Sergeant Charles Cyphers of the 8th Pennsylvania awoke in his tent on May 4, 1861 and was shocked to see five inches of freshly fallen snow on the grounds of Camp Slifer near Chambersburg, PA. The rare May snowstorm was among the details he shared in a letter to the editors of the Pittston Gazette.

Cyphers, a former printer at the Gazette, described the wet weather conditions, the situation at the military encampment on Pennsylvania’s southern border, and the movements of other regiments of soldiers from the Coal Region.

From the Pittston Gazette, May 16, 1861:

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Letter from Mr. Cyphers. — No. 3.

Camp Slifer, Chambersburg, May 6.

Messrs. Editors: — We still remain at Camp Slifer. Many rumors are afloat as to where we shall go when next we move. Some say to Washington via Baltimore; others, that we are to go to Philadelphia, and then to Washington, to Harper’s Ferry, Hagerstown, Little York, and other places; but no reliance can be placed on any of them. However, it is understood that a movement will soon be made in some direction.

For the present I will confine my communication to things in and about this encampment, and give you the news in a “nut-shell.” On Friday morning, about 7 o’clock, a cold rain storm set in, and later in the evening snow whitened the ground. 

Saturday morning we were surprised, on issuing from our tents at roll call, to see the ground covered with snow five inches deep. Many of us thought of our more northern homes; and some, of imaginative minds, fancied they could see their friends gathered around the well-spread board, or seated before the cheerful fire of anthracite, engaged in conversation or in reading the morning newspaper while sipping their coffee. 

We have board shanties to live in, straw to lie upon, and bread, coffee, without cream, and some kind of pickled meat for food. To-day another rain storm visited us, and the snow has disappeared.

Three Regiments are encamped at this place — the 7th, 8th and 10th — and one or two more at Camp Irvin, two miles distant. More troops are expected from Harrisburg this week.

Yesterday, Sunday, the Artillerists attended church in a body, and listened to as eloquent and patriotic a sermon as we have heard for some time. Several squads from other companies attended the same church.

The Pittston companies are at Harrisburg. The one of which Charles Vanderburg is a member arrived at the Capitol the same day the 8th Regiment left Camp Curtin, and were left behind, though belonging to the 8th. They may join us before we leave Camp Slifer.

Chambersburg, near which we are encamped, has about 5,000 inhabitants, and some very good buildings. This is the birth place of the notorious John Brown, and was the rendezvous for his fellow conspirators, previous to going to Harper’s Ferry.*

The town is strong for the Union. I have counted sixty-five flags — the stars and stripes — in one street. The ladies are for the Union, and have contributed much to the comfort of the soldiers. The reveille is being sounded, and I must close. Should we leave this place I will keep you informed of our whereabouts. For the present, adieu.

Yours, &c.,

C. M. C.

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*Not John Brown’s birthplace, but indeed a place with ties to the October 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry including a meeting with abolitionist Frederick Douglass.*

Read the previous letter from the Letters from War: 1861 series.

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This is part of an ongoing series called “Letters from War: 1861” that will share correspondence written on the front lines during the turbulent first year of the Civil War.

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