The following letter was written by John W. Snyder (1838-1926) of Hiltown township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. John wrote the letter from New Bern North Carolina, while serving in Co. K, 174th Pennsylvania Militia. After it was organized in November 1862, the regiment saw service at Suffolk until late December when they traveled to New Bern, as described in this letter.

Clearly, John found himself disillusioned with his tour of duty, perceiving a transformation in the war’s purpose from a struggle to preserve the Union to a campaign aimed at the liberation of enslaved individuals.

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

Newbern [North Carolina]
January 12, 1863

Dear Miss,

I take this present opportunity to inform you that I am well and hope these few lines may find you the same and I received your letter the 27th of December and I was glad to hear once more from you.

I inform you that we moved from Suffolk to Newbern, North Carolina. We left Suffolk the 31st of December and got to Newbern the 3rd of January, but thank fortune that we hadn’t to march much. We took the cars at Suffolk to Norfolk and there we took the boat to Morehead City and there we took the cars again to Newbern and there we had to march between two and three miles to where we encamped. And the next day we put up our tents and how long we can stay here, I don’t know. Some say we are to move again but where to, I don’t know. But I hope we needn’t move for I don’t like to move too far at a time.

I was very sick the time we moved while I was on the boat, but that was nothing. They nearly all got sick on the boat and it was all the better for us for those that was not sick on the boat got sick since and they won’t be over it as soon as we were.

I ain’t got much to write this time but if I be at home, I could talk a good bit with you and would like to talk wit you but I hope and trust that we may get together and talk all what ew can’t write. If I ever get to Old Hilltown, I will tell those cowards that they should go and fight for these niggers for this is a nigger war and nothing else for we are the niggers here and the niggers are free. I didn’t think so much of it until I passed through Newbern when the niggers said there they go fighting for us now.

I must bring my letter to a close for I am on guard today and I have to be at my post pretty soon. Excuse my scribbling for it is a poor place to write in the army. Remember mr and write soon and direct your letters to Newbern, North Carolina. So much from your affectionate true love, — John W. Snyder

John W. Snyder. Co. K, 174th Regt. Penn. Militia
Col. John Nyce, commanding
Newbern, N. C.

Goodbye my dear love Fietta.