Wartime Correspondence

The William Fitting Collection

William Fitting served as a Sergeant in Company G, 6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps. These letters are provided to us courtesy of Julie Wollard Trout.

Individual Wartime Correspondence

Letter from Hiram J. Ramsdell, June 28, 1861 from Camp Curtin

Letter from Hiram J. Ramsdell, June 28, 1861 from Camp Curtin

June 28, 1861Camp Curtin Our camp looks dreary and deserted now and is indeed a lonesome place. Since the forepart of last week we have had busy times and dull times, the one succeeding the other,...
Letter from William H. Jayne, December 20, 1861, related to Dranesville.

Letter from William H. Jayne, December 20, 1861, related to Dranesville.

Friday morning, Dec. 20th, the 10th, 12th, 9th and 6th Pa. Reserves and Kane’s Rifle regiment (Bucktails), five Companies of the 1st regiment Pa. Cavalry, with four pieces of Easton’s Battery, took up ...
Letter from George W. Merrick, December 24, 1861, in relation to Dranesville.

Letter from George W. Merrick, December 24, 1861, in relation to Dranesville.

Dec. 24, 1861 Editor Agitator: Having seen nothing in the papers but misstatements in relation to our recent engagement at Drainsville, and knowing the probable anxiety that some of your readers...
Letter from Charles Lynch to his parents, December 25, 1861, from Camp Pierpont

Letter from Charles Lynch to his parents, December 25, 1861, from Camp Pierpont

Camp Pierpont, December 25, 1861 Dear Parents: I write to let you know that I am well, and hope that this will find you the same. We had a battle at Drainesville on Friday which lasted one hour...
Letter from John E. Lewis, December 25, 1861, related to Dranesville

Letter from John E. Lewis, December 25, 1861, related to Dranesville

Dec. 25, 1861 Mr. Editor: As ‘tis Christmas day, and thus a holiday to us in camp as well as to those at home, I thought I would spend a few moments in giving your many readers a brief account of t...
Excerpts from a Private Letter of Ransford B. Webb, July 19, 1862, from Harrison's Landing

Excerpts from a Private Letter of Ransford B. Webb, July 19, 1862, from Harrison's Landing

July 19, 1862 [Excerpts of a private letter, in Wellsboro Agitator: 7-30-1862]. Harrison’s Landing – "All quiet along the lines to-day," has been an every day saying ever since the fight and eva...