The following letters were written by Arthur Kelty Cleeland (1844-1862), the son of John Cleeland (1811-1909) and Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Morrison of Portersville, Butler county, Pennsylvania

It was the 3rd of September, 1861, when 17 year-old Arthur enlisted as a private in Co. F, 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry. He died at Harrison’s Landing, Virginia, on 5 August 1862. His remains lie under grave no. 47 in Section of the Glendale National Cemetery.

“The 83rd Pennsylvania was officially organized in the late summer of 1861 after the Union defeat at the Battle of First Bull Run and was composed of men from northwestern Pennsylvania. The regiment arrived in Washington City on September 20, 1861, where they received their uniforms and old Harper’s Ferry firearms.  On October 1, the regiment crossed the Long Bridge into Virginia, spent a few days at Arlington Heights, and then moved a few miles west to Hall’s Hill where they joined the Third Brigade of General Fitz-John Porter’s Division of the Army of the Potomac. New Springfield rifles replaced the old firearms. The 83rd trained and drilled for five and a half months at Hall’s Hill during the winter and early spring of 1861-1862.” (Source: Amos Judson, History of the 83^rd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1865).

The 83rd Pennsylvania was a participant in the Peninsula Campaign and fought in the Seven Days Battles, most notably at Gaines’ Mill on 27 June 1862 where they suffered significant casualties. Many men not suffering casualties fell ill during the campaign—one of whom was Arthur.

For more on the history of the regiment, see “One of the Very Best Regiments—A History of the 83rd Regt. Penn. Volunteers.“

[Note: The following letters are from the personal collection of Greg Herr and were offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Letter 1

October 15, 1861

Dewar Parents,

I sit down to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well and the rest of the boys are well. I received your welcome letter and was glad to hear from home. I have received both of your letters that you wrote and I got Morrison’s letter ¹ and I have got Lewis and Phebe’s letter too and I have answered them all and will look for some more. There is nothing I like better than to get a letter to read for that is about all the news I get. William Morrison got a letter from Sam Boston. He is at Harrisburg in camp there. He is a Zouave, so he said in his letter.

I stand it pretty well considering the warm weather in the day time and the nights is cold enough almost to freeze ice. We get plenty to eat, such as it is. It is raised bread, strong coffee and tea to drink, and beans, peas, beef, pork, potatoes, sugar, vinegar, molasses, rice, and hominy.

I was out on picket guard the other day and help cut a road for the telegraphic wire to run along. They have a wire to every brigade about here so that we get the news mighty quick after they start. We have got word several times since the other letter I wrote you to get ready to fight and then they are countermanded so we cool off then until the next time. We don’t know the hour we may have to fight.

Well, I have kept myself pretty straight since I left home and expect to until I get home and then I will have a spree then. I have read the testament half through since I left home and I read some every day. I was sorry to hear that Mr. Clark was sick but I hope he will get well again. I am glad to hear that your corn is good and that you have 4 acres of wheat sowed. I hope I will help you eat it before three years is up. I think we will get through before spring. I hope so anyhow. Well, I must stop. Nothing more I believe but still remain your son, — Arthur K. Clelland

Write soon. Goodbye. Direct your letters to the same place you did and if we do leave, they will follow so that we get them.

[to] J. and E. Clelland

¹ William Morrison Cleland (1838-1920) was Arthur’s older brother. He too served in the Union army—enlisting in Co. G, 155th Pennsylvania Infantry in August 1862. He was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in July 1863 after he injured his right foot leaping off a railroad car. [See William M. and Arthur K. Cleeland]

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Letter 2

Dear sister,

I received your kind letter the 20th of this month which I perused with much pleasure. Well, Maria, here is the stars and stripes a little plainer that that flag of yours. You must try and raise better flag than that. Well, we are still here yet and how long we will stay, I don’t know. I am well and in good spirits and feel like fighting very much. The company was all measured the other day and I measured 6 feet and one inch. I stretched one inch and a half since I left home. Tell [brother] Morrison that I am the biggest man.

Well, that news about Fort Sumter being taken and Charleston being bombarded I guess is not so (but I wish it was). Yesterday we had a big review of about 75 thousand men of war besides about 25 thousand spectators. I tell you, it was a sight to see about 100 thousand all in one field of 6 or 7 hundred acres. Well, nothing more about that.

Well, Maria, I would liked to help eat that chicken you spoke of in your letter. Some chicken would go very well and I would like to help eat some of that pig to it would go very well. I suppose you are living in your fat now and I hope you will live well while I am gone. I suppose you feel very lonesome because your Billy McCartney has quit writing to you. But Maria, that was wonderful. You and him must have had some talk before he went away. I want you and Sarah to keep in good spirits until I go home and then we will have big times. Tell Sarah for her and Hank to wait until I go home before they get married and for your part, I ain’t scared very bad. I would like to have [been] at that party at Allen Hutchinson’s very well but it was rather far for me to go that night. Well, nothing more of that.

Well, [we] have not got our pay yet but expect to get it this week and we are to get a new suit of Zouave uniform this week and then we will be about right. When I get my money, I will get my picture taken and send it home to father and mother. I expect I will get it taken on copper plate and then I can send it in a letter and it won’t cost much.

That poetry you composed done very well considering who done it. Now I will write a few lines in poetry shape. This is the first verse.

Home again, home again
From a foreign shore,
And oh, it fills my sole with joy
To meet my friends once more.

Here I dropped the parting tear
To cross the ocean foam,
But now I am once again with those
Who kindly greet me home.

2. Happy hearts, happy hearts
With mine have laughed in glee,
But oh the friends I loved in youth
Seem happier to me.

And if my guide should be the fate
Which bids me longer roam,
But death alone can break the tie
That binds my heart to home.

3. Music sweet, music soft,
Lingers round the place,
And oh, I feel the childhood charm
That time cannot efface.
Then give me but my homestead root
I’ll ask no palace dome,
For I can live a happy life
With those I love at home. Amen. ¹

— A. K. Cleeland

[to] Maria Cleeland

Write soon. My love to you all. Amen. I have no news to write so you must excuse for not writing more.

¹ “Home again, Home again, from a foreign shore” was a tune composed by Marshall Spring Pike (words & music) in 1850. It was published in Boston but dedicated to Lizzie C. Oakes of Charleston, S. C.—the city that Arthur was sorry to hear had not been bombarded.

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Letter 3

McLane’s Regiment
Camp at Hall’s Hill
December 18, 1861

Dear Sister,

I received your short letter the same time William got one from you. Mine come in his but it was so short I wish you would write larger ones. Well, Maria, I feel first rate as well as ever I did. I would like to go to a few parties if I was at home. I believe I will go up home some night when there is a party a going off some night and go back to war again for that is my trade now and I would not give it [up] for any other trade I know of. Nothing more here.

But something here—but not much after all. We get plenty to eat and plenty to wear. Well, Maria, I have wrote so much about our Zouave suit that I will not write any about them this time. I have not got my picture taken yet but I will as soon as I can. Yell mother she much not get discouraged. I will send my picture as soon as I can.

The French Chasseur Jacket issued to the 83rd Pennsylvania in 1861-62.

We were out all day a shooting at mark and I shot 25 ball cartridges and hit the mark several times. We shoot at marks nearly every day. It is good fun for us Boys but I expect it will be bigger fun when we get to shooting the rebels down. We all want to hurry it through as fast as possible.

Well, Maria, I just finished eating a pint of boiled corn and sweet milk which goes first rate. We buy it from a pedlar. Nothing more here.

But maybe I can write some more here. Well, Maria, I have shaved all my whiskers off but a few on the point of my chin and they are one inch long. The weather is very nice and warm. We have got a little stove in our tent and it keeps us all warm. I think we can winter here first rate.

Well, Maria, Bill Ayers is bothering me so that I can’t write and I just told him to wait until I got done writing and then I would pay him off but he is gone now and I will finish my letter. We are all Bad Boys in this tent and we are all well. Nothing more, I believe. But write soon and write a big letter. Now I have to drill. Goodbye. I remain your brotther, — A. K. Cleeland

[to] Maria Cleeland

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Letter 4

McLane’s Regiment
Camp at Hall’s Hill
December 23rd 1861

Dear Parents,

I take pleasure in writing you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am well and hope these few lines will find you in the same state of health. The rest of the Perry boys is well at present.

Well, father, we had a big review the 21st of this month. We had our new suits on and it looked very well. There was about 12 thousand infantry and two thousand of cavalry and 3 or 4 thousand of artillery and all together made quite a show and one of our United States Senators presented to our regiment a new flag which was a nice one and he presented one to Colonel Black’s regiment. We was reviewed by Gen. McClellan. We marched in columns before him once in common time and once in double quick time. We have big times here.

Well, mother, I have sent you my picture. It got it taken sitting. I thought it would look better for I seen some that was standing and they [were not very well taken so I got mine taken sitting. You will take notice to my whiskers on each corner of my chin. I have shaved off but a little on my chin. I did think they would not take but they did. You will see my hat and plume on my knee and my watch chain on my side and you will see fight in my eye, This is our dress coat and hat.

I do not know how soon we may have to fight for there is such news everyday. We are prepared for it amost any time. We are pretty well drilled. I think we can smash them this winter—at least I think so. Well, I have not heard from you since I sent them $5 but I expect your letter is on the road to me now. When you get the picture, write soon and let me know. I have answered Maria’s letter and I answered Eliza’s letter and I answered Phebe’s letter and I answer all the letters I get. So whenever you get [one], write to me for I like to hear from home.

Well, I had fried liver for breakfast and dinner. I have none for supper but will have something else for the eating part. You know I can take my part in that and as for the lazy part, I can take my part too. Well, nothing more I believe. Goodbye. Your son, — A. K. Cleeland

To John Cleeland and Elizabeth Cleeland

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Letter 5

February 16th 1862

Dear Maria,

It is with my own good will that I sit down to answer your welcome letter of the 12th inst. and also the pictures too. It seems like old times to look at your faces so far from home. They are the best pictures that they can scare up. They go far ahead of Jane and Bell Carringer’s pictures which James got last night. I did not know that I had such good-looking sisters. Maria, I think you look very independent like. But you can tell Sarah that your picture is rather ahead of hers. I was glad to hear from the girls around home. Well, Maria, the Boys all had something to say about your picture. Jim Carringer says he thinks the most of yours. He says it is the best picture.

Well, I am well indeed. I fill first rate. I never had such good health before. I believe I could eat about a bushel of good things. The Boys is all well.

The weather is pretty cold today. I was on guard last night and I came off of guard this morning at 9 o’clock. Well, Maria, I have 7 letters to answer today and tomorrow and I will have [to] cut them off short by the tail. I will write Sarah a few lines on the other half sheet and then I will have to answer that letter Slemens wrote. It is an old buster. When you write, I want you to tell me how much your pictures cost. I was sorry to hear that Clinton was sick but I hope he will get better. Well, I must stop. I thank you very much for the picture. You must excuse me for not writing more for I will send two more home besdies this. Nothing more. I remain your brother, — A. K. Cleeland

To Maria Cleeland. Write soon.