The following letter was written by a Union soldier from the state of Pennsylvania and we know that he had a brother named Moses, but beyond that, there are very few clues that would afford us an opportunity to learn his identity. It was unsigned and there is no envelope. The letter was written on stationery of the 84th Pennsylvania but the directions he provides his brother for answering his letter appears to state that he was in Co. C of the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Penn. Volunteers). Soldiers in Co. C, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves were recruited in Blair and Westmoreland counties.

Transcription

Co. I, 84th Regt. Penn. Volunteer Infantry
Camp near Rappahannock Station. Va.
August 5, 1863

My dear brother Mose,

As it happens as I hain’t got any mail in some time, I thought that I would write a few lines to see if I can get a letter from you. I have not had a letter from you in some time. I want you to answer it as soon as you get it.

Well, Mose, we have had a hard march of it. We left camp the 10th of June and marched till the 1st of August when we arrived at Rappahannock Station where we are now and I expect to stay for some time and would like to hear from you.

We had a fight at Snicker’s Gap. There was but three wounded in our regiment. There was a hard fight yesterday with the cavalry. We seen the shells burst and heard the musketry. They was across the river. We was on picket when the firing commenced. We had to put on our cartridge box and take our gun in our hands and be ready to go in if we was wanted to.

So no more at present. So goodbye. Write soon. I have seen Harve Dishart and he said that he wanted you to write to him. Direct to Washington D. C., 6th [?] Pennsylvania Reserves, Co. C.