The following letter was written by Lewis M. Prall (1843-1869), the son of Ellis F. Prall (1810-1880) and Sarah Ann Randolph (1812-1895) of Smyrna, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Lewis was only 17 years old when he penned this letter to his mother while serving in Co. A, 1st Pennsylvania Reserves (30th Infantry). His service record indicates that he enlisted in July 1861 and mustered out in June 1864.

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Annapolis Junction [Maryland]
August 18, 1861

Dear Mother,

This being Sunday and I having just come off of guard to go on a 3 o’clock again for we have to be on guard 24 hours. We stand on two hours and off 4 hours. I would rather be on guard than on drill but then I have my share of both. Our Captain is not here now. He went to Washington with two more—one a Lieutenant—and without a pass and they took him to headquarters at Annapolis City to be court martialed. I don’t know what they will do with him yet but wherever he goes, the company will go also for we will stick to him till death.

“Mother, believe me or not, but just the words that you wrote telling me never to give up the Stars & Stripes gave such comfort and peace to my mind that I fear no danger to know that I have such a mother to care for me.”

— Lewis N. Prall, 18 August 1861

Enclosed in this letter you will find an account of wagons, horses, medicines, and two men that we captured on last Friday. I am sitting in one of the wagons now writing this letter. I received your letter in due time. I had begun to think you had forgotten me at home until I got you long looked for letter which contained such comforting words that I never shall forget them. It was a drink of fresh water to the weary traveler. It revived me up both in body and in mind. It lightened my footsteps and put new courage in my heart to think I had such a kind, noble, and heroic mother. I could die for such a mother and think it no pain indeed. Mother, believe me or not, but just the words that you wrote telling me never to give up the Stars & Stripes gave such comfort and peace to my mind that I fear no danger to know that I have such a mother to care for me.

Mother, there is some things that I wish you would send to me. That is tobacco for the tobacco is so dear down here and then it is the worse kind. And 1 pair of stockings, 1 shirt, Marseilles breast, 1 handkerchief, some paper and envelopes, and some pies and cakes, some leather shoestrings, two or three sheets of sandpaper, and a piece of flannel and anything else you think I need. But don’t send more than 1 shirt for I can’t carry them. We don’t want any more things than we can help. You can send them in a box by Adams Express company. It won’t cost much. Stotts sent Joe a box and it only cost 50 cents and it was larger than you need send. Just pay for sending it and get the receipt for it and send it to me in the box for there was a box sent to a fellow here and they paid it at home and he either has to pay it here or send for the receipt. Just get the receipt and open the box and then when it comes I can open the box and show the receipt that it is paid. Please send it soon. Also, write soon. Give my love to Pap and your own dear self, Tell Pap I am much obliged for that dollar. Tell him when we get paid, I will send him some money to pay my bill at Pownell’s. I am very well. I like soldier’s life very well. Goodbye. From you true son, — Lewis M. Prall

Tell Pap I have seen but one cat since I came here and that was last night. Give my love to Hope and Philie and tell then to write soon. I got Lib Gray’s letter and will answer it today. The weather down here is very hot. It has hardly missed a day since we came here but what it has rained. It is raining now. There is some talk of us coming to Pennsylvania to go into differently regiments for our regiment is not near full but I don’t know whether it is so or not. John Mason is down at Annapolis in Captain NH company.

Direct that box to Annapolis Junction, Maryland, care of Capt. [John W.] Nields. George Steinheiser is in a company here. He used to live with us. He was the one that sat on the garret window.