Archive Record

Images

1 of 1977

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Metadata

Catalog Number

1805.025.13

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 November 15, 1846. The letter contains descriptions of James' journey to the United States Hotel, mentioning Lancaster, Harrisburg, Clarks Ferry, Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Blairsville, Hollidaysburg, and a train ride through the Allegheny Mountains, as well as his stay in the hotel. He writes about noisy rascals and mentions a drummer boy who has become his constant companion.

Date

November 15, 1846

Notes

The full transcription of the letter is as follows:

United States Hotel Pittsburgh Novr [November] 15th 1846

My Dear Wife

I have arrived here and am in good Health and Spirits excepting that the thoughts of your anxiety on my account has somewhat Marred the pleasure that I should have Received from the Beautiful Scenery and the many amusing incidents on on the passage We parted as you are aware on Wednesday and arrived on the same Day at the towns of [word crossed out] Lancaster and Harrisburg at the Latter place We were Kindly treated by an entertainment at the expense of the citizens Patriotic Speeches were Made by all the great people of the place which was Responded to by our officers until at Last we came to the conclusion that we were Rather great men ourselves and also the most self sacrificing individuals - we traveled all night by canal Boat and arrived at Clarks ferry at about 4 oClock in the morning where we partook of a most excellent Breakfast at about 4 in the afternoon a most splendid entertainment was provided for us by the Ladies of Petersburg and so on until the arrival at pittsburg [Pittsburgh] we Received the greatest Kindness and Hospitality at Johnstown and Blairsville the two Last towns we stopt [stopped] at the people done every thing in their Power to Make us comfortable and appeared as if they could not do enough for us although those in authority acted Quite to the contrary the canal Boat which conveyed us from Harrisburg to Hollydaysburg [Hollidaysburg] was not large enoug [enough] to accommodate us and we had to Lay ["at night" crossed out] Huddled at night Like a parcel of Pigs amidtst [amidst] the greatest Riot and Discord created by the Noisy Rascals we had Brought with us who have fortunately for ourselves become better Diciplined [Disciplined] [word crossed out] arriving at Hollydaysburg [Hollidaysburg] we had to ascend the Mountains by Rail Road car but I prefered [preferred] walking up and such was the Steepness of the Ascent and the great Height that I almost gave out but I was amply Repaid standing upon the Highest Part of the Alleganey [Allegheny] Mountains the surrounding view was grand and magnificent in the extreme I also forgot to Mention that a party of us walked over the alleganies [Alleghenies] on Sunday Evening on the great National Road which afforded me great pleasure the many Beautiful Little towns we passed and the Rivers along With the Magnificent Mountain scenery makes it the journey of great interest to me the [word indecipherable] which had preceeded [preceded] us on Monday had acted in such a Disgraceful manner that the people in many villages and stopping places Refused to sell us any thing to eat or Drink but our conduct which was orderly [word crossed out] soon established confidence and at Harrisburg to pittsburgh [Pittsburgh] we Received as I have before mentioned nothing but Kindness Captain Morehead is without any exception one of the most gentlemanly men I have ever Met and I am proud to think that I enjoy his confidence the officers from the Highest to the Lowest are a fine set of men and perfect gentleman the men with but a few exceptions are a fine sett [set] and our Company has commanded Universal Respect and is justly considered the crack company of of the Regiment [page break]

For the first two Days of my journey I had no appetite but since then I can get scarcely enough to eat the Mountain Air agrees with me I have a Little pet who has taken a great fancy to me it is a Bright Little Youngster of 15 Years old he is our Drummer Boy and we have a fifer Boy who Matches him he took a fancy to me from the first and we Bunk together in Soldiers phrase every Night and it affords me a pleasure at Night when he nestles by my side in the straw [word crossed out] to wrap him up Comfortable in his Blanket it Reminds me of you my Dear Wife the weather has been intensely cold and but few could Bear it the men themselves and good stout ones to complained and no wonder the Boy Required care and he shall have it While I can administer it but he is a fearless Little Rascal and Bears privations in a manner that shames many an Older and Bigger personage he says he his [is] determined to be a soldier I cannot but think it a shame that one of his tender years should be allowed to Leave his home for such a life we had fracas on Saturday Last which Liked to have become serious it was between a a part of our company and the cadwallader greys [Cadwalader Grays] fortunately arrived on the spot in time to suppress it and our worthy Captain thanked me for it expressed his pleasure at my being there we are Living at present at the [word indecipherable] Hotel in a style a great Deal to good for soldiers I actually slept Last night in a feather Bed under clean sheets the Luxury cost me 25 cts [cents] heretofore the floor with some straw under me has been my Bed and very glad to have 4 hours out of the 24 of good sound sleep on that the fellows keep a vile Discord every Night by singing Laughing and any thing that will create noise the city is full of soldiers and a Dirty Smoky place it is for gentleman of that stamp we expect to leave here very soon write to me immediately get Thomas to Direct it to the Care of Kuhn & Greaves Pittsburg [Pittsburgh]

Remember me to all every Friend and Relation I will give you another Letter in a few Days and I shall find means to send you my Degueretype [Daguerreotype] Likeness in full Uniform and you must have yours taken and Thomas will find means to send it to me at New Orleans Remember me and give My Love all Father Mother and all

And Most Especially take care
of Yourself
James Birch

[page break]

Mrs James Birch
Care of
N. Longmire
Bank Street
Philada [Philadelphia]

Extent of Description

1 leaf, 12.125" x 15.75"

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.