The following letter was written by W. H. Len, the son of Charles Edura Len and Mary Murdock Casey (1824-1905) of Philadelphia. He wrote the letter in May 1861 to his uncle James Seaman Casey (1833-1899) who was a member of the 7th New York Militia in April 1861, just after the outbreak of the Civil War, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of the 5th Infantry Regiment in August of the same year. He was promoted to captain in December 1863, and became Commissary of Musters of the Army of the Potomac. He was brevetted major in March 1865 for his actions in the Battle of Fort Stedman.

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

Philadelphia, Pa.
May 13th 1861

Dear Uncle,

We have not heard from you for what I would call a long time. Do tell me when you think the grand skirmish will come off. I often think of you rainy nights how uncomfortable you must feel. You must have a pretty hard time of it. The latest news this afternoon is that there has been another terrible riot at St. Louis [See the Camp Jackson Affair]. I heard something said about your going to Alexandria. Is it so? Please give my respects to your sergeant. What has become of your cat since your absence? Do try and get a little more meat on your bones and I will also try to practice what I preach.

I was down to Suffolk Park [Racecourse] on Saturday to see the Ohio Volunteers ¹ who are encamped there. If you live like them, I do most sincerely pity you. Try to get time to write to me. Excuse the writing and believe me to be yours respectfully, — W. H. Len

¹ These were the 1st and 2nd Ohio Regiments.