I am not in love with him to go. I can go in any Company I choose though. Dear Sister, what think you of it - 400 Dollars, about 36 Dollars per month. It is the only chance I can get for a furlough until the time is served out. I would like to go home for one great reason. Guess it if you can. Mother has said what I mean. Dear Rose, may Heaven be her reward, amen.Yes, the whole of the Regiment that reenlists is said will go to different parts of Pa. to enlist men. It may be for the all winter before it will come back to the field of action again, if they tell the truth about it. If I thought it to be true, I may go in some company. I think Co. C will be the one, if any. The boys are of Phila., the majority, the same as myself. God will, I trust, guide me to do what is right. Tell Cecily to give smiles for frowns and words of affection for insults. It will gain more in the end.Bernard Ferry"Very Fine.COMBINED SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.[DD #10]
