Autograph letter signed, in pencil, four pages on a single folded sheet of blue-lined stationery, approximately 5 x 8 inches, datelined "Camp Curtin Aug 22 1861." Expected folds, scattered foxing and light staining, fully legible throughout. Housed in an archival sleeve.

Writing home on his first full day in camp, the recruit tells his father of the rail journey from Sunbury to Harrisburg, finding a board shanty to sleep in, and boards raised off the ground that served as his bed. He describes camp rations — bread and bologna sausage on arrival, later bread, beef, beans, rice, and coffee, noting he has "drunk more coffee since I am down here than I did in five years" on account of the change of water. He reports being sworn in and medically examined that day, with all recruits passing "except three and they were rejected," and lists the camp's kitchen issue of tin cups, pewter plates, knives, forks, and spoons. He closes noting his company is to be uniformed and armed by Saturday, August 24th, and that he doesn't yet know when they will leave camp. Signed "Very truly yours, Abr. Wolf."

Camp Curtin, established April 18, 1861 just outside Harrisburg, grew into the largest military training facility in Pennsylvania and the nation during the war, processing well over a quarter million Union soldiers. The letter's date falls within the muster-in window of the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, founded by Colonel Tilghman H. Good on August 5, 1861, whose companies mustered in by company at Camp Curtin from mid-August through mid-September of that year — a plausible fit for this recruit's service, though the regiment is not named in the letter itself.

TRANSCRIPTION

Camp Curtin

August 22th 1861

Dear Father

I now take my pencil to inform you a few lines how I am getting along in the camp. I am getting along well. We arrived here yesterday at 4 o'clock and then we look for a place to sleep all night and then we found a board shanty and there we stopped and got our dinners we had bread and baloney sausage and it was very good and then we walk around in the camp till night and then we got our blankets and went to bed. We have boards fixed 2-1/2 feet from the ground and these we laid on and slept very comfortable and father I let you know that I never had as much pleasure a riding on the cars as I had from Sunbury to Harrisburg and further I let you know that ther ain't many soldiers in camp just now but they are coming in very fast again. And further I let you know that we were sworn in the camp today and we were also examined and we was all sound except three and they were rejected. And further I let you know what we have to eat the best kind of bread and beef and beans and rice and coffee. I have also drunk more coffee since I am down here than I did in five years because they made me drink it on account of the change of water. And further I let you know that we will be uniformed and also armed til Saturday the 24th of August. And further I let you know what kind of kitchen we have. We also have a tin cups, pewter plates, knives and forks and table spoons and so on.

And further I let you know I like it very well so far and we don't know yet when we will leave this camp. And I also hope these few lines may find you as well as myself and so I must come to a close for this time and I don't see it necessary for you to write. I may not get the letter because we have nothing arranged yet so goodbye.

Very truly yours, Abr. Wolf

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