Category Archives: 131st Pennsylvania Infantry

131st Pennsylvania Infantry, Battle of Fredericksburg

1863: James Bennett McKee to Mary C. McKee

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I could not find an image of McKee here is a watercolor of Pvt. Samuel M. Greer who served in Co. D, 131st Pennsylvania Infantry (Photo Sleuth)

The following letters were written by James Bennett McKee (1835-1908), the son of George C. McKee (1806-1888) and Mary A. C. Bennett (18xx-1871) of Watsontown, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. He wrote the letters to his sister, Mary C. McKee (1845-1923) while serving as a private in Co. B, 131st Pennsylvania Infantry—a nine-month’s regiment. James mustered into the service on 8 August 1862 and mustered out of the service on 23 May 1863.

The 131st Pennsylvania was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps in the Army of the Potomac. They arrived too late to participate in the Battle of Antietam but they fought at Fredericksburg and at Chancellorsville. At Fredericksburg, they suffered 177 casualties in just an hour and a half during an aggressive assault on Marye’s Heights.

Letter 1

Camp near Fredericksburg
January 1, 1863

Dear Sister,

It is with pleasure that I seat myself to pen a few lines to you to let you know that I am well, hoping that this may find you all the same. Your letter was received on Monday and was glad to hear that you were all well. It has been almost five months since I left home but the time has passed very quickly although soldiering is hard business.

I have received no box yet and have given up all hopes of getting it so I will have to spend my New Years without a roast. There has several boxes come for the regiment but they were expressed from home. Josie Moore received one this morning valued at nine dollars which cost but two which makes me think that [John H.] Cooner might have brought mine through for five that father gave him for the expense on it if he had tried.

I suppose that Bub has got able to go out sleigh riding by this time. It is rather singular about him but I think that if he knew the reports he would not want them to follow him home, but there is one thing that I don’t want you to do and that is not to get yourself into trouble about him.

You said that you hoped that I might be sick if we would have to go into another battle. I think that is very wrong in you for which would be the worse of the two.

I would have liked to have been at the wedding to have seen Solomon but I suppose that he done his nicest. You said that you did not think much of my mess mates Dentler and [William] Stitzel are rather bad, but there is not a quieter boy in the whole company than Ellis Irwin. But I do know that there are enough that are worse.

We were all very sorry to hear of the death of Mr. Hutchison and pity the boys very much. Rob[ert] has gone home. I hope that he may have time to recruit up before he will have to come back for he has not looked as well for a few days as he might.

The reason that i did not write sooner after the battle is that I was about worn out and as the rest was writing, I thought you would find out through them that I was still among the living. I judge from the way that you speak of the singing that you do not attend. The tick[ ] must be fancy and I would judge the tend and alto was also.

The company are out on review but I am not along. I told Captain [David Bly] that I wanted to write so he excused me. The boys are all well except Volintine Truckenmiller. He has been sick for a few days but is some better this morning.

As I have given you all the news that I know, I will close hoping this may find you all well and enjoying yourselves. Give my love to the family and all enquiring friends and relatives. From your brother, — Jas

Letter 2

Camp near Falmouth, Virginia
February 24th 1863

Dear Sister,

Your letter of January 28th came to hand last evening which was gladly received as I thought you had forgotten me altogether. I am well at present and enjoying myself as usual. We have had very stormy weather for the last week and the snow is nearly a foot deep here at the present time so you may judge for yourself whether we have a pleasant time or not.

You want to know what has become of Ben [Troup]. He is still with the living but gets sick sometimes as well as the rest of us. Dan C. flourishes finely and is liked by all the company for he is lively.

As for Ambrose [Lamm], I think that he gets along very well but he is sick a good part of his time. But I like him better than when he was at home. He said the reason that he gave Annie up was because the people had begun to take it in earnest and he thought that it was time to stop.

As for getting a furlough, I suppose that I might get one, but then the trouble of getting it would cost as much labor as I would have pleasure by getting it. You are mistaken about the Alie Jinn being one of the prisoners at Murfreesboro. It was his brother for Alie is in our company. I was to see the boys last evening. They were all well and enjoying the snow as well as can be expected under present circumstances.

I will now close as news is scarce and I want to write to Jane and send it with this. Give my love to all enquiring friends and acquaintances—especially your friend Solomon. Your brother, — Jas

[to} Mary C. McKee

P. S. You can have the pleasure of knowing that Aunt’s box reached me before your letter and that I am living on the things that were in it.

Letter 3

Camp near Falmouth
February 28th 1863

Dear Sister,

As I received your letter a few days ago and, having some leisure time, I thought I would divert my thoughts in writing to you. I am well and hope this may find you the same. We have had very stormy weather this weeks and it looks is if it would not be much better for some time to come. I hope that you may succeed in catching John if you try for I do not think that you would prefer any of the boys that I mess with now although they are very fine fellows. As Cooner is not much better yet, I hope that he will be before we get home if ever we do for he will have to open his saloon if Tommy has to close his. I think that Wash will soon get through if he attends so regular but I would pity him if the draft should happen to catch him as his wedding is coming so near.

The regiment appear to have plenty of work to do now. They are on picket almost every week which is not very pleasant this stormy weather. There is a picture shop here now so that I will try and send my picture home before long and if I had knew that the Captain would have got home, I would have sent it with him. Heckie and the Watsontown boys are all well and send their best respects to you and the rest of the family. I have not answered the preacher’s letter yet but think that I will next week if nothing happens. I think whoever told you that we do not care anything for one another was very much mistaken for they all appear ot be kind enough to me yet and some of them more so that [when] we were at home.

As for the Emeline that you spoke of, you will have to be plainer for I do not know that I have one. But one thing is sure and that is I do not receive many letters but what comes from home. But I am beginning to think that there will be no need of me bringing a beau home with me for you as long as you have Solomon. So handy, I will now have to close as I am on guard and my relief goes on at one o’clock and my time is nearly up. Give my love to all enquiring friends and acquaintances, saving a good portion for yourself. I am as ever your brother, — James

To Mary

131st Pennsylvania Infantry

1862: Harry Miller to J. T. Miller

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This letter was written by Harry Miller (b. 1844) who enlisted in late July 1862 to served as a private in Co. A, 131st Pennsylvania Volunteers—a 9-month’s regiment that served from August 1862 to 23 May 1863 and participated in Burnside’s Mud March and the Chancellorsville Campaign.

Transcription

Addressed to Mr. J. T. Miller, Laurelton, Union county, Pennsylvania

Camp near Alexandria [Virginia]
August 28, [1862]

Dear Brother,

Once more I am permitted through the goodness of God to drop you a few lines in good health, hoping that you are the same. Last evening the 27th of August, we got orders to leave in one hours time. We left Camp Chase at dusk, had a march of 6 miles which we made till 9 o’clock, though we did not know where we were going until we pitched our tents which we did this morning. We are now about 1 mile from Alexandria on a beautiful sod and along the Potomac and at the side of the railroad.

Some of the boys got sick when the orders came to leave for fear they were going to be put in a battle. Our whole brigade had nothing to defend ourselves [with] but the bayonet.

Our boys are all well but [Sergt.] Foster Halfpenny got sick last night. Day before he was out of camp all day and got as drunk as a hog, and then on the march, he had nothing to drink and he got sick. Don’t tell any of the folks how he got sick.

Further, this is the 29th of August before breakfast. I have seated myself to finish my letter. Last evening Samuel Betz was in our tent. He just came from Manassas day before. There were attacked by a heavy force of rebels and they skedaddled. The lost their tents and 6 cannons but the cannons were retaken. There were only one thousand and some of them are not accounted for.

Taner, I was out to Alexandria last evening and I heard that the regiment that my brother was in was laying one mile from our camp. This made me leap and holler for joy and this morning I am going up to see him. But it is against the rules for any man to leave camp but I think I have got a plan that will take me through.

I must now close by asking you to give my best wishes to all my friends. Direct to Co. A, 131st Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteers, Washington D. C. in care of Capt. J[acob] M. Moyer, Col. [Peter H.] Allabach, Commander

131st Pennsylvania Infantry, Battle of Antietam

1862: Martin Conley to Samuel Welles

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I couldn’t find a photograph of Martin but here’s a cdv of Russell Levan who served in Co. D, 131st Pennsylvania. Posted on Civil War Faces by Ryan Lindbüchler in July 2013

The following letter was written by Martin Conley (1831-1906) of Co. D, 131st Pennsylvania Infantry, a nine-months regiment that was formed in the fall of 1862. Co. D was recruited primarily in Northumberland county—Lewistown and vicinity. Martin was among those who enlisted at Lewistown and served from August 12, 1862 until 23 May 1863. During this time the regiment participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Burnside’s Mud March, and the Battle of Chancellorsville. The regiment lost during its service 2 officers and 36 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded ,and 1 officer and 44 enlisted men by disease.

Martin was the son of James Conley and Sarah Delilah Lepley—all born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States about 1850.

Transcription

Camp near Warrenton [Virginia]
November 13th 1862

Dear Friend Sam,

I seat myself down to answer your most welcome letter which was duly received today. This letter found me well and enjoying the pleasures of war. I hope that those few lines may find you all enjoying the greatest of pleasure that life can afford.

You stated that Thomas was shot at the Battle of Antietam. I had not heard that Thomas was killed until I got the letter. It made me feel very sorry when I heard it. In the army, it is very hard getting along. Since I have been in the service, I have seen some pretty hard sights—men lying over the [battle] field and no attention paid to them at all. I heard that John was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel but I heard since that he was going to be Colonel altogether. I hope he is. I would not care if they would promote me to be something else than privacy.

“I have not been in a battle yet nor don’t want to get in one vary soon. The reason i don’t want to get in one is because they shoot at a fellow. But if i have to i will do all i can for my courntry.”

— Martin Conley, Co. D, 131st Pennsylvania, 13 November 1862

I have not been in a battle yet nor don’t want to get in one very soon. The reason I don’t want to get in one is because they shoot at a fellow. But if I have to, I will do all I can for my country.

I wish I was there to get a share of those potatoes and turnips. I well believe that I would be well fed. I would like some apple butter too for i know it is nice. I will tell you what we have to eat. It is hard crackers and black coffee and a little meat and sometimes bean soup. It is pretty hard living for a fellow thats had good living all his life time.

Sam, I want you to get me a good pair of boots made and send them to me. I suppose sevens would be about right. We need them pretty big for we have mud and water to wade. We have been marching for about a week.

We left Sharpsburg on the 31st and are still under marching orders. I tell you that march set pretty hard on me for I had a big knapsack to carry. But I got along as well as I could. I did not get the money for them clothes and if you can get it, I wish you would. The clothes was too cheap, I know, but I can’t help it. Try and get the money for me if you can. I told you I would be back, Sam, but if I live in six months, I will come if that suits you. You know I can’t come sooner for I am under Uncle Sam and he won’t let me go soon.

I must bring my letter to a close for it is supper time. I got a letter from my sister and if I don’t happen to get home, you can send my money to my sister. When I get paid, I will send you the rest of my money. This is the directions how to write to my sister. Bridgeport P. O., Widen River, New Jersey. Her name is Lurensa Robbins.

Answer soon, — Martin Conley

[to] Samuel Welles