The following letters were written by Philip W. Royse (1840-1865), the son of Frederick Royse (1817-1849) and “Marcy” Zaring (1822-1905) of Fredericksburg, Washington county, Indiana. Philip enlisted on 27 July 1861 as a corporal in Co. C, 23rd Indiana Infantry but was later reduced to ranks and mustered out on 28 July 1864 after three years service. Though he survived the war, he died at home on 21 October 1865.

Philip wrote the letter to his cousin, Simeon G. Royse (1837-1867), the son of John W. and Mary (Garriott) Royse of Fredericksburg, Indiana.

Letter 1

Camp Smith
Paducah, Kentucky
October 31st 1861

Dear Cousin,

I take the present opportunity to write you a few lines in answer to your kind letter which came to hand last Saturday evening (by Mr. Stucker) and I will send this the same way. Your letter found me all well and very well satisfied which we still are. We all were very glad to see one of our old friends from the burg. He brought us all a good many presents and also a great many letters which we were all glad to receive.

We are looking for a new uniform now every day. We hada Grand Review last evening by General Wallace. He said he was going to have our uniform and overcoats for us this week. Then Sim, I am going to get my picture taken and send it home. Then you can see how a soldier looks. ¹

I guess we will also get two months more wages the last of this week or the first of next which we will send home by Uncle Davy if he stays till we get it. I expect he will start home a Friday and I want to write a letter apiece to all of you.

I have nothing new to write to you, Sim. It is the same old thing every time. George, the little (shit0 scamp is bothering me so I can’t hardly write. Frank is laying here cutting up too. Since he came out of the hospital, he is as keen as a cut mink. Sim, I think that you and Bailey ought to come and see us this winter. You both are young men and got nothing to hinder you from coming without you want to stay at home and get married while we are gone.

Well Sim, you must not take exceptions to what I say. I heard tht Jane Black had a big Union boy. I want to know whether it is so or not. If it is so, I say bully for her. Give my love to all the pretty girls, Sim, and don’t be jealous. Write as soon as you receive this. Yours as ever, — Philip W. Royse

Camp Smith, Paducah, Kentucky.

[to] Mr. Simeon Royse, Fredericksburg, Indiana

This son I send to you as a present.

¹ It would be several more months before “the 23rd were compelled to discard the very handsome cadet gray uniform which the State had provided on their entering the service and assume the blue blouse and “camp-kettle” hat, – very much to the chagrin of the boys, who had always been proud of their natty gray suits.” [Source: History of the 23rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry by Shadrach K. Hooper]

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Letter 2

Camp Smith
Paducah, Kentucky
November 26, 1861

Dear Cousin,

Yours [received] bearing date of November 10th. I was very glad to hear from you. We are still in the land of the living & able for our allowances when we can get them.

Well, Sim, you say that Martin Luther has been tearing up Jack and cutting around as he has a many a time before. I say he ought to go to the penitentiary & he never will get his just dues until he does. I heard that he was going to join the army. All I can say is that if he does, he will not get to do as he pleases. But I want you to get him to go if you can. Then that will be a good way to get rid of him.

Sim, I am very sorry that your girls are both taken from you. Jane & Beck both are taken from you—that is too bad, I do declare. Well, Sim, there is as good fish in the sea as ever was caught out.

Trave Andrew arrived here last Saturday morning. We were all very glad to see him and now I want to see you & Baily for the next ones—you lazy stingy shits you. If you don’t come, I will make you wish you never had seen me. George is about well. He has been discharged from the hospital and is now in camp. Well, good old Simeon of old, the next time you go a courting, remember me and give her a smooch for me right in the mouth.

There was a very bad accident happened at the hospital today. They were hoisting a cannon. It fell and wounded six men. A Zouave had both of his legs broken. He belonged to the 11th Indiana. The others belonged to the 40th Illinois. Three of them will be very apt to die.

I must close now. write soon. Yours as ever, — Philip W. Royse

to S. G. Royse