The following letter was written by Jacob Bruckart Eshleman (1843-1864), the son of Jacob S. Eshleman (1813-1889) and Fanny Bruckart (1816-1890) of West Hempfield township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The letter was mailed to his older brother, John B. Eshlen (1839-1906).

Jacob enlisted at the age of 19 on 29 August 1862 to serve as a private in Co. B, 45th Pennsylvania Infantry. His name appears on muster roles as Echelman but the family gravestones spell the name as he has signed this letter, Eshleman. He was taken prisoner at Poplar Springs Church, Virginia, on 30 September 1864 and ultimately taken to the stockade at Salisbury, North Carolina, where he died of disease. On June 4, 1883, Jacob applied for a father’s pension but did not receive it. On December 2, 1887, Fanny applied for a mother’s pension and did receive it. 

Jacob wrote this letter less than three weeks before the Battle of Fredericksburg in which his regiment was held in reserve and suffered no casualties. They were, as stated in the letter, attached to the 3rd Brigade (Leasure), 1st Division (Burns), 9th Army Corp (Willcox). The regiment was brigaded with the 36th Massachusetts and the 100th Pennsylvania.

To read letters by other members of the 45th Pennsylvania Infantry that I have transcribed and posted on Spared & Shared, see:

Lawrence P. Williams, Co. D, 45th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
William B. Glenn, Co. E, 45th Pennsylvania (3 Letters)
Homer S. Thompson, Co. E, 45th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
Henry Tyrus Rice, Co. G, 45th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
Eli Smith, Co. G, 45th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
William Chase, Co. I, 45th Pennsylvania (2 Letters)
Thomas Layton, Co. I, 45th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)

Transcription

Fredericksburg, Va.
November 26th 1862

Dear brother,

I will inform you a few lines to let you know that I am well. I received your letter of the 17th and that pin cushion. I was glad to get it but there is something wanting yet and that is a shears or scissors.

Tell father to come down for he can find us. It is strange that you did not send something with Welch for I am the only one in the company that did not get anything. Benjamin got a pair of boots and cigars and a pair of gloves and some other things. But it is all right. Tell father to come right on sight.

Washington Hershey says that his father is coming down and that he drawed his bounty $41.44 cents so I suppose you drawed mine, and father can take of that money to pay his fare. They may have all that but when I send for a little, I want you to send it. When father comes, let him be prepared to leave $5 here for me. And tell them to bake some custard and cakes and bring some [  ] along and two good cotton shirts—dark colored, and two pair of cotton stockings, boots, and a pair of gloves, and a good pair at that. A yard of that good pocket strip for pockets in my overcoat and blouse. Tell him to come to Washington D. C. and then to Aquia Creek. He must enquire for the regiment. If it ain’t there, then come up the river to Fredericksburg along the railroad and after the army.

The regiment is in the 1st Division, 3rd Brigade, 9th Army Corps. But I think we will stay here for the Colonel reported his regiment not fit for duty. There are not more than 350 men fit for duty now. I wish we would stay.

Amos Hogendobler ¹ is close with us. He was picked up as a straggler and put under arrest. It was the greatest wonder in the world that I kept after for we march 15 and 20 miles every day for 4 days and with our knapsacks on. If Hogendoblers want to send anything to Amos, he can bring it along. Tell him to come as soon as he possibly can.

Your brother, — Jacob Eshleman

To John Eshleman

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¹ Amos Hogendobler was not in the 45th Pennsylvania Infantry. Rather, he served in Co. K, 34th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was also from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.