Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1805.025.14 |
Collection |
Carlton Birch Letters |
Object Name |
Letter |
Title |
Letter from James Birch to his Wife Amanda Birch |
Scope & Content |
A letter from James Birch to his wife Amanda about his life as an American soldier in the Mexican War at the United States Hotel in Pittsburgh on December 21, 1846. In this letter he describes his stay at the Hotel, his finances, his health, and his drummer boy companion. |
Date |
December 21, 1846 |
Notes |
The full transcription of the letter is as follows: Pittsburg U.S Hotel Decr [December] 21st 1846 My Dear Wife To Morrow at 12 oClock we Leave here for New Orleans a small journey of 2300 miles Down the Ohio I will write to you from New Orleans I have wrote to Thomas about some things you must assist in getting them Ready your Likeness you must not Fail to have sent for you can scarcely Imagine how I shall value it mine I shall have taken at N [New] Orleans in full Regimentals and their [there] will be something about it to Surprise you Tell Mother and Hannah that I feel Like a Soldier and it will be but a short time before I understand the duties of one we ["are" crossed out] have been quartered in the US Hotel and fared well ever since we have been here and Like it well enough if it was not for the everlasting Noise of made by Drunken and Rowdy Soldiers but so much the better for my self I feel called on to act correct and show an example every Respect is paid to me and confidence by both officers and Men from N. [New] Orleans I shall send you 20$ I Loaned to Day 15$ to our Worthy Captain as the approbation for us was not Large enough and a number of the Men was not paid. I shall Receive at N. [New] Orleans near forty Dollars in all on that account at present we are Receiving 20cts [cents] per Day for Rations but spending one Dollar as I have for the sake of comfort and quietness got a private Room in the Hotel our men have two Large Rooms the floors of which is covered with straw in which they Lay Like so many Hoys their quarters would be no ways objectionable if they would Keep Sober and Not fight we have four men on the Sick List whom it has been my pleasure to attend my Little comrade the Drummer Boy Rooms it with me St John is his name and he sends his Respects to you he Received his pay on Saturday and sent all of it to his mother of whom he frequently talks in his sleep my Health has been first rate but I cannot Sleep more than four hours out of 24 but feel no fatigue on that account but [I am?] always fresh and wide awake which I attribute altogether to my temperance [page break] you must not forget to wright [write] to me ["from" crossed out] at New Orleans Thomas will Direct the Letter for you tell me all ["y" crossed out] my two Mothers Say and give them a Kiss a piece for me also to Hannah & Eliza and be sure to send in to me collectively in the pacage [package] to N [New] Orleans Mrs Wotton & Susan also owe me one which I empower you to Collect for Me be sure to see Mother and ["have" crossed out] tell her to hasten the shipping of those thing I ordered as if haste is made use of they will be in New orleans As soon as i am the young Scrub of a Drummer is Beating the Devils Tattoo on his instrument and I must away to Roll call So God Bless You My Dear Little Wife James Birch P.S our Lieutenant took our names the other Day and the Number of Children tc [etc] I told him I had but one Wife and as to Children I should have one when I get another tell Thomas to Attend to that Matter of the Committee. [page break] Mrs. James Birch Care of N Longmire Bank Street Philadelphia Pa |
Extent of Description |
1 leaf, 9.75" x 15.25" |
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. |
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, Amanda Birch, James |
Search Terms |
1st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Mexican-American War Carlton Birch Letters Collection Devil's Tattoo New Orleans, Louisiana |