Archive Record

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1 of 1977

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Metadata

Catalog Number

1805.044.01.11

Collection

Moore Letters

Object Name

Letter

Title

Letter from Will Moore to his Mother

Scope & Content

Will Moore writes home to his mother to say his unit is about a four days march away from Richmond, and claims they took the most roundabout way to get there. He wishes the war would soon end, though he makes sure to say he is not disillusioned, just tired of marching and soldering. Will writes of long marches where he wishes someone would shoot him dead to avoid marching, and writes of a soldier who died marching, claiming that more men die from marching than fighting. He describes their food shortages, and that they treasure even hard crackers, thankful for anything. His company is now on the left wing of the grand Army of the Potomac under the command of General Franklin in his 6th division. Will ends the letter stating that he has not received any letters recently and is anxious to hear from home.

Dates of Creation

November 23, 1862

Date

November 23, 1862

Notes

The full transcription for this letter is below:

House Va [Virginia] Nov [November] 23rd 1862
Camp near Stafford Court

Dear mother
Having a little leisure time this afternoon I sit my self [myself] down in our little tent to talk a little while with you, though far away from home on the "Sacred Fort" of old Virgininia [Virginia] we and "onward" for Richmond, my thoughts are often with you at home, to day [today] I can im-agine you standing round the stove (for it is a cool here to day [today]) think-ing and probably talking about your boys that are away, you can not want to see us more than we you, I am satisfied, However I would like to see [page break] Hugh, I have seen Ned Livezey Dan Nelson, Charley Davis, and several others that I kn-ow, sinc [since] [I was] we have been out and now if I could only see [Hught] I would be satisfied, but I suppose I will not have that pleasure soon, as we are not going in that dir-ection, We are now within about four days march of Richmond I hope if they intend to take that place they would get at it soon, as I am tired of running all over Maryland and Virgin-ia, it seems we have come the [most] round about way to get here possiable [possible], but I suppose it was necessary - first from Tennallytown to Washington - [page break] then by RR [railroad] to Frederick City, Mar-yland, then marched to Hagerstown, stayed there a week or two, then to Willi-amsport, then back to Boonsboro then to Berlin [Brunswick], across the Potomac to Unionsvile [Unionsville], then to White plains, then to Warrentwon, or near there and one week ago to day [today] we started for our presant [present] encam-pment where we reached last Tuesday, our movement from Warrentown to near Stafford Court-house, is talked of as a [?] [move] on the part of Bur-nside, taking the Rebles [Rebels] camp by surprise, the next day after we arrived here, it comme-nced to rain, and rained for two or three days, then you [page break] see Virginia roads, mud hub deep to the wagons, I suppose it must somewhat interfered with the movement of the Army, but it has cleared up and the roads, are drying up, so you may look for some thing [something] being done soon, I hope so, end the war as soon as possiable [possible], and let us come home say I, I wish the war was over, I am tired of soldiering but do not think I am dissatis-fied but still I would be very willing to come home you there is one thing for which I am very thankful, my health, I never felt better than now, my health is very good the marching with knapsacks is the worst thing with me, it is [page break] killing more men than any th-ing [anything] else I believe, some days I have marched when I would have been willing for any one [anyone] to have shot me dead, but one nights rest would bring me right again, one poor fellow from our company I believe was killed by hard marching poor [Swope], from near Atta-boro, the marched with us to this place and helped put up his tent, went to bed apprarantly [apparently] in good health, next morning he was fou-nd by the side of his tent, he had come out and fallen do-wn, he was taken to the Hos-pital and befor [before] eight o cl-ock at night was dead, hard march- [page break] ing with a heavy load, and not sufficiant [sufficient] food to eat I think caused it, I have seen the time when I have been very hungry, you ought to see us how we treasure our hard crackers, every one not eaten is treasured up for we do not know how soon we may [be there] I it is a hard matter to feed an Army on the march, We are now in the left wing of the grand Army of the Potomac, under Fran-klin, the right is under command of Sumner, the centre [center] under Hooker our Brigade is Hancocks old Bri-gade, now under the command of Gen [General] Pratt, a fighting brigade, Hancock now has command of a division, we are in Smiths division, Fran-klins Corps, I am very anxious to hear from you we have had no letters for 3 weeks, so you may know I am very anxious for a letter I dont [don't] know why it is other Regts [Regiments] get them but we expect a mail soon, I hope there will be some letters for me, I see no prospect for sending my box yet, my love to all a kiss for Sister,
you Son Will,

Extent of Description

2 leaves, 7.5" x 9.2"

Relation

Show Related Records...

Condition

Good

Condition Notes

Letter written in pencil. Folded vertically in half and then folded horizontally into thirds. There is small tear along the top of the crease of the middle vertical fold cutting the paper in two. There is a large tear on the bottom crease going up nearly half the page. Big brown smudge on the front left page which then bleeds through all pages. On the last two pages there are big brown stains near the bottom along the edge.

Legal Status

On loan from the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia.