This letter was written by George J. Whitman (1834-1917) who enlisted as a private in Co. G, 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry on 29 October 1861. Serving with him and mentioned in the letter are Thomas Tracy and Luther Armstrong—all of Potter county, Pennsylvania. The regiment moved to Washington in early November 1861 and encamped north of the Capitol before crossing the Potomac River on the 27th, and going into camp near Alexandria, VA.  There, the regiment was assigned to the brigade commanded by General William. H. French, General William Sumner’s Division, of the newly organized Army of the Potomac. They would not be battle tested until June 1, 1862 at Fair Oaks in McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign.

George Whitman was the son of Peter and Sarah (Bennett) Whitman of West Bainbridge, Chenango county, New York. He was married to Ruth Hackett (1834-1918) in 1860 and residing in Ulysses, Potter county, Pennsylvania when he enlisted. After serving in the 52nd Pennsylvania, George served one and a half years in the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry.

[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

[Camp near Alexandria, Virginia]
December 8th 1861

Well Ruth,

You see here I am here. I am a talking to you once more. I feel pretty well this morning and hope that you can say the same. I suppose that it is very cold weather in Potter. Here it’s pleasant weather. The third of this month we see a snake crawling on the ground and se grasshoppers quite frequently so you can guess for yourself what weather we have here. I don’t know but you will get sick of such writing but Ruth, you must overlook all my mistakes.

My dear girl, you say that if you thought that if you could never see me again you should not want to live any longer. But you must not think so. Think it is all for the best and if we never meet here on earth, I hope that we may be so prepared that we may meet in heaven.

My dear Ruth, I don’t know but you think I enlisted into the army for to get rid of you but my dear wife, allowing God to my judge, I have not had no such thoughts. I enlisted for the war not for mere pay, but to help put down the rebellion and to help sustain that star spangled banner which is now a waving over our heads—that noble flag that our fore fathers fought for and gained the victory. Do you think that our lives can be any better spent than it can be in the war? Do you? But my Ruth, we mustn’t think that we never shall see each other again. We must put all trust in God and it will work for the best. God knows best what to do with us.

I wrote to Ian about that trade and told him that you might do as you like about it. I think that we shall see each other next spring. I think that we shall not see any fighting at all because the secessioners keep backing up about sixteen miles from us. Ruth, I have wrote to you once a week and sometimes twice a week. Would [write] more if I had time but you see that I am busy pretty much all the time.

I must tell you something about our living. We have a tent about 8 feet square and there’s six of us that lives in one of them. We have to lay spoon fashion and pretty snug at that. Thomas Tracy tents with us and because Lute and [I] won’t let him do about as he does at home, he is growling pretty much all of the time. Sometimes he haves a good fit on and then tells what he is a going to do. He talks of selling his farm in Potter and buying one here so you see that he thinks of going into big business.

About the mill, you done just right. It is not time to pay the note yet and when it is due, think that I can send you the money, but they cannot collect it whilst I am at the war so if they begin to crowd too hard, tell them if they want their pay, that they might keep cool and it shall all come.

Ruth, if it would not be too much trouble, I would like o have you send me a pair of gloves and Lute says that he wants Louisa to send him a pair. Put the same directions on your letters that you have done ad they will come through. I leave a spot here for Lute to write to you. I remain your affectionate husband. So goodbye. — G. J. Whitman

Dear Ruth, forget me not and write often. Lute says that he has not much to write but he says that [he] wishes you and Julie was here to slap him with the hand. Some of the boys is crawling around in the shadde to get out of the sun. It is a pretty warm day. Luther Armstrong

Give my love to Father and Mother and Louisa and all inquiring friends. Tell them that I should like to hear from them all and I mean to write to all when I get money to buy paper. I wrote to Nelson and told [him] to send you that money. You must get it as quick as you can because I think you need it.