The following letters were written by 17 year-old David Kime (1845-1916), the son of Abraham Kime (1815-1902) and Barbara Noel (1816-1904) of Gettysburg, Adams county, Pennsylvania. David and his older brother, Franklin Levi Kime (1839-1918) both served in Co. K, 101st Pennsylvania Volunteers with their father, Abraham Kime (1815-1902).

Abraham was in his upper 40’s when he enlisted and was discharged on a surgeon’s certificate of disability in September 1862 after he was shot in the left elbow at the Battle of Fair Oaks. He was an older brother of Jacob Kime whose farm was three miles north of Gettysburg was overrun by Confederates in July 1863 and used as a Confederate hospital. There are even some Confederate soldiers buried there. Abraham made his home several miles north of Gettysburg in Menallen township.

In April 1864, the 101st Pennsylvania was a garrison that defended Plymouth, North Carolina, along with the 103rd Pennsylvania, two North Carolina units and three regiment of U. S. Colored Troops. Most of the 101st Pennsylvania were taken prisoner by Confederates when they overran the Union defenses at Plymouth on 20 April 1864, both David and Frank among them. Both were transported to Andersonville Prison where they remained over ten months, until late February 1865. Both survived to come home.

Letter 1

Mess Camp of Recruits near Alexandria
October the 19th 1862

Dear Miss,

I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present and hoping that these few lines may find you in the same state of health. We have fine times here. There is fifteen hundred men in this camp. There is camps all around us and the cannons is roaring every day. The men here is all well contented. There is seven forts here on this side of the [Potomac] river and we are building another fort.

I left Camp Curtin the 10th of this month and been here ever since. I was once on guard and three days working on the new fort. I like it better here than at Camp Curtin. We have plenty to eat, fresh beef, pork, coffee, beans, rice, and nice soft bread. We had [an accident] in Baltimore. There one car run off of the track and mashed into pieces. It was full on top and inside but [no] men was hurt. After that it went very nice. From Washington we took the steamboat and went down the Potomac River to Alexandria.

I was at preaching last Sunday in Alexandria. I heard a good sermon preached there. The [ ] of the camp took fifty of us down to church. I am now two hundred and fifty miles from home and 175 miles to go to get to my regiment. My regiment is at Suffolk, fifty miles from Fort Monroe. I expect to leave here in the course of a few days and go to my regiment.

I would like to see you and the rest. Heard the Rebs was in Chambersburg and a great damage [done]. I suppose they gave Greencastle a sly call. I never had any idea of them getting into Chambersburg. I suppose that made the people fret a little. I would like to be at home at the present time. I’ve not forgot you yet, my dear. — David Kime

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Letter 2

[Note: I transcribed the following letter just as David wrote it, with poor spelling and a total lack of punctuation.]

Newburn, [New Bern] North Carolina
101st Regt. Co. K
April 9th 1863

Dear Miss,

It’s with plesher that I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well at present and hoping when these lines comes to hand tha will find you in the same blessing first I will let you no tha the regiment has got payed off a gain for a month and we have orders to come hear and go to plimeth [Plymouth] and I was in town this morning and we had a ince time we had as mutch to drink as we wanted but I dont want you to think that we got Drunk but some of us was not far from it but we all got out of town safe We have some great times hear the regiment just got back two days ago we are going on the Steam boats if we leave hear the Drafted men is all gon to little Washington and I was serra [sorry] When I herd that Wes leaving and that I could not go a long with them. I wesh my time wes as near out as thairs is we have one year to Stay yet and that will be one of these that is as long as two in franklin County I would like to be in franklin for 3 Weaks or three month Would just sute me as well and I Sepose it would just sute you as Well if not I would make it sute you I will send a present eney time We get payed off the men has orders to be ready for to be mustered fer pay in two or 3 days We have not been mustered fer the last 4 month So tha thought it Was soon time to muster fer pay I will send you a nether ring in this letter So i think you must Shurly get one of them and I think you Will take the plesher to send me your likeness I must bring my letter to a close by giving you my best love

Hear is my hart and my hand Fair Well True love for a While

Writing by David Kime to Miss E. Schultz

Direct to D. Kime, Co. K, 101 Regt. P. V., Wessels Division, Hunt’s brigade