This letter was written by William D. Boltz (1836-1863), the son of Simon and Elizabeth (Mosser) Boltz of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. William left his restaurant business in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, and said goodbye to his wife Elizabeth [Kirst] Boltz (1837-1919) and son Harrison to enlist as the 2nd Sergeant of Co. F, 93rd Pennsylvania Infantry in the fall of 1861. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant prior to his writing this letter, datelined from the regiment’s encampment three miles from Fredericksburg on Christmas day, 1862. He was killed in the fighting at Salem Heights on 3 May 1863. The total loss by the regiment in the engagement was six killed, forty-four wounded, and twenty-one missing.

The Widow’s Pension file informs us that William’s son Harrison was born on 17 September 1858 but died on 17 February 1863 at the age of 4.

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

Camp near Fredericksburg
December 25th [1862]

Cousin Daniel,

I received your letter some time ago and was very glad to hear of you. I have not forgotten you yet but I had so much to write and so much to travel.

We was at the Fredericksburg fight last week—or week before last. It was hard fighting here. It cost a tremendous lot of people but our regiment had luck. We was several times out on picket and support. One evening they began to shell us like everything and the shells bursted in every quarters of us. This was going on a while so but our regiment was save[d]. A good many of the other regiments was shot around us. One of our men was shot in the hand while he was helping to carry a wounded man out. But we had to draw our force back again. Their fortifications was too strong for us.

We are about three miles of Fredericksburg in pine woods. We fixed our tents for to stay a good while here. Whether we do is unknown to us. It is powerful cold and we have no stoves and I think we [won’t] get none. We fixed us a flute [flue?] in our tent. It is comfortable in our house and we have good blankets to cover us through night.

Daniel, this is Christmas evening and pretty cold. I hope you had a fine time today and a good turkey. Oh, I wish I could be with [you] but this I cannot. It is late in the evening. Write me soon. I will write you oftener now [that] I have better time. Tell your sister Catherine that I look for a New Year’s gift from her. She shall make me a needle cushion and send it to me by mail. The mail will cost only about six cents. And give my best wishes to your Father and Mother.

I will try and come home this Winter once. I am well and I hope you are all the same. From your Cousin, Lieut. Wm. D. Boltz

Comp. F, 93rd Regt. P. V., Rowley’s Brigade, Newton’s Division, Washington D. C.