Archive Record

Images

1 of 1977

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Metadata

Catalog Number

1805.025.05

Collection

Carlton Birch Letters

Object Name

Letter

Title

Letter from Carlton Birch to his Uncle

Scope & Content

A letter from Carlton Birch to his Uncle about life as a Union solider encamped near the Potomac Break in Virginia on February 4, 1863. The letter describes the contents of a care package Carlton received from his family and events that took place in camp. Carlton tells his Uncle of a soldier from a different Company of the Regiment stealing from other soldiers, as well as about a Lieutenant Colonel seizing a house and stable for his accommodations and frequently being seen with women on his arms when he comes and goes from the dwelling.

To accompany his writing, Carlton sketched scenes of him playing a card game, a soldier standing on a barrel, and a soldier marching away from a tent.

Date

February 4, 1863

Notes

This letter is addressed to "Uncle." In later letters, Carlton addresses letters to "Uncle George." This letter may also be to Uncle George.

The full transcription of the letter is as follows:

Camp near Potomac Creek, VA
February 4th, 1863.
Dear Uncle

That Box arrived at last, 21 days on the way; Everything it contained was sound Excepting the Pipe, which was broken at the joint but I have rejointed it and works as well as ever, and I guess I make quite a figure with the pouch Slung about my neck (Size wont [won't] admit of pocketing it) playing Euchere [Euchre]. Especially when I have that cap on that Pop sent, it will take just about 5 minutes of my time to clean this fellow out and then I will continue with this letter. How do you like my Boots? There is one thing I dont [don't] like, and that is, that the only thief in the whole Regiment (and who is displayed evry [every] day in front of Camp) has a pair just like them. By the Bye, that is one way to get up in the Army Stand on a Barrel, with Recomondation [recommendation] for Character on your back; this fellow is a member of Co "E" our Regt [Regiment], he robbed his tent mate while in bed asleep, and he now kills the time by taunting the dutch, french man, that guards him. We would Shave [page break] and drum him out of Camp, only that he would be so much pleased with getting out of the Army that the Punishment would Suffer, So we have Court Marshaled [Marshalled] him, to stand thus [sketch of a stick figure standing on a barrel] for a week, (be the weather fair or [sketch of a fowl] (I must beg your pardon for the last, as I have not seen a fowl ["So" crossed out] for Some time, therefore I have almost forgotten their Shape) and he is also to forfeit to the U.S. Three Months Pay, Viz for Jany [January], Feby [February], + Mch [March]. It serves him right.
The Subject must change as I do not like to dwell on Sad Subjects, and I suppose he feels sad enough. But a Certain Lt. Col. [Lieutenant Colonel] of a certain Regt. [Regiment] that came from a City somewhere near you feels pretty good about now, from all accounts, but I am afraid that it might injure his good name at home, if I was to illustrate the Scandal around Camp of him, The facts are that there is a large dwelling house opposite our Camp, Three young Ladies live there, an old woman and two wenches (blacks) also, A Certain Lt. Col. [Lieutenant Colonel] Seized the Stable for the accommodation of his + other horses, but lately he has much business at the house, arm around young lady +c +c [etc. etc.]; but within the past few days he has placed Guards over Said Stable, who are Stationed (instead of around the Stable) at certain points around the house; he spends half his time there; when last seen he had an arm around each of two of said young ladies - large lot of Commissary s stores [page break] go to Said house on orders from Lt. Col. [Lieutenant Colonel], +c +c [etc. etc.] - I am quite sorry that Pop is acquainted with him but men will be men, and women cant [can't] resist a good looking fellow no how, Especially when he's got Bars on his Shoulders. If Pop thinks it would do, and that the aforesaid bad ["charahter" crossed out] character will not know who the author is (if he hears of it) I could illustrate on the Subject to Considerable length, in fact it would make quite a Story in pictures.

I am very much indebted for your presents, the gloves and writstbelts are just the thing for Picket duty and the Stockings also, and all are serviceable, please accept my thanks. Ask Pop about the above mentioned Colonel, and let me know if I shall make it or not, I guess Mart - Croll would like to get it.

Give My best wishes to your wife and family, My furlough has gone up I think, so I may not be able to see your little daughter, but her being Union is all right but as to you being a Union "Gal" I intend investigating, guess your Wife wont [won't] Say So.

Give my love to Pop and all the family and also to my wife if you See her, and write Soon.

Your Affectionate Nephew,
Carle
P.S. I am Well, Excuse Ink.

Extent of Description

1 leaf, 9.75" x 15.125"

Relation

Show Related Records...

Condition

Excellent

Condition Notes

Noted as "poor" on 10/05/2005, as the letters were in a scrapbook titled, "Record in War." However, the collection was conserved by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA), Philadelphia, PA, in 2010. Each item was removed from the scrapbook and placed in individual folders.

Some areas of the letter, especially the last page, are dirty.

Legal Status

On loan from The Civil War Museum of Philadelphia.