James writes Mother about fighting and socializing with rebel pickets
Author
Recipient
Date Written
June 15, 1862
James McIntyre was 20 years old when this was written.
The recipient, Euseba Stow, was 44 when it was received.
James McIntyre died 1 year, 11 months, 13 days after writing this.
It was written 160 years, 9 months, 8 days ago.
It was a Sunday.
June 15, 1862
My Dear Mother,
I have taken my pen in hand once more to let you know that I am well & never injoyed better health than I do now. I received your last nite. I was on picket. We had the best time we ever had on picket day before yesterday morning. Thay commenced shelling our camp. Thay throwed about a hundred and fifty shells and only killed one man. Our sharp shooters went over and shot 8 of their gunners. Then thay sent a flag of truce over and made a bargain not to shoot on picket and thay will not shell us. Our picket lines are a bout 20 rods from the rebbels. We went half way over to the rebbels and thay came over and met us and talked with us. Thay gave us some Richmond papers. Thay was very friendly shot honors when we left and sayed that that thay was glad to meet us on the battle field.
That last battle was an awful battle. Thare was a greate many killed more than the papers tell of. The rebbels lost more than we did. Thay could not bury all of the rebbels and thare is a grate number of them layes a bove the ground. We are a cross the [?] We don’t see so hard times now as we have. We have a plenty to eat now. I would like to bee to home to visit with my aunt. The war will bee over some time and then I can come home. Thare is not much news here now. We are expected to stay in this camp for some time. We don’t expect any firing here whare we are. I want you to write how that Randle boy is that came home that was wounded in that last battle and I want to know if my colt grows and who teaches our school this summer.
It is very warm here but we don’t have much to do and we can stand it well enuf. Thare is not much new news so I will close.
From James to Euseba Stow
Scans of Letter
