The following letter was written by James Peter Tilton (1841-1904), the son of Charles Tilton (1807-1891) and Charlotte VanFossen (1813-1895) of Easton, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. James wrote the letter to Sarah “Emily” Wirebach (1844-1947) with whom he would later marry.

James was one of the first in his county to enlist in Co. C of the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry, serving from 20 April 1861 to 24 July 1861. A year later, he re-enlisted in Co. K, 129th Pennsylvania Infantry—a 9 month organization—from 11 August 1862 to 18 May 1863. It was while serving in the 129th that he wrote this letter from their camp near Stoneman’s Station in Virginia. It was several weeks following the Battle of Fredericksburg in which the regiment lost 142 in killed and wounded. In less than a month they would participate in the Battle of Chancellorsville though their losses would be fewer and most that remained were able to return home as their time expired.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

New camp near Falmouth, Virginia
And one mile from Stoneman’s Station
February 6th 1863

Dear Emily,

Your letter came to hand last Monday and I was glad to hear that you were all well as that is all I care about hearing and as long as I hear such news, I am satisfied and in a few months if we all keep our health, we can have joyous times as the merry and joyous spring will lighten our road home and I long for its appearance for then I will be free from bondage.

Oh! I must tell you about the feeling towards “George” the Baptist. The Boys say if they would be home now, they would give him so long a time to leave or have a coat of tar and feathers. And Jim is so angry that he says if he would have him hear that he would show him what a soldier is. He said that he would not care so much about it if “Sue” [?] did not belong to another church. I did not say anything to Jim about what you. told me and I would not say a word for the world so you can rest assured that what you tell me goes no further and trust to you the same to this letter and all others. What I write to you, I don’t mean for others, and I know you do the same. And you can rest assured what you reveal to me shall not be revealed. You must not get angry at me for the way I talk.

Well, Emily, I would like to of heard that dutch singing and another thing, I would like to hear “George the Baptist” just to see and have a little fun. I think he is doing more sin than good around home, but if he wants to do good, let him come to the army and there he might do some good as we have very poor preachers out here. They preach once a month about and get $60 a month for doing nothing but walk around and act the hypocrite. ¹

I must bring my letter to a close but you must not forget to have a picnic and when we get home, we will join in and help get it up. Give my best respects to the home circle and likewise to John and Bell and Aaron an Salome. This little pin lace I got at Fredericksburg out of the house of Dorry Chimney in Charles Street and I though it would be something for you to remember that City by so I will enclose it as a relic. No more at present but I remain yours truly, — Jas. P. Tilton

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¹ The chaplain of the 129th Pennsylvania from August 1862 to May 1863 was William Henry Rice (b. 1840), a student in the Yale Theological Seminary when he volunteered to serve.