Archive Record

Images

1 of 1977

View Image Metadata

Metadata

Catalog Number

1805.044.06.02

Collection

Moore Letters

Object Name

Letter

Title

Letter from William W. Moore to his Sister Mary

Scope & Content

William W. Moore writes home to his sister, Mary. He welcomes her letters and tells her they now receive daily mail. He was pleased to hear that Mary and his brother Charley enjoyed their trip to Rochester and was pleased to know that his friends there have not forgotten him. He would like to be there, but his love of country calls him to duty at the sacrifice of friends and home. He hears of good news of war in the west and writes that he does not think fighting will end the war, perhaps suggesting a diplomatic solution. William continues his letter by writing about food difficulties, wanting nothing more than warm soft break, which costs 10 to 20 cents a day. He ends by apologizing to sister Mary; his tobacco use caused her much grief, but he explains that the whole army uses it and there is not much else to do. However, he says he will try to stop it. In two postscripts, William asks for Mary to tell their father to pick up a gun that William had work done on and encloses a 50 cent Confederate note that someone may keep as a trophy of war.

Dates of Creation

January 10, 1863

Date

January 10, 1863

Notes

The full transcription for this letter as follows:

Aquia Creek Va [Virginia]
Jan [January] 10th 1863
Dear Sister Mary,
Your welcome letter was very welcomely received yesterday. It pleased me very much to once more receive good news from home. I wish you could be here to see with what eagerness the Boys rush for the mail as it comes in. we have not received it very regular, until recently, As we are not stationed with our Head Quarters It would go there and perhaps remain two of three weeks. but now there has been our arrangements made so that we receive [received] it daily. I was much pleased to hear that you and Charley engaged yourselves so well while in Rochester and that I had not been forgotten by my friends there. I should like much to of participated in those pleasures But the love for my country calls me to its aid. Therefor I must deny myself of the pleasures of Home + Friends. at least for a season, (perhaps for years.). for I cannot [page break] see as this is war is any closer to an end than it was a year ago to day [today] as far as fighting is conserned [concerned]. and I think that it never will be ended in this way. You cannot tell anything about it at home, but could you be here and see it as it is you would form an entirely different oppinion [opinion] in regard to it. We have had some splend-id weather but still there has been no more of Our Army here since the late Battle of Fredericksburgh [Fredericksburg] I hope they will make another strike before bad weather sets in. I am glad to hear such good news from the west during the past week and think if we had little Mack [McClellan] to lead us we should experience [such] here. I heard yesterday that our Regiment was a going back to our old camp ground at Washington nothing would please me more. but I fear that it will not be so, for while [?] we received all the Soft Bread that we wished. sometimes right warm from the Bakery. I can get it here by paying the [page break] Sum of 15 or 20 cents per Loaf very small at that. Butter 50 cents per pound + other things in proportion.I was detailed with a squad of men this morning to work repairing the Rail Road . It began to rain about Eleven o clock. (it [sen] in a cold rain) I told my men to fall in and marched back to camp. I expect to see some bad nasty weather now, when it does set in it is so mudy [muddy] that one can hardly get around it. So you see I have nothing to do the [remain] of the day excepting to write to my loving friends at home which I hasten to do.
Mary I am sorry that I caused you so much grief by indulging myself in the use of [Tobacco] It seems the only companion that a person has here while discharging his duties in the long and dreary hours of night and is used almost unanimously throughout the whole Army. But still for all this & (it being the only Bad habit I have) of it be your sincere desire that I should leave it off I will try and do So. Mary I must close for I have a letter to Answer from Eddie, Much Love to all. Your Loving Brother
To Mis Mary F. Moore Geneva NY [New York] W. W. Moore
P.S. Tell Father that I [neglected] tell to get my Gun which I had repaired a [Lemmuel] [Bannister] and if he should get it, it might be of convenience a to him at times. the charges are two dollars for putting on to it a new stock which it is well worth. do not forget it for I do not wish to leave it there.
Yours Truly,
Wm. [William] W. Moore

Well and Healthy

P.S. enclosed you will find a note you will please hand to Aug. without fail also a Confederate 50 Cent [script] which I picked up on the Rail Road this morning it was wet and torn. but Jennine you may keep it as a Trophy if you wish.
And Oblige Your Aff [Affectionate] Bro [Brother],
W. W. M.

Extent of Description

1 leaf, 12" x 8.9"

Relation

Show Related Records...

Condition

Good

Condition Notes

Letter written in pencil on faded blue paper. One vertical fold divides the paper in 2, however, there is an additional vertical fold presumably done to fit the letter in an envelope. There are three horizontal folds. There is one small hole on the last page where the vortical crease intersects with the horizontal crease

Legal Status

On loan from the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia.