Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1805.044.04.06 |
Collection |
Moore Letters |
Object Name |
Letter |
Title |
Letter from Will Moore to his Mother |
Scope & Content |
Will Moore writes from the long homeward march at his camp near Washington, D.C. He can see the Capital dome, writing that it looms up like a "beacon of hope," and speaks of home. He can hardly believe he is there. However, he is saddened that death continues; his tentmate, George Booze, took ill and passed away. He also remarks that another soldier he is close to just received news that his brother died. |
Dates of Creation |
June 3, 1865 |
Date |
June 3, 1865 |
Notes |
The full transcription for this letter is below: Camp 119th Regt [Regiment] Penna [Pennsylvania] Vols [Volunteers] Near Balls Cross Roads June 3rd 1865 Dear Mother We reached our our presant [present] camping grounds shortly after noon yesterday. Marching from [Fair] [Fax], at which place we encamped the night before. You may im-ajin [imagine] the joy when the dome of the capital appeared in sight, it spoke of home, There is a rumor in camp to night [tonight] that our regiment will start for Philadelphia in the early part of next week, I hope it may be so. I received you [your] letter last night. I hardly think that I will have an oppertunity [opportunity] [page break] to get over to Washington. if I do I will try and find out Aunt Elizabeth. We are encamped about 5 miles from Washington, in full sight of the Capitol, which looms up in the distance like a beacon of hope. It speaks of home and a happy reunion. Oh Mother, how I have wished for this time now it is so near at hand I can hardly realize it. How often I have pictured to myself home and what a happy meeting it would be, but in the midst of my [joy] I am saddened by the news that my old tent mate a comrade is dead. When we started for the homeward march he was [page break] sent away sick, but I did not think him so ill. His name was George Booze from Morrisville. We were tented together nearly all last winter, and was one of the happy soldiers that I wrote about. It reminds us how [?] is life. How I [pity] his poor mother. It seems harsh after the war over and about starting on our home-ward march that he should die. I saw Joseph Wells to day [today] and he told me he had received the letter informing him of the death of his brother, and had [written] home. As it is late I must close. My love to you all, Your affectionat [affectionate] Son Will |
Extent of Description |
1 leaf, 7.8" x 9.6" |
Relation |
Show Related Records... |
Condition |
Good |
Condition Notes |
Letter written in pencil. One vertical fold divides the paper in 2, and there are three horizontal folds. |
Legal Status |
On loan from the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia. |
Multimedia Files |
Click here to view the full transcription of the Moore Letters Collection. |
People |
Moore, Will Moore, Hugh |
Search Terms |
Moore Letters Washington, D.C. Philadelphia, PA 119th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry |