The following letter was written by “Will Morgan” whom I believe was William E. Morgan of Co. D, 10th Illinois Infantry but I can’t be certain of this. There was another soldier in this same regiment named Henry Runge—another name mentioned in the letter—but he served in a different company. There were other regiments that had soldiers by these two names in them but their circumstances don’t seem to coincide with the contents of this letter. The year of the letter is also not given but my hunch is that it was February 1862 when the 10th Illinois was encamped at Bird’s Point, Missouri.

William’s military records inform us that his residence was Jacksonville, Morgan county, Illinois, prior to his enlistment at the age of 18.

Transcription

Home in a tent
February 3rd [1862]

Dear Ma,

Your very kind and dear letter was received yesterday and made my heart leap for joy. I was glad to learn you were all well except John and I was truly sorry to learn he was not well. Hope he will be ere this reaches you. It is winter in earnest here now. Have about one foot of snow and it is cold with it. But it is not so cold as to make us uncomfortable in our cotton houses. On the contrary where I am sitting now, I am rather warm.

I looked for that box today but was doomed to be disappointed. You need have no fears of us leaving here anytime soon. On the contrary, I fear we are going to have to stay here longer than we wish for I would like to take a trip into secession where I would stand a chance to see a Rebel once in a long time.

The boys that came with me are all well. There is but one man out of our company in the hospital. He has the rheumatism in his legs. That was a sad affair of that lady dying in camp. There was one died here—the wife of the Major of the Cavalry.

You seem to look at sleeping on picket in a different light to what I wrote it in. When one lies down to sleep there, there is two left up to watch and give the alarm if they see anything. You need have no fears that I ever will go to sleep on my post. But we are allowed to sleep, or rest, four hours out of every six, for we are always relieved every two hours. I hope, therefore, you will not let my sleeping when on guard cause you any trouble.

Tell Jabbie I will pop in some of these days when he is not looking for me. Tell him that Flener and I had a good time the other night eating pop corn that he sent. I am glad to learn those people feel some remorse at what they did. I got a letter from Woodson Hamilton yesterday. They were all well. He is a strong abolitionist. Henry Runge has got to be secretary for a General.

My health is very good yet. My love to Pa and the children. Accept a large portion for yourself. Write soon to your ever loving son, Will Morgan

P. S. Tell John to quit directing his letters in the care of anyone as I don’t like it. Tell Lou I will answer her’s soon.