The Thomas McKean Collection
Thomas McKean was the Band Leader of the 10th Pennsylvania Reserves’s Regimental Band. Seldom is heard from soldiers holding such a post. These letters were shared with us by Roland J. Gallo in 2011, and are being posted now for research and educational purposes.
Individual Wartime Correspondence
Letter from "Anon", Co. D, from Camp Wilkins, dated June 3, 1861
Anon.,Co. D, 10th Pa. Reserves [Jefferson Guards].June 3, 1861
My Old Friend, Reporter:
Supposing it might be interesting to some of your readers to have an account of soldiers’ life in Camp W...
Letter from "Dimes", Co. H, from Camp Wright, dated June 15, 1861
“Dimes,”Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves [Warren Guards],June 5, 1861
Mr. Editor:
Knowing that our Warren friends must be desirous of hearing of their boys, I deem it an especial duty as well as pleasure, to ...
Letter from "M", Co. D, from Camp Wright, dated July 15, 1861
“M.”Co. D, 10th Pa. Reserves [Jefferson Light Guards],July 15, 1861
Dear Reporter:It has been some weeks since I have had an opportunity of sending you any account of camp matters, but there has bee...
Letter from "P", Co. D, from Camp Wilkins, dated June 17, 1861
“P,” Co. D, 10th Pa. Reserves [Jefferson Guards].
June 17, 1861
Messrs. Editors:
Another Monday finds us in Camp Wilkins, although we expected long ere this to have been removed to Camp Wri...
Letter from "Kitten", Co. H, from Camp Wright, dated June 19, 1861
“Kitten,”Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves [Warren Guards],June 8, 1861
Editors Ledger -- Gentlemen:
Knowing that before this time, you must have received an account of our journey here, I will not des...
Letter from Nathaniel S. Falconer, Co. H, from Camp Wright, dated July 1, 1861
Nathaniel S. Falconer,Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves [Warren Guards],July 1, 1861
Editors of Ledger – Sirs:
Having a few moments to spare this morning, I thought that I could not employ them better, t...
Letter from "Dimes", Co. H, from Camp Wright, dated July 13, 1861
“Dimes,”Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves, Warren Guards,July 2, 1861
Mr. Editor:
Since my last communication was written our Orderly has been among you and I have no doubt, from the result of his mis...
Letter from Nathaniel S. Falconer, Co. H, from Hopewell, Pa., dated July 24, 1861
Nathaniel S. Falconer,Warren Guards, Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves.July 19, 1861
Hopewell, Pennsylvania -
Editors of Ledger, Gentlemen: We have at last got started from Camp Wright. We received marching...
Letter from "A", Co. F, from Washington, D.C., dated July 25, 1861
“A”, Curtin Rifles, Co. F, 10th Pa. Reserves.July 25, 1861
Washington, D.C. –
We are to-day (Thursday) encamped in Capitol Square, in front of the Capitol building, which is full of shade trees...
Letter from "Anon", Co. F, from Washington, D.C., dated July 26, 1861
Anon., Jefferson Guards, Co. D, 10th Pa. Reserves.July 26, 1861
Washington, D.C. –
This beautiful morning finds us in the splendid park immediately in front of the Capitol building, where we b...
Letter from Jeremiah R. Imbri, Co. K, from Washington, D.C., dated August 1, 1861
Jeremiah R. Imbri, Wilson Rifles, Co. K, 10th Pa. Reserves.August 1, 1861
Washington –
It being a rainy day the noise and stir which usually attends camp has, to a great extent, ceased. The o...
Letter from Jeremiah R. Imbri, Co. K, from Camp Tenally, dated August 20, 1861
Jeremiah R. Imbri, Wilson Rifles, Co. K, 10th Pa. Reserves.August 20, 1861
Camp Tennelly, Aug. 20.
Mr. Editor:
From present appearances the almost ceaseless rain of the past week is over....
Letter from "H", Co. D, from Camp Tenally, dated August 27, 1861
“H”, Jefferson Guards, Co. D, 10th Pa. Reserves.August 27, 1861
Camp Tenally, Aug. 27, 1861.
Messrs Editors: On receiving the last number of your paper I found no communication from our Regiment, and...
Letter from Milo R. Adams, Co. F, from Camp Tenally, dated August 29, 1861
Captain Milo R. Adams, Curtin Rifles, Co. F, 10th Pa. Reserves.August 29, 1861
Camp Tennelly –
Editor Argus: You will please give these few lines an insertion in your columns in order to contradict v...
Letter from "Dimes", Co. H, from Camp Tenally, dated September 3, 1861
“Dimes,” Warren Guards, Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves.Sept. 3, 1861 [Warren Mail: 9-14-1861].
Camp Tennally –
Mr. Editor: The lack of conveniences for writing arising from our late frequent chang...
Letter from Nathaniel S. Falconer, Co. H, from Camp Tenally, dated September 6, 1861
Nathaniel S. Falconer,Warren Guards, Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves.Sept. 6th, 1861 [Warren Ledger: 9-18-1861].
Camp Tenally, D.C. –
Editors Ledger: Feeling it my duty, as well as the duty of every o...
Letter from Jeremiah R. Imbri, Co. K, from Camp Tenally, dated September 12, 1861
Jeremiah R. Imbri, Wilson Rifles, Co. K, 10th Pa. Reserves.Sept. 12, 1861 [Beaver Weekly Argus: 9-18-1861]
Camp Tenelly, D.C. –
There is quite an improvement in our camp within the past few d...
Letter from Eben N. Ford, Co. H, from Camp Tenally, dated September 18, 1861
Sept. 18, 1861
Camp Tennally, D.C. –
Editor Warren Mail: The various correspondents that represent the numerous daily papers are reporting the progress, position and condition of the army so m...
Letter from Alonzo P. Barnes, Co. H, from Camp Tenally, dated September 20, 1861
Alonzo P. Barnes, Warren Guards, Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves.September 20, 1861 [Warren Mail: 10-5-1861]
Camp Tenally, D.C. –
Editor Mail: It is unusually quiet here to-day on account of five companies g...
Letter from Daniel W. Mayes, Co. H, from Camp Tenally, dated October 5, 1861
Lt. Daniel W. Mayes, Warren Guards, Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves.Oct. 5, 1861 [Warren Mail: 10-26-1861]
Camp Tenally –
Mr. Editor: On the 30th of September the Reserve Corps was called to arms with t...
Letter from Eben N. Ford, Co. H, from Camp Pierpont, dated October 14, 1861
Eben N. Ford, Warren Guards, Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves.Oct. 14, 1861 [Warren Mail: 10-26-1861]
Camp Pierpont –
Editors Mail: The excited states of affairs during the last few weeks has prevented m...
Letter from Nathaniel S. Falconer, Co. H, from Camp Pierpont, dated October 19, 1861
Nathaniel S. Falconer, Warren Guards, Co. H, 10th Pa. Reserves.Oct. 19, 1861 [Warren Ledger: 10-30-1861]
Camp Pierpont –
Messrs. Editors: For me to write a letter sufficiently interesting for t...
Letter from Thomas S. Wray, Co. F, from Camp near Richmond, dated June 28, 1862
Thomas S. Wray, Meadville Volunteers, Co. F, 10th PA Reserves,June 28, 1862 [Beaver Weekly Argus: 7-16-1862]
Camp Near Richmond –
Dear Wife: Since writing my last letter to you we have had a t...
Letter from Chase Osgood, Co. H, from Carver Hospital, Washington, D.C., dated September 5, 1862
Chase Osgood, Warren Guards, Co. H, 10th PA Reserves,Sept. 5, 1862 [Warren Mail: 9-13-1862]
Carver Hospital, Washington, D.C. –
Friend Cowan: As the Warren Guards have had no mail accommodations f...
Letter from "C", Co. C, from Battle Field of Sharpsburg, Md., dated September 18, 1862
“C,” Venango Grays, Co. C, 10th PA Reserves,September 18, 1862 [Venango Spectator: 9-24-1862]
Battle Field of Sharpsburg, Md. –
Friend Whitaker: We have met the enemy in two of their own posit...
Letter from John H. Beighley, Co. F, from Battle Field near Fredericksburg, dated December 15, 1862
John H. Beighley, Curtin Rifles, Co. F, 10th PA Reserves,December 15, 1862 [Beaver Weekly Argus: 12-14-1862]
On Battle Field, Near Fredericksburg –
Mr. Editor: I take the present opportunity o...
Letter from Benjamin P. Addelman, Co. C, from Camp of the 10th P.R.V.C., dated March 8, 1863
Benjamin P. Addelman, Venango Grays, Co. C, 10th PA Reserves,March 8th 1863 [Source Unknown]
March 8th 1863, Camp 10th Regt P.R.V.C. Co. C
Dear Sister
After a long delay I take this oportunity...
Letter from Benjamin P. Addelman, Co. C, from Washington D.C., dated May 12, 1863
Benjamin P. Addelman, Venango Grays, Co. C, 10th PA Reserves,May 12th 1863 [Source Unknown]
Bairacks East Capitol HillWashington City DCMay the 12th 63
Dear Sister
It is with pleasure that...
