The following letters were written by George Brown Eckert (1840-1899) while serving as an officer in the 3rd US Infantry. His parents were Isaac Eckert (1800-1873) and Judith Hahn (1802-1875) of Reading, Berks county, PA. In 1860 he was a 20 year old clerk living with his parents and sister Rebecca in Reading, PA; his father was a wealthy iron master there. He enrolled in Reading, PA and mustered on 18 April 1861 in Harrisburg as a fifer (musician) in Company A, 25th Pennsylvania Infantry – the Ringgold Light Artillery – for 3 months’ service. He mustered out with them on 23 July. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant of Co. C the 3rd United States Infantry on 5 August 1861 and was promoted to First Lieutenant on 12 March 1862. He was in command of Co. C during the Battle of Antietam (Sept. 1862) and again in action at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He returned to Trenton, New Jersey, on recruiting duty and resigned his commission as captain on 10 November 1864.

By 1870 he was again a clerk, in his father’s iron works in Reading. In 1873 he became a partner with his brother Henry in Eckert & Brother, and they took over their father Isaac’s iron business in Reading, operating the Henry Clay Furnace and iron mines. He was also a Director of the Farmers National Bank and briefly its President after his brother Henry died in 1894. George was said to be a “millionaire iron master” at his death at age 58 in 1899.

Letter 1

Camp Winfield Scott
Near Yorktown, [Virginia]
Saturday evening, April 19, 1862

I only received your letter of the 14th inst. about an hour ago making five full days for it to reach me. However, I think I will get them somewhat sooner as Gen. McClellan has issued an order to have all the letter for his Army directed to Washington D. C. You will direct viz: G. B. E., 3rd Infantry, USA, Sykes Brigade, Army of the Potomac, Washington D. C. I think that I will get letters directed in that way in about two days.

You cannot imagine how much delighted I was to get a letter from you, it being nearly ten days since I heard from you last. I received at the same time a letter from Father and eleven newspapers. I think from the hand writing David Benson sent them. I intend writing to him as soon as possible.

Since I wrote you the last letter, I have seen the New York Heralds what were brought into camp. I think I will see me more as there is to be a regular mail so if you send me some occasionally, I will be much obliged. I have not seen Charley since I left the camp near Yorktown. He then told me that he had been sick but was improving rapidly. I hope you have said nothing about his being sick so that his parents can hear it. If you have not, for precious sake, do not because he would feel angry with me I know. I saw Phil McHunberg [?] a few evening ago. He asked me when I heard from home. I told him I will remember you to him the first time I see him. I will tell you all the news I can going about Charley hereafter with great pleasure. I was speaking to George Lauman about his sister getting married and he said he did not know where Bev, Kim got his taste. I never thought that [they] would make a match, did you?

Some time ago you spoke of praying for me. I hope you do. I hope to God that your prayers are heard, sister. I do nearly every night pray to myself for your protection and for the protection of all my friends, and if it should be God’s will that I should be a victim of this war, “so it will be.” But dear sister, I cannot say that I am prepared to meet that dreadful day. But I cannot help that. I have thought the matter over frequently. Very few men in the field are prepared to die, I can say, much to my sorrow. If they were, I think I would be nearer to it.

I do not know where the Ringgold Artillery are. Father says they are in our army but I think he is mistaken. Chris Doser is camped at Newport News. I do not think their regiment will be in the great fight but can’t say for certain. I am glad you are taking riding lessons so if I ever return I will be able to ride with you. Send me one of the vignettes as soon as you have then taken.

It would be useless for me to try to give you an idea of the army—especially of its artillery. The field artillery will reach from the Gass factory to the Cemetery and back and any quantity of siege pieces—the greatest amount ever known in any one army in the world. When all our siege guns open, something must fall. I think the enemy have as many men as we have, but I think our artillery is much superior to theirs. I think the fight will commence about Wednesday or Thursday. No telling how long it will last. Probably a week, no telling. I will write you when it commences if I possibly can.

I suppose you notice quite a change in my letters—that is, in my spelling. I am getting so that I can scarcely write a letter anymore. You may rest assured George Lauman will not be present at his sister’s marriage. I like the [soldier’s] life very much [but] I do not know how I will like the battles. We are encamped on the same ground that Gen. Washington’s forces were encamped. The other day they discovered an old magazine that is supposed to have been used by Gen. Washington in the Revolution. It is in a dilapidated condition but this will be a different battle than the one Gen. Washington fought. Gen. Marcy of Gen. McClellan’s staff says that it will be one of the greatest battles ever known to the world.

Our camp is in beautiful one situated on high land and sandy. Gen. McClellan’s headquarters are about 200 yards from my tent to the right of the brigade. I expect you have seen a map of the country ere this in some of the newspapers. He keeps up a continued firing (almost) during day and night on our left. We have captured a good many prisoners since we are stationary on our left.

This letter will be mailed by a reporter of Forney’s [War] Press (who is in our camp) either in Washington or Philadelphia. ¹ He leaves tomorrow. It is now ten minutes after—long after—my bed time and I am getting sleepy. So I bid you goodbye. Write soon—always letters like your last. Those few words were of more consolation to me that I have had since I have been in the army. Give my respects to Minie and all the rest, but do not show them this letter. Goodbye. Write often.

Ever your loving brother, — Geo. B. Eckert

P. S. There is very heavy musketry firing on our left. It has stopped already. Probably only an alarm of the pickets.

¹ Forney’s War Press was a newspaper dedicated to carrying Civil War news. Issues were published weekly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and contained engravings, news from war correspondents, casualty reports, poetry, and humor. War Press was published by John W. Forney, who was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1817. His career in publishing began as an apprentice at the Lancaster Journal. In time he became the Journal’s owner and editor. He was Clerk of the United States House of Representatives 1851-1856 and 1860-1861, and Secretary of the United States Senate 1861-1868. Each issue contained eight pages. The masthead of the newspaper was an ornate illustration containing an eagle, warship, cannon, and soldier’s in battle.

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Letter 2

Camp Winfield Scott
Near Yorktown
April 24th 1862

Dear Sister,

Your letter of the 21st inst. has just been received by me making nearly four full days for it to reach me so you can imagine the time it takes. It ought never to take more than two days and a half for a letter to reach me from Philadelphia. One thing in your letter rather surprised me. It is this—that you sent me that bundle of papers. I did not recognize the handwriting to be yours. I took it for David Benson’s writing, and on the strength of it, I wrote him quite a letter thanking him very kindly for his trouble and that I hoped that if the trouble was not too great that he would continue sending me papers as frequently as convenient. Quite a mistake, was it not? Well just consider that I say the same to you.

You will not be able to send me papers daily (rather Mr. Hand) on account of our mails being so very irregular. I would sometimes receive six or eight papers all in one mail. We manage to get the New York Herald two or three days after it is published. I have just read the Herald of the 22nd inst. Just this minute I hear the news boy crying out New York Herald of the 23rd. We get them from Fortress Monroe. I have just read some little of the Herald of the 23rd inst. but throw it to one side and resume my letter writing to you.

Will you be kind enough to tell Mr. Hand that I appreciate his kindness and am exceedingly obliged to him for putting himself to so much trouble, but if he did send me the papers daily that I would not receive half of them as they—the post master—take no plains in regard to papers.

Dear sister, you want to know all the news. Nothing of any consequence has occurred since I wrote you the last letter in which I gave you all the news. I consistently could with the exception on the 22nd inst. [when] the rebels discovered one of our working parties at work in the wood and they let all their batteries know of it and they all opened fire upon it at once. And such a noise you never did hear not I hope never will. Fortunately no one was hurt. We did not reply, therefore they could not keep up the firing.

I cannot give you any idea of their fortifications as we are not allowed to go to the front. We bring prisoners in daily. They look very seedy indeed. All that I have seen wore the home spun and had very little of that. But I tell you one thing, don’t you believe all the newspaper reports about their living. They live just as well as we do, if not better.

My company with fifteen others from or brigade have gone out as a working party for the night. As I am provost marshal of the regiment, I am not allowed to go with it for fear I would be needed at camp. We had a very pleasant duty on Easter. We had any quantities of eggs. Our living generally is very much better than it was three weeks ago. We have everything with the exception of bread. That we cannot get at all times unless we bake it and that is worse than none at all.

I was not aware that Charley had resigned his position as [ ]. I think if Chris does resign, he will not be able to get a position as an officer anywhere else at present.

I think the fighting will commence perhaps ere this letter reaches you and probably not for ten days or two weeks. I thought last night that I would leave this letter open until this morning. This morning at reveille the Captain and company returned. He told me that there were five thousand men at work last night for the purpose of getting ready. The Regulars threw up the first parallel in front of the enemy. They were not fired at all.

This morning I heard a cry of fire. I jumped up and found that my neighbor’s tent (Capt. Davis’) was on fire and one of the Lieutenants slept through the whole of it without being the least disturbed by the flame. Lt. Parker who was in the tent was taken out without being injured. He leaves for Washington this morning. He has the typhoid fever. Several of the officers of the brigade have to return to Washington on account of sickness.

Dear sister, I want you to send me your vignette in the next letter you write. Dear [sister], do not forget me when you retire at night. Remember me in your prayers. I think is is time to close as the mail will close in twenty minutes. Give my love to all. Your loving brother. Write soon. — G. W. Eckert