The following letter was written by Mathias Shumaker (identified as “Dias Shoemaker” on the company roster) of Co. G, 148th Pennsylvania Infantry. Mathias was drafted on 1 September 1863 in the 16th District, Chambersburg. He joined Co. G on 19 November 1863, was wounded and captured at Spotsylvania Court House on 12 May 1864,. He “died of diarrhea while in prison at Andersonville, Ga., July 10 (or 20th), 1864” according to pension records, though his wife did not learn his fate until sometime in September 1864. He was described as “a brave soldier” in the regimental history.

Mathias was married to Sophia Hosseliode (b. 1840) on 28 May 1862 in the German Reformed Church at Wellersburg, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and they had one child, Charles Milton Shoemaker, born 6 September 1863. After Mathias’ death, Sophia took Frederick Pardike (or Pardick) as her second husband. It should be noted that there are a number of Ancestry.com entries for Mathias, most of which are incorrect. This is primarily due to the fact that there was another soldier from Pennsylvania by the name of Mathias Shoemaker (1843-1864) who served in the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Co. H, though an unmarried sergeant, who was also taken prisoner in 1864 and starved to death at Andersonville in June 1864.

Mathias wrote the letter to his friend, Henry Martz of Wellersburg, Pennsylvania, most likely a relative of Sergt. John Martz who served in same company.

Over the years I have transcribed a number of letters by members of the 148th Pennsylvania. They include (to date) the following:

Abraham Fink, Co. C, 148th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
Francis Stevenson, Co. C, 148th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
Daniel H. Harter, Co. D, 148th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
John B. Holloway, Jr., Co. D, 148th Pennsylvania (2 Letters)
Samuel H. Holloway, Co. D, 148th Pennsylvania (2 Letters)
Simon Shuman, Co. D, 148th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
Staci C. Jones, Co. E, 148th Pennsylvania Infantry (1 Letter)
Shelumiel Swineford, Co. I, 148th Pennsylvania (1 Letter)
Henry B. Hillegass, Co. K, 148th Pennsylvania ( Letter)

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

Camp near Brandy Station, Virginia
April 22, 1864

Dear Friend Henry Martz,

I take the pleasure of writing a few lines to you for to let you know that I am well at present, hoping you still enjoy the same. The weather is very nice here at present and we are packing up our over plus of clothing for to send to Washington.

Yesterday Old Grant reviewed our corps and now I think it will be a move before long. Day before yesterday General Hancock reviewed our division and we made a nice appearance. There is nothing going on here at present but getting ready for moving today. We are going to practice at targets.

I will let you know that I am a going to send you ten dollars in this letter and let me know whether you get it or not. If my wife needs any money, why you may give her just as much as she wants. I want you to let me know how my friends are getting along at home there. I want you to give me all the news you can and answer this as soon as you can as I have wrote to you 4 letters already and received no answer yet. Jacob Sturtz is well and hearty and Dennis Hutzel is well and hearty too.

We still hold the Johnnies on the other side of the Rapidan and we are not much afraid of them yet. I like it better here than at home. We have more fun here than at home. No more at present. Your friend, — Mathias Shumaker

Direct to Mathias Shumaker, Co. G, 148th Pa. Vols., 2nd Corps. via Washington

I will send you a present in this letter. The peach trees are in full blossom here. I looks like summer.

The following letter was written by Henry B. Hillegass (1840-1914) who served as a private in Co. K, 148th Pennsylvania Infantry. Henry was the son of George Hillegass (1816-1889) and Lydia Frey (1813-1842) of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. Just prior to his enlistment in August 1862, Henry was residing in Quakertown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania.

The 148th Pennsylvania was wrapped in glory at Gettysburg where they fought in the Wheatfield on 2 July 1863.

Henry was shot in the left leg on 10 May 1864 at Po River and at the time of this letter in November of that year, he was still recuperating in a Washington D. C. Hospital. He was not officially discharged from the service until 25 June 1865.

Henry wrote the letter to his lady friend but he never refers to her by name. She was, presumably, Susanna Catharine Blanck whom he married in 1865 and with whom he had at least five children. They lived out their days in Spinnertown, Bucks county, PA, where Henry retired from his job as a cigar maker.

Transcription

Lincoln Hospital B. B.
Washington
November 9, 1864

My dear and affectionate love,

I take the present opportunity today to drop a few lines to you informing you that I am well at the present time and I hope and pray that these few lines may find you in the same state of good health and that you may enjoy yourself with pleasure wherever you are.

My dear, I inform you that I enjoy myself not very well at the present time for it is very lonesome here where I am. But I don’t expect to stay here long. I may stay a few weeks here. I expect they will transfer me to my own state and I expect to come home this winter sometimes—maybe before long. They are talking to leave them all home what wasn’t at home [for] the election.

My dear, I inform you that I expect Old Abe will be reelected again for the President for I have received the paper this morning and it gives a great account for Old Abraham Lincoln.

And my dear true love, I inform you about a little of war [news] that I have received by a letter from the army yesterday that they have had another battle again and it was stated that one third of our Corps was captured. If you have heard from Daniel M. Gersch, write to me if he is alive yet or not.

My dear, I inform you that my leg is recovering and commenced to heal again. You need not be afraid that I wouldn’t be able to walk. My legs gets so sound than ever it was. I am walking around with a cane at the present time. I hope you won’t get angry about me. I am as true to you as ever and I hope you be the same to me. We will have once the happy time which we have now sorrow if we keep our health and don’t be parted from each other. I remember you as long as I live and I hope you do the same to remember me.

It is not long anymore that I have to serve in this cruel war. The time goes fast around now. Then I hope to meet you in love if you don’t part from me. Then our heart and hand may be joined together to part not until death. And then I hope to have a long and happy life with each other.

My dear, I inform you if Edward Payne is at home, tell him that he shall come [at] once and see me if he comes out again. I expect he is at home at the present election.

— Mr. Henry B. Hillegess