The Letters
Letters Written Home from War
As you might imagine, I spent the rest of the summer transcribing and reading the letters and sorting through the pictures I had received from Barbara. I researched all I could find out about them and their surrounding history. The 23 letters were in various stages of legibility and fragility.
Letters
This letter was written from Headquarters at Camp Culpepper on 21 September 1863 on official regimental stationary.
Last Letter from James and Henry
This letter was written from Harper's Ferry on 25 January 1864. This was one of the last letters I have from James and his son, Henry.
The Transcription of Letters Photo Gallery
The Letters Photo Gallery
Authors of the Letters
James and Henry
George Williams and George McGraw
George Washington Conley
The first authors were my great, great, great grandfather, James, and his son, Henry who were enlisted in the 139th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. They were in battles in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. I believe that James wrote all but one of the letters and signed Henry's name to the letters as well as his own. One letter was written by Henry.
George Washington Conley
George Williams and George McGraw
George Washington Conley
The second author was my great, great grandfather, George Washington Conley who was enlisted in the 78th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was in battles in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia.
George Williams and George McGraw
George Williams and George McGraw
George Williams and George McGraw
The third author was George Williams, James' wife, Sarah's brother, who was also in the war.
The fourth author was a George McGraw, presumably someone that Margaret, James' oldest daughter, had written to in the war and he responded with a letter back to her.
Handwriting Transcriptions
Translations
Lower Case Letters
Capital Letters
In order to read the letters, I created a "Rosetta Stone" so that I could transcribe the words. The transcription was much harder than I had anticipated!
I made copies of the letters and cut out letters from words I was sure of to create my Rosetta Stone.
Many of the letters were legible, but about a dozen or so were completely foreign to o
In order to read the letters, I created a "Rosetta Stone" so that I could transcribe the words. The transcription was much harder than I had anticipated!
I made copies of the letters and cut out letters from words I was sure of to create my Rosetta Stone.
Many of the letters were legible, but about a dozen or so were completely foreign to our current cursive writing.
I still have about eight words I cannot figure out. Any help would be appreciated!
Capital Letters
Lower Case Letters
Capital Letters
Here is the Rosetta Stone for capital letters. One of the most difficult letters to figure out was upper case H.
Lower Case Letters
Lower Case Letters
Lower Case Letters
Here is the Rosetta Stone for lower case letters. Some of the most difficult letters to figure out were lower case c, d, g, k, s, and x.
Observations
Written from Camp
Written from Camp
The 23 letters make for fascinating reading. Here are some observations.
Written from Camp
Written from Camp
Written from Camp
First of all, all the letters were written from camp between the battles.
All is Well
Written from Camp
All is Well
James starts off most every letter with the phrase "all is well." When I built the timeline of events for the 139th Regiment, including when the letters were written, I noticed that many letters were written after major battles. I was first surprised with his "all is well," but reasoned that he wanted to reassure his family that he, Henry
James starts off most every letter with the phrase "all is well." When I built the timeline of events for the 139th Regiment, including when the letters were written, I noticed that many letters were written after major battles. I was first surprised with his "all is well," but reasoned that he wanted to reassure his family that he, Henry, and the Freeport Boys survived the last battle, and they were all right.
Weather
Receipt of Mail
All is Well
James often talks about the weather and how unseasonably warm or cold it was. Imagining what they must have been wearing, the disrepair of their clothes and shoes, and the fact that they were camping for almost three years, it is no wonder the weather played a significant part in their lives.
Receipt of Mail
Receipt of Mail
Receipt of Mail
One of the things that amazed me was the short time it took to send and receive mail. From what I gathered from some of the letters, the mail took less than a week at times to be delivered from the battlefield to Freeport, Pennsylvania.
Heads Up
Receipt of Mail
Receipt of Mail
James, in several of his letters, provides the family with a heads-up of events that he believes they would later be hearing about in the news, and provides his own interpretation on what really happened. I assume he believed his letters would reach home before the official news did.
"There is inspection of all the troops and mules and wag
James, in several of his letters, provides the family with a heads-up of events that he believes they would later be hearing about in the news, and provides his own interpretation on what really happened. I assume he believed his letters would reach home before the official news did.
"There is inspection of all the troops and mules and wagons and horses. This makes us think we will soon make a move. Lee is at Culpepper Court House with his Army and General Meade is on the Rappahannock River and the 6th Corps is leaving here to guard this gap."
To Sammy
To Sammy
To Sammy
Interestingly, many of the letters were written to toddler son, Samuel, rather than to his wife or his 8 daughters. At first, I thought it strange, but then realized that Sammy would be the only male left in the family if James and his two older sons did not return home from war. It is important to understand the position of the male in the family at that time in history.
Excerpts
Various Topics
The letters talk about a variety of topics: the war, camp life, the Freeport Boys, as well as matters at home, including parental guidance, the hardships at home, and his religious faith.
"We have mud to the knees yet but we look for better roads, which I expect soon."
"Ed Armstrong, John Haynes, Thomas Sedwick and all the Freeport Boys is well."
"Go to school. And be sure to go to church and Sunday School, and may God bless you."
Grousing
Most, if not all, of the enlistees thought they had signed up for 9 months in the Regiment. Instead, their assignment was for 3 years, which James grouses about in his letters.
"Old Abe must soon stop as the two years men's time is up in May and the nine months men['s] [time] is up in May, so the boys they will go home."
Food
James talks about the food they ate.
"This boarding consists of hard brew, fat meat, potatoes, beans, fresh meat, fresh bread, rice, sugar, beer, coffee, and a number of other nice things."
Pay
Some of James' letters talk about the paymaster and the soldier's payments. He often sends money home to his family.
"We have got 30 dollars more money to send but we will send it as soon as we can. We sent five today."
"The paymaster did not pay us this time as the pay rolls were not made out."
Grim Realities
Especially in his later letters, James talks about the grim realities he and his fellow soldiers were facing. As time went on, the letters became less optimistic and bleak.
"Tell Sammy I will answer his letter soon if God spares my life . . . Don't forget us."
George also talks about this in his letters.
"I would like to see you and the rest of my sisters and kind mother and my little brother, but there is many miles between us. God only knows when we shall meet."