Dated “Camp Jackson Williamsport, Dec. 27 [1861].” 4pp., 5 x 8”, in ink, w/patriotic “Flag of the Free” letterhead. Exhibits light yellowing, else VG, and entirely legible.

Text:

“Friend George…..I received yours a few days ago and was glad to learn how were prospering. We are all here at Williamsport. We have been having pretty lively times with the Rebels across the river lately. There had been the most cannonading and firing I have ever hear in my life before. We have had [had] two skirmishes with them. Our Co. was not in the first one. Our men killed quite a number of them. I fired a number of times, but they were so far off I could not hit them. They only hit one of our men. It was pretty good excitement I tell you. We are having some pretty cold weather here now. We have fixed up our tent so that it is quite comfortable. We have got a stove in it. We don’t have much drilling to do now. The hardest time we have now is doing guard duty. We have to stand twenty four hours two on and four off. I tell you it is rather tough those cold nights. I think the cursed Rebels are most played. They might as well come in or they will catch hell pretty soon. George you can’t think how cruel they are when they get one of our men they will make him take his clothes off then bayonet him. They are to mean to live.

We...eat. Now I am growing fat never was tougher in my life. We have good evenings telling stories playing cards etc. I wish you see how we live here Williamsport is a large village. There is some whores there but I don’t touch them. Who keeps school in your district this winter. How do thing flourish in old D…..now. Are the girls wide awake now. Do you know where Mary L. Dearborn is now. How are the Prescott girls now. Do you get any f**king now. Tell Charles Paige to write. When you get this write me a good long letter won’t you. I can’t think of anymore to write now so I will close/ Yours Truly/ C.A. Whittier/ Direct Co. G/ 13^th Reg Mass V Williamsport.”

Charles A. Whittier was shoemaker by trade, a 21 year old resident of Stoneham, MA, who enlisted a private in the 13^th Mass. Vols., 7/10/1861. He was wounded at Antietam, 9/17/1862, and died of wounds of 9/27/1862 at Chambersburg, PA.  Whittier’s brother, Leonard Samuel Whittier, also died during the war; he was killed at Spotsylvania in May 1864 while serving with the 59^th Massachusetts Infantry.

Extremely interesting letter, containing erotic “F**king” phrase seldom encountered in Civil War soldier letters.  [jp/ld]

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