Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1805.025.31 |
Collection |
Carlton Birch Letters |
Object Name |
Letter |
Title |
Letter from Carlton Birch to Uncle George |
Scope & Content |
A letter from Carlton Birch to his Uncle George about his life as a Union soldier in the Civil War. Carlton wrote this letter on January 17, 1864, near Camp Barnes. In this letter Carlton outlined what he had done since writing his last letter to George. He served as a recorder for a Court Martial hearing and been on picket duty. Carlton wrote the story of a soldier in his company who had attempted to desert and was sentenced to be shot, but escaped. A sketch accompanied the letter. The sketch is of a man in handcuffs, standing next to a bed. |
Date |
January 17, 1864 |
Notes |
The full transcription of the letter is as follows: Camp Barnes January 17th 1864 Dear Uncle George Yours of the 12th inst came to hand last night, and the fact is I have not had a chance to write sooner We have been again on Picket and then I was detailed as Recorder for Field Court Martial and have been kept busy Even at night, I received two Batches of Newspapers Each one Containing a file ("Dont [Don't] Send any More") they are just the ones and I want to know what is the damage? $-I have now but a few moments to spare (Sunday) as we have Inspection Shortly and another tomorrow, (Brigade) I have just recd [received] another package with "Punch" Almanac 1864 & Yankee Notion and Declaration of Independence - Many thanks, We had an unfortunate affair happen lately one of our Members (Co. D) Deserted, and being detected was returned to the Regt [Regiment] under guard - He had on a suite [suit] of Citizens Clothing, which was solid Evidence of his intention, he was Sentenced to be Shot on the 29th inst, and was as I last saw him in his little prison tent a perfect fac simile [facsimile] of the plate above, He did not like to be Shot to death So he Escaped during the fogy [foggy] night of the 15th inst and although Many Shots were fired after him got Clean off, I was sent to alarm the 118th Pen Vols [Pennsylvania Volunteers] Guard but I found them already Allarmed [Alarmed], having left their Guns and skedadled [skedaddled] from their Guard House - it was some time before I [page break] Could find the Sergt [Sergeant] of the Guard, I am glad I was not on Guard that night - In regard to the Scolding - My Chatham St. Jew, did forward the Watch but he was a long time about it - I have it all OK, So no more Scolding - My ["nam" crossed out] name is in for a furlough next Christmass [Christmas] when I Expect to have a glorious time, tell Rosey to look for a letter next Summer from me, as I cant [can't] get a chance to write sooner - judgeing [judging] from present prospects - I hope Sickness is a Stranger in your family by this time, the Contents of the Box are hardly touched yet, as I have been living at Brigade Hd Qrs [Head Quarters] Most of the time, Give my love to Evry [Every] body + Rosey Pop, Mother, +c [etc.]the reason I sent Roseys letter to your Care was that she mentioned visiting you in a day or two, which would have been about the day that letter arrived in Phila [Philadelphia] My regards to Mr Struthers + Capt [Captain] Wriggley More anon I forgot to Say I am well - the Rebs [Rebels] attacked us twice lately but got such a warm reception that they were scared off - (they were Gorilla [Guerrilla]) Write Soon, Yours Carle |
Extent of Description |
1 leaf, 12" x 15" |
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. Reverse is dirty. |
Legal Status |
On loan from The Civil War Museum of Philadelphia. |
Multimedia Files |
Click here to view the full transcription of the Carlton Birch Letters Collection. |
People |
Birch, Carlton Birch, George R Birch, Rose Steinmetz, George |
Search Terms |
1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Carlton Birch Letters Collection Chatham Street Jew Punch Almanac The Yankee Notions |