This letter was written by William Evans of Media, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, the father of Thomas Evans (1844-1864) who was a private in Co. E, 197th Pennsylvania Infantry. Thomas died from “inflammation of the stomach and bowels” on 5 September 1864 at the Garrison Hospital at Rock Island, Illinois.

In his letter, William thanks Capt. Ralph Buckley of the 197th Pennsylvania for sending his son’s body home and asks him to explain the cut in his son’s neck under his right ear. This cut was presumably made by the caretaker who severed Thomas’s carotid artery to drain the blood as part of the embalming process.

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

Rose valley, Media [Pennsylvania]
[September] 20th, 1864

Capt. R. Buckley—dear sir,

I return you my sincere thanks for the kindness you and your company have done to my dear son Thomas Evans and may God reward you and your company of men for their kindness to my son and me. I received his corpse on the 10th, Saturday, at 5 p.m. at the Adams Express, 4th and Chestnut. I brought him home to Media and buried him the next day. I opened his coffin and found my dear son. No tongue can tell how I felt when I saw my child. There was a cut on his neck under his right ear and it was sowed and I am much grieved about it too. What was the cause of it? Please Captain, if you know, to send me word and you will do me a great kindness.

I had my son’s death put in the papers and I have sent one to you, Captain, and some to the boys of Co. I and to the officers of Co. E, and I hope you will get them. I was talking to your mistress yesterday. She and the family are well. I got the bill of expense that you were at on account of sending my son home. I have it and may God do to you and your men as you have done to me. All I can do us to pray for you and I will do that with the help of God. Dear Captain, you can tell me if I will get his pay for the time he served?

Dear Captain, please answer this letter and you will do me a great kindness as I will be happy to hear from you and the boys. I will bring my letter to a close by sending you and the boys my kind love and may God send you safe home. — William Evans

My directions is Media Post Office, Delaware county, Pa., care of Antrim O’Horne