The following letters were written by Peter Bearl (1836-1896), a coal miner who enrolled Oct. 29, 1862 as a Private in Co. A, 10th Pa. Infantry, mustering in at Harrisburg, for 3 years. He transferred to Co. I, 191st Pennsylvania Infantry June 1, 1864. Mustered out with company June 28, 1865. He served from Oct. 29, 1862 to June 28, 1865—a total of 31 month and 29 days. He applied for Invalid Pension on May 8, 1879, for Heart Disease and Rheumatism. His wife, Mary Ellen Baker (1840-1914) applied for a Widow’s Pension after his death on Sept. 25, 1896.
I believe Peter’s parents names were Henry Bearl and Mary Knopschnider.
Letter 1
Camp Curtin
November 12, 1862
Dear Mary,
I will seat myself to drop you a line to let you know that I am well at the present time and hope to find you in the same state of good flesh. Mary, I have to leave here in the morning at nine o’clock for Washington as far as I know. Mary, I want you to tell John Baker this. I can’t write to him for this time. Tell him I am well at present time. I like soldier life well and I wish he was with me too and in uniform. We have more fun than old Somerset can afford. There was one in camp Simonds of the [ ] that died today. He got his cider and went out of his tent and fell over and was dead. I can’t tell what was wrong with him. I must say this. Now don’t like [ ] life. One more song for you—a good song [The Girl I Left Behind Me]
From Peter Bearl
to Mary Bearl and John Baker
Direct your letter to Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, In care of Capt. Knee, Co. A, 10th [Pennsylvania] Regiment
Letter 2
Camp of the 191st Regt. P. V.
March 10, 1865
Dear Wife,
Yours of March 2 came to hand last night and I was very glad to hear that you are all well. I am well at present, hoping when this reaches you it will find you and all the friends the same. There is no news here of importance at present—only it has been raining for several days already and is still raining yet and it is very muddy. But I am glad to see it so because it will delay the moving of the army. We have a big revival meeting here in our regiment which has been carried on for several weeks already and a great many are getting religion every night. The meetings are held all through the army of late and I think they are doing a great deal of good.
We got our four months pay the other day but I do not like to send any money by mail now unless you need it very bad. The reason that I do not like to send my money is this—the mail is robbed so often it is hardly safe to risk it in a letter. You want to know how far Samuel and John and I are a part. It is between three and four miles as near as I can tell. You said you heard that I lost an arm. If I lost one of my arms, it is unknown to me altogether and I further more say it was a false report that I lost an arm.
I am sorry that my brother is in such bad health. I would like very much to come home to see my Mother but I can’t come till my time is up. I give my best respects to you all. I have no more to write this time. Write soon and give me all the news. From your husband, — Peter Bearl
To Mrs. Mary Bearl of Somerset county, Pa.
Letter 3
Camp of the 191st P. V. Vols.
March 16th 1865
My dear wife,
Yours of March 9th came to hand last night and I was glad to hear that you and all the rest is well. I am well at present. Hoping when this reaches you, it will find you the same. I am sorry that my Mother is so feeble but so it is and I cannot make it any better. We will have to take all things just as they come. I will send you a fifty dollar bill in this letter and let me know of it as soon as you get it. The reason that I wrote that I was coming home in a few days was this—the bill was before Congress to discharge all men who were enlisted for the unexpired term of regiments, but the bill did not pass so I was very badly fooled on those remarks. I have now answered your question in regard of coming home.
Now I want you to answer my question and that is this, you say you have so much trouble. I would like very much to know what makes you trouble? Explain this to me in your next letter.
I was up to see Sam Fisher and John last Money. They are both well and in good hopes of the war ending some day or other. I also saw the letter you sent to Sam Fisher. I also saw Dan Queer, Hen Deeds, and a good many others from our neighborhood and they were all well. You stated in your letter when I come home you will go with me anyplace. If that is so, how would you like to go with me to Minnesota. I have taken up a homestead of a hundred and sixty acres. It only cost me twenty dollars—the whole thing—and I guess I’ll have to go out and improve it as soon as I come home. You can now make up your mind to go and I think this will perhaps cease your troubles.
I think the [spring] campaign will now most anyway commence. The sutlers are all ordered back and we have orders to be ready to march in a moment’s notice. Send me some stamps in your next letter or else writing will be finished. That tobacco I have not yet received. No more. Write soon. Your husband, — Peter Bearl
Letter 4
Appomattox Court House, Virginia
April 12th 1865
My dear wife,
I will write you a few lines this morning to let you know that I am well and unhurt so far. Hoping when this reaches you, it will find you and all the rest the same. I got a letter from you day before yesterday dated March 30th and was very glad to hear from you. A had also got a letter from you dated March 24th and I was sorry to hear the death of my Mother. But so it is and we cannot make it any better. But I had not so much time. Besides that we could not send any mail as we had no communication.
We left our quarters on the morning of the 29th and we had hard fighting and marching day and night until the 9th of April. We then had surrounded General Lee and his whole army on the 9th of April. About four o’clock, General Lee surrendered his whole army to General Grant. I think the war is about at an end. Gen. Lee has also advised General Johnston to surrender his army to General Sherman but we have not yet heard whether he has done so or not. But he would better do so for their main army is gone now.
The soldiers of Lee’s army are all being paroled and are going to their homes and they are all very glad that they are out of the army. I have not saw Sam [Fisher] or John [Baker] since this campaign commenced. Therefore I cannot tell you anything about them this time but I hope they are all safe. I think peace will soon be declared. Then we can all come home for to stay and we would all be very glad to go home.
Don’t trouble yourself anymore about me for I think we will all soon some home and the war at an end. Don’t send anything to me anymore for I will not get it anyhow, excepting letters. You can send [letters] as often as you wish. I have my mother’s likeness yet and I am going to keep it. But it is spoiled a good deal and the glass I have broken on it. Those things of my father’s estate, just let them do as they will and when I come home I’ll see to it myself.
I will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon. I give my best respects to all the friends. You can tell Adam Ridinger’s wife that he is well, safe and sound so far. From your affectionate husband, — Peter Bearl
to my wife Mary
Spared & Shared 23 