This letter was written by 16 year-old Milo Bailey (b. 1845) who enlisted as a private on 7 October 1861 At Wattsburg, Erie county, Pa. to serve in Co. K, 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry. Milo was wounded at the Battle of Gaines Mill on 27 June 1861 during the Peninsula Campaign and was discharged for wounds on 6 February 1863. He later reenlisted in February 1864 and was promoted to corporal of Co. B in March 1865. He mustered out of the regiment in late June 1865 as a veteran.

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Camp Leslie
November 16th 1861

Dear Sister,

I now seat myself for the purpose of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am am well at present and hope that these few lines will find you and the rest of the folks well. I received your letter last night and was glad to hear that you was all well at home. you say you heard that I had been sick. Well I was for four weeks and I laid in the hospital three weeks but thank my lucky stars, I am well again and as for the small pox, there has been one man that has had it and he did not die with it.

And you say that you heard that Capt. [Thomas M.] Austin was dead. He has been very sick but is gaining fast now. He has got so that he walks out around now. And you say that you heard that McClain was missing but that is a mistake for he is here. As for my coming home, you need not expect me until the regiment comes which will not be long. We expect to stay in this camp this winter.

You say that we are agoing to have some new relation. I am glad of that. When they come, give my love to them. I would like to be to home and see mother and father and all of the rest of the folks. Tell mother she need not knit me any socks for I have got four pair now. We have got plenty of clothes to wear and we are agoing to have another suit before long—or that is the talk. Have you heard from Sherman since you was out there or not? I have heard from there once and am looking for a letter every day from there.

We have nice weather down here. It is about as warm as it is up there in the summer, only once and a while we have a cold rain. You say that Mariel is agoing to be married. If she really is, I am glad of it for I thought that she was agoing to be an old maid. I would like to be there and see her with her bloomers on and I would also like to see Kate Dowling and all of the rest of the girls. There ain’t any news to write that I know of. I want to know what is the matter with Minnie that you would not give my love to her. You can do as you are a mind to for I don’t care. The next time you see Butler, tell him to write to me for letters is a soldier’s comfort. How does Leroy get along? Is he married? Tell him to write to me for I like to hear from the folks at home…

All of the boys is all well and full of fun as ever. I hain’t heard from David yet. Why don’t Henry write to me? He don’t write nor say anything. I saw Mel Bemis the other day. He was over to our camp and Philander is in Washington in the cavalry. Well, this is a poor place to write and so I guess it is time to stop. You must [write] often for I like to hear from home better than any other place. Tell all of the folks to write—that is, if they see fit to. Give my love to all of the folks and tell mother not to worry about me for as long as I have good health, I will get along. Well not more this time!

From your brother, — Milo Bailey

To Miss L. Bailey