The following letter was written by Abel Hartley Comstock (1840-1926), the son of Isaac Dailey Comstock (1809-1900 and Eliza Rozell (1812-1879). He wrote the letter to his cousin, Mary D. Rozell.

Abel enlisted in Co. K of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry (108th Volunteers)—sometimes called “Harlan’s Light Cavalry.” He served from 31 August 1861 to 1 September 1864.

The 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry was ordered to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, in mid-November 1861 and they remained there on duty at nearby Camp Hamilton until May 1862. Comstock’s letter speaks of the arrival of infantry at Camp Hamilton as McClellan began his build up for launching the Peninsula Campaign.

Abel was a poor speller and I have corrected most of it so it could be read more easily but left a sentence or two spelled as he wrote it.

See also—1862: Pardon Edgar Covey to his cousin Mary

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

Headquarters Fortess Monroe
April 9th 1862

Dear Cousin Mary,

It is with pleasure that I am seated to inform you that I am well at present and hope these few intended lines may reach you and find you enjoying the same blessing.

Well, Mary, I have not much to write today. I have not written to yo before so if I make any mistakes, don’t think hard of it for you know that I am a careless boy anyhow and always were. But I will try to do the best that I can.

Well, I guess that I will give you a little history of soldiering. I think that it is a hard life. Well here is some of it. You can guess at it for yourself. We took down our tents Sunday to march and it has rained ever since and we have laid on the ground so if you call that comfortable, then I have nothing more to say. But when the weather is fair again and the ground gets dry again and the wind is fair, we will march on with the army which is 150,000 strong. They are going to Richmond to make the rebels retreat or take a flogging if we don’t get defeated in it. And I hope that we will have good luck and take the remainder of Old Jeff’s army and ketch him so that he will make no more disturbensing whair for if I could git him I wold use his head for a wash dish until it began to leak and then fead it to the dogs.

Well, Mary, I will stop writing about war for I expect that you are tired of hearing it mentioned. So I will tell you of something else, I saw Lew Rozell Sunday and Emry. They were well and fat as fools and black as a nigger. They say that they like it first best with the exceptions of lying on the ground. Sam Lilly is with them. You can tell Lib that he is well and looks like the same old chap yet.

Pardon Covey and James Rozell are well and kicking yet. I believe Vink Covey is in the 52nd too but I did not see him. But he is well, so the Boys say. I had to run away to get to see Loran and had to run the picket guard to get there and stood a good chance of getting shot in the operation but nothing ventured, nothing had, so I tried it and got through.

So I will close for it is late so goodbye for the present. So write soon. From your affectionate [cousin] — A. H. Comstock

To Mary P. Rozell

M. D. Write soon. Give my best respects to all if they wish it but not without goodbye but not forever, for I think that I will see you again.