October 2, 1862
Camp near Sharpsburg, Virginia
Dear Sir:
I this evening take pen in hand to inform you I was anxious to hear from you
to hear how you got home. I was pleased to hear that you got your guns home without
any trouble. I thank you for stamps you sent me till you are better paid. I want you
to keep final count of the stamps you sent to me. I think wee will get our muney this
week, the Brigier General ordered the pay roles to be redey this week. There has bin
a split in our Brigade, the 55th Regiment left the Brigade and I bet that Oliboth will
not have command of this Brigade if he don't do better than he has bin?
I tell you Mister Sams We have got plenty of visitors here from all parts of the
country. John Buck and John Weaverling is here & Wilson Williams & William Clark &
others from the ridge &from bloody Run & Bedford. The people is coming here to the
Battlefield to hunt their friends & there a taking them up & taking theme home.
We have go plenty of Beef and Crackers, coffee & chiger the best kind of Beef to.
I sent Daniel McDaniel for flour today, he got a pint for 5ct. and I cut a lofe of
bread & then fried some Beef and made some gravey with our flour & it was good.
I tell you wee eat hartey of it.
George McDaniel is sick. He is got the Yellow Janders, but he is a a bed to go about,
but, he is taken medicine- there is several of our company sick at this time. There Was
27 reported sick this morning to the Colonel out of our company, but wee have about the
largest company, yet when wee you on drill the first us thruw on Battalion Drill. I am
going with john Weaverling tomorrow, if I can get permission to the Battle field to hunt
Jacob Weaverling's grave if it can be found, From what I can learn he is kild & I Would
like to find his grave & send him home. It still will be some sadly function to his
wife. I am very sorry it has happened so, but it is for a good cause, I hope that god
will have mercy on every man that falls on the battlefield.
We have got some boys in our company that made a great furce when we was coming threw
Maryland where there was no danger what they would do with the rebels when They would get
at them, but when they come to the line of battle, you never cene such scared men in your
life. I never say anything about what I am a going to do, but if I gets in a fight, I will
do all I can, but I hope we will never half to give a fight, but if we do I hope this
Brigade will give a good account of herself. I wish it could be settled without any more
fighting. There has been fighting come place for several days. Wee heard the cannons off
and on for 4 or 5 days.
I this morning take my pen in hand to finish this line to you I started last evening
that I was going with Weaverling to hunt Jacob's grave, but I could not do it. There has
been new arrangements made since you was here. No man can leave the camp with out a pass
From the Colonel & I tried to get a pass & he would give me one to help hunt my
brother-in-laws grave. I think it is pretty hard in dead if a soldiers is found more than
one mile from camp without a recent pass he is arrested and if he misbehaves any way, He
is taken to Harper's Ferry to work on the public works. If a man leaves camp breakes Gaid,
he is fined hard for it, for my part I can stand it. All I want is to go to the spring for
water. Mr. Sams this is Friday evening, the third of October, we was out ever since 9
o'clock till 2 on a review. Abraham Lincoln was out & there was a million of people
there in the field & I suppose in the morning the pay will come. If it dose I send it to
in this letter with Weaverling, If I can't get it before he goes in the morning, I send it.
We only get 27 dollars I believe & don't get any more till the nine months is up that is
the talk now.
I send this what I can spare and you give Susannah $5.00 & you can do what you please
with the rest till I come home.
I must close for this time, I hate to go. Cause this is morning excuse my bad hand wrting
so far I wrote this in a hurry.
No more, but remember your well wishes, give my respects to all in .... ing, friend
Must close with informing you that I am well & hoping tis may find you & and all the
rest enjoying the same life in right soon, Wee have got no mail yet, I get some from
Sitsens come I
J. M Nevitt.
Camp near Sharpsburg October 10th 1862
My Friend,
I take pen in hand to inform you that I am well & I hope these few lines may find
you enjoying the same blessings. I received your kind letter & was glad to hear of
you all. I got the hat. I tell you that I am pleases with it in deed. I think we are
going to have a wet spell. It has been raining a little all day and looks very much
like rain. We have been living on top of the hill for a few days back there has been.
Some of the Clear Ridge folks down here and brought lots of good things to our ridge
fellows and I get a share along with the rest. Daniel McDaniel got a splendid cut of fer
venison. Some of the Weamers and Sniders and J.R O'Neal was here three days. William
May, Daniel Ott left here today. John Ring is here. Jacob Weaverling of Bloody Run is
here. He fetched as much as the old horse could haul. Well My Sams I have to tell you
that we have got shut of Old Oleboth, our new brigadier General was here today and a
inspection to. He is a fine looking man and bears the name of being a fine man. Briges
is his name. He is a Massachusetts man. It is a opinion that we will leave here in a
few days. For my part I can't tell how it is.
October 11th
I write this morning to inform you that last night has been a bad night for soldiering.
It rained all night nearby, but I laid in the tent and listened to it, but the boys that
was on guard hate to take it though. Lewis and Daniel McDaniel was on guard. Lewis
McDaniel caught up to us this week & Nycum are there, both well, but Allen Ramsey is not
back yet in Washington, but he is getting better. He thinks we will be able to join the
regiment soon. Abasalon Garlick and Joseph Williams and George Williams are well here.
Last evening they fetched us a nice box of apples and peaches and fried in butter from
Mrs. McDanieL We have had all that we want to eat for several days. I am looking for
David Sparks down here every day.
You spoke about Buck being down here. I did wish some one would kill him, but he said
he was agoin home to fetch a load of apples and other eatables down here. I bet if he
does he will be so despied with one load for they will tear him up that is sure for that
is the way they've been with all the huckster wagons that comes to camp. He tried to get
to be supplier for this regiment, but he could not get it.
I suppose you got the money that I sent by this time. John Buck got in such a hurry
to get home that he could not wait till he got it. The Company was ready to go down to
the pay masters tent. When they started it was not two hours after they left till we had
our money and My Bare from the cove was here and he was going home through Bloody Run
and we thought we had better send our money with him. George and Daniel McDaniel and
myself sent 20 dollars a piece. The boys send their best wishes to you all.
So I must close with my respect to you. Write soon.
J. M Nevitt
