ORIGINAL LETTER:
October 14, 1862 Harper's Ferry
Dear Brothers and Sisters
I wish that I was home today; I have got a very mean job. You know that we lost our good Captain and now they think they must put me on guard, and I sit right down on the ground and write just as fast as I
can to let you know how I am getting along. Not much you had better believe. My hearing is not as good as it was when I left Madison, and my health has not been good since I was on this hill not far from Harper's Ferry, but I keep about and train all the time is wanted of me. It seems rather hard to be a
soldier, but I have got to be one after all, I think. But I can tell you one thing: If I ever live to get home, I won't be another I can tell you, but I suppose that you are making some cider. If you get a chance to
send me anything, send me some cider put up in bottles, and some apples and a little bottle of pain killer, and don't try to send me any cake or anything that will get smashed, but I want anything that will keep a week. I have not any news to send you today because I wrote to you the other day and suppose that you will get that first. Give my love to all the neighbors and tell Mister Hill that I received his letter and was glad to hear from him and will try and answer him as soon as possible.
Tell little Charley that I think a great deal of his letter. I used to say that he could read better than I could read better than I could and he beats me at writing and spelling both, and I could read it very fast, his
letter. I am glad to hear that your crops are as good and I hope that all the folks are good because we
don't have nothing to eat here, and so I hopes you have got something to eat there. I will try and answer as fast as I can, but won't you answer me as fast you can because that it makes me feel pleased to hear
from home. Give my love to all the folks and tell them I want to see them all.
From a brother,
John Redfield, 13th New Jersey
http://www.nps.gov/anti/forteachers/upload/Letters%20and%20Diaries%20of%20Soldiers%20and%20Civilians.pdf
Miss. Schwecke's Letter
December 25, 1862 Harper's Ferry
Dear Family,
Merry Christmas. I am sad to still be here without you all to celebrate on this day. It has been two months since I have last written. I am writing you to inform you I am ok and still fighting for this cause.
Things are getting better now that I am used to sitting on guard and used to the sounds of the forest. We are waiting for orders from the Union to what we should do next. I still think about the cider and cake that you might be enjoying at home. I hope the day where I can enjoy some with you comes soon. I have to keep reminding myself I am here for a reason, and a good reason for that. I am glad our state has decided to secede from the Confederate and join the Union. I hope this all ends soon and our morals are upheld throughout the country. I believe that the South will still progress in their rural careers of farming and community. Until I return, have Charley to keep up his schooling, I expect to see what all he can beat me at, if he can.
Things are getting better now that I am used to sitting on guard and used to the sounds of the forest. We are waiting for orders from the Union to what we should do next. I still think about the cider and cake that you might be enjoying at home. I hope the day where I can enjoy some with you comes soon. I have to keep reminding myself I am here for a reason, and a good reason for that. I am glad our state has decided to secede from the Confederate and join the Union. I hope this all ends soon and our morals are upheld throughout the country. I believe that the South will still progress in their rural careers of farming and community. Until I return, have Charley to keep up his schooling, I expect to see what all he can beat me at, if he can.
All the love from Harper's Ferry,
John Redfield
