The following partial letter is missing the signature page and there is no accompanying envelope to aid us in confirming his identity. The date and camp location make it certain he was in the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry and friends from West Boyleston mentioned in the letter suggest the possibility that he was from Co. C where the company was recruited, but I can’t be certain of this.

Though he is not identified, the letter remains interesting for the description of the punishment meted out to a civilian huckster who undoubtedly refused to keep his distance from Camp Andrews while the regiment was in training. The “poor fellow” was made to wear a “barrel shirt” and marched around the camp at the point of a bayonet to the delight of the whole regiment.

The letter was written on patriotic stationery “Ellsworth’s Last Letter.”

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

Camp Andrews
June 30, 1861

Dear Parents,

I thought you would like to hear from me and as there was nothing for me to do do for a few hours, I knew my time could not be better occupied than by scratching a few lines to you that would be acceptable. We have just parted with our friends Ford Laflin & Morrow. The parting is not without regret. You cannot tell how pleasant it is to us to see those that so lately bound themselves with us to serve God and those to to that have mourned with us over their sins & have found the pearl of great price. Can I ever forget the time when my rejoicing came, when light first beamed into my soul? I think not.

I received another present from you and one from Cousin Lizzie and Sammy. They sent me some paper or a package—one of Benjamin Russell’s putting up—and Lizzie wrote me a letter. You may thank Aunt Anna for those apples for me and tell her I shall remember the giver.

Well, I have not much more time to write now for am on guard & have to run every few moments & shall have to go on again in a little while.

Monday, July 1st. Well, I have got off of guard & have done my Washington & mending this forenoon and now am ready to finish this. Mr. Ezra Newton & Jery Shepard [of West Boyleston] were here this forenoon but could not get on the field. I did not have a chance to talk with them any but I spoke with them [briefly].

I see by the morning Journal that we are to go Thursday or Friday. I think it can be relied on for we are preparing every day.

We had a very comical show here yesterday. There was an old rum seller just outside of the lines selling rum. The Officer of the Day took him, thrust his head through a barrel, & marched him all over the field & off again with a guard each side of him & one charginf bayonets close to his neck. The drummers and fifers played a Quick March & the whole regiment were spectators. I rather pitied the poor fellow. You can imagine how a man would look walking round inside of a barrel with nothing but his head and legs out.

Evening. You will no doubt see the account of the presentation of a flag to our regiment this afternoon. There was a large number of ladies present. I presume there was from three to five hundred present in all….[rest of letter is missing]