Letter from Hildebrand , James W.
| Soldier: Hildebrand , James W. |
| Allegiance: Union |
| Unit/Service Branch: 139th Infantry |
| Home State: Pennsylvania |
| Date Written: Saturday, August 22nd, 1863 |
| Location: Waterloo, Virginia |
| Correspondence Type: Letter |
| Subjects: Emancipation, Patriotism, Politics, Slavery |
| |
Camp near Waterloo
Dear Sir, On receiving your letter of August 18th this evening it put me in good spirits for writing. I recollect of having fifteen dollars for to send to you in that letter but on putting it away and then taking it out of the pocket book again I did not get it all in but it is alright as I only made a mistake of it. You said particular of me like to fetch the drafted men out. Well, I should but I would not undertake it myself as I would have plenty of assistance. Oh, how nice those drafted men would come out and join the army of the Potomac in putting down the rebellion. I tell you these men that are so much against the rulers of the government, if they would be a soldier one month near where there is any Rebels that they could see how things are, they would be of another opinion right away. Tell me one soldier that calls this a Negro War I would like to know him and have some acquaintance with him. The soldiers all say here that this proclamation issued by the President last winter was for the better off. How dumb the people are. If they could get their eyes open once and see clearly. In the New Testament it reads something pluck out the beans of thy brother’s eye than that they may see clearly. Well it will be well for these men to be subject to the draft for if they get to see the horrors of war on their own soil they will say “Oh we will go Father Abraham” full hundred thousand strong. Let us alone. Gunpowder spent for other purposes is enough. Oh I do pity the women and children if war is to take place at our own door yards. God have mercy on them and keep them from harm. They had far better let this alone. If they pay their fine it is all right but as for to be as the Irishmen’s flee - it will not do. We get papers daily and all he very latest news. You said that I would have a pretty busy time of helping to pack the drafted out. Oh, this would be funny to me for if there no more danger in it than in fighting the Rebels I am sure I would have an easy job on my side of the work. The man that says I am an Abolitionist is worse then Jeff Davis and I am sure he is ten times worse than the Devil wants him to be. This will fetch him in rank with the Confederacy. Cut throats. I would like to converse with him a short time if he were here to see he could get his eyes open. This all this evening but finish tomorrow, Truly yours August 24 1863 Sir, Not getting any wrote yesterday, I will finish it now. The man that said I was a D--- Abolitionist is a Copperhead and that is worse than the Morgan Guerillas. Oh well, this is enough. It is of no use to talk about such things for if the soldiers gets home there will be more murdering than ever for they won’t agoing to take any slack. The army has got all different opinions of things now by what they had when Burnside had command of the army. About Cousin Will Anderson getting married. I heard of that some three or four days before I got your letter but did not know that he was so much ashamed of himself as to not let it be known for so long. This all at present but write soon and give all news. So much from your son James W, Hildebrand to his father Charles Hildebrand
|
| |
|
