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Metadata

Catalog Number

1805.044.01.09

Collection

Moore Letters

Object Name

Letter

Title

Letter from Will Moore to his Mother

Scope & Content

In his November 4th letter, Will Moore writes his mother informing her that his unit left Maryland, crossing the Potomac on a pontoon bridge near Berlin [modern day Brunswick]. They are currently camped around 25 out near Winchester, in a large field where fighting took place the week before. He is in a large encampment, with around 20,000 men. Will finishes this letter on November 7 and contiunues to write that he is camped in the woods near White Planes. It is very cold as it snowed yesterday, and they need to sleep four men in a tent, which he calls a "dog house," to stay warm. He is in General McClellan's grand Army of the Republic, and expects to be in a big battle soon, the "great fight of the war."

Dates of Creation

November 4 - 7, 1862

Date

November 4 - 7, 1862

Notes

This leafof page contains two letters, the first dated November 4, 1862 and the second dated November 7, 1862. William wrote in order of the pages he numbered, page 1 as No. 1 onto page 3 as No. 2 to page 4 as No. 3 and ends the second letter on page 2. The transcript below reflects the order Moore wrote in.

The full transcription for this letter is below:

No 1
Camp Somewhere
in Va [Virginia] November
4th 1862

Dear Mother
As I have an oppertunity [opportunity] I will write. this morning (as I suppose you feel axious [anxious] to hear from me. We left Maryland and cross-ed the Potomac on a pontoon Bridge at Berlin ["Brunswick" today], As you see by the heading I hardly know where we are, we are [so] out 25 miles from the Potomac and about near Winchester we are encamped on by the side of field, where they were [page break- onto page 3, labeled No.2] fighting on last Sunday, last night there was nearly 25-000 [25,000] men encamped around us.
Nov [November] 7th 1862
I was called off from writing to pack up for a march [after] to day [today] we are encamped in a woods near White plains Va [Virginia], we arri-ved here yesterday at noon, to day [today] is very cold, it has been snowing nearly all day, the ground is nearly white with snow, but, I believe it has quit now, but I have not been out of my tent for some time [sometime], tent did I say rather dog house as we call them, each man has to carry half a one, when we stop we button them together [drive] a stake in the ground and or tie them to a couple of trees pin them down, and our tents are [page break - onto page 4, labeled no. 3]
but four of us sleep together so we can sleep pretty warm considering, but it is pretty cold for all, I often think of the [good] warm fire at home, and wish I could be with you, Guess who I seen the other day, a great stranger Charley [Davis][ the Reserves were encamped near us one night, I went over to see him in the morning, had a hard time to find him, of course he did not know me, but I think I would have known him, the same old Clark yet I think. We are in McClellans grand army, on a [advance] I suppose for Winchester where, I expect, the great fight of the war will come off we will be in it I suppose as we are in a fighting Brigade Hancocks old Brigade, who was promoted to a Major General, Gen [General] Pratt commands the Brigade now, a good man I think, [page break] you ask me if I would like to have a vest, I should, like one very well but I do not know when you can send the box, as I do not know when we will get settled when we do I will write and tell you,
I want you to take the money I send home and use as you for what ever [whatever] you want, I feel better satisfied if you do, use How often I think of home, how often I think wether [whether] I will ever see you all again, [live] [grant] I may, I sometime blame myself for [coming], for [your] [sake] I do not care for myself, only for you, but it may all be for the best I hope so, I got two letters, from [Joe] whil [while] we were at Berlin, just after, I had written to you, write often, as it is nearly [night] I will have to close, give my love to all, kiss sister for me, [good] [bye]
Your affectionat [affectionate] Son
Will
[PS] Mr. Miller
Our chaplains name

Extent of Description

1 leaf, 7.4" x 9"

Relation

Show Related Records...

Condition

Good

Condition Notes

Letter written in pencil. Folded vertically in half and then folded horizontally into thirds. There are small tears along the bottom and the top of the crease of the middle vertical fold cutting the paper in two. No stains and smudges, but the bottom left and right corners are slightly tourn and ripped

Legal Status

On loan from the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia.