Author’s Note: I’ve heard from several readers that I haven’t given much information about what became of the authors and subjects within these letters. No worries! As we wrap up the series, in January 2027, I’ll share the fates of these various soldiers. For now, you can see the conflict through their eyes and experiences – after all they didn’t know what the future would bring as they wrote home in 1861. (Or you can cheat and look them up.)

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As the weather warmed and spring fully blossomed in May 1861, the Luzerne County soldiers in the 8th Pennsylvania Infantry continued drilling and training for war under the watchful eye of their commanding officer, Colonel Anthony H. Emley.

The 48-year-old officer was a successful banker by trade and sought to find the same success in military affairs. A local newspaper in Chambersburg, the Valley Spirit, seemed to think he was bringing military order to the 8th Regiment. They wrote in May 1861:

“Our citizens were highly gratified by the appearance, in town, on Thursday evening, of the eighth regiment, from ‘Camp Slifer.’ They paraded through the principal streets of the town and maneuvered with great promptness and regularity. This regiment is composed of as fine a body of men as we ever saw collected together, and in all their movements they show evidence of being under excellent military instruction. Their appearance excites confidence that they will do ‘heavy work’ on the field of battle.”

At Camp Slifer, the rank and file of the 8th Pennsylvania continued training and drilling and experiencing their first taste of military life. A young soldier, a student at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, PA, wrote home to a fellow student at the school to share his perspectives on his role in the Civil War’s early months.

The unidentified member of the 8th spends much time on what they are getting to eat in camp and also on his desire to meet the Confederates on the field of battle.

From the Pittston Gazette, May 29, 1861:

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FROM THE ARMY.

The following letter of a young man from the Kingston Seminary, now at Camp Slifer, was written to a fellow student:

Camp Slifer, near Chambersburg, May 19, 1861.

Dear Friend:—As I have time to spare, it being Sunday, I write you a few lines that you may know how we are getting along down here at Camp Slifer, where we are living soldier life in earnest.

We left Harrisburg the 23d of April, if I remember right, arrived at Chambersburg about 2 o’clock A. M., and marched about two miles to a Fair Ground, where we stayed two or three days and slept in stalls built for cattle during exhibition, and an awful place it was.

Col. Emley didn’t like that place for soldiers to sleep in, so he got about forty acres on the other side of the town and built some comfortable board tents, where we live at present. We have pretty good living now, but sometimes we are put on small allowance.

Some of the men grumble and wish themselves at home, but we Seminary boys came to fight, and want to do it before we come home. We want a chance to give the rebels some cold lead from Yankee muskets.

I will give you a bill of fare at Camp Slifer, for Sunday, May 19, 1861: for breakfast we had bread, one slice, coffee, and a piece of beef; for dinner we got some beef, bean soup, and a piece of bread; for supper we have coffee, bread and meat.

Gov. Curtin was here yesterday and the three regiments stationed here marched to the depot to receive him. They make quite an army. There are some fine-looking ladies in Chambersburg, and they are very kind to the soldiers, sending them cakes and pies occasionally and coming to camp every day to visit us.

The good people of the town have offered to quarter our regiment in town and find provisions for us, if we will stay as a home guard for the protection of the place, but Col. Emley says he brought the regiment here to fight, and if there is any fighting to be done he is going to have a hand in the muss, and all the men would like to be in a scrimmage to-morrow if they could.

Some of them are bound to fight, so they fight among themselves once in a while. One fellow, belonging to the 10th regiment, got his skull caved in with a brickbat the other night, and another one got a bayonet run through his leg by one of the guard, for trying to crowd up to a bread wagon, and several others have got pricked lightly for misbehavior, but the Seminary boys go through without a scratch.

As soon as we get fully equipped I am going to get my likeness and send it to the Seminary.

We had a cask of lager beer every day we were at Harrisburg and when we were at the camp on the other side of the town, but we are not allowed to bring it in here, although Capt. Reichard came from Wilkes-Barre the other day and brought us some.

I now must close this long letter, for I haven’t a convenient place to write and am getting tired. Tell Lyon I remember him and wish he could come here and see us. I bet he’d laugh heartier than he does at poor Dowd.

Tommy and Loomis send their best respects to all. Give my love to the ladies and keep a goodly share yourself. Tell Barners I will mind them and stand by the stars and stripes as long as there is a piece left big enough to tie up a sore finger with. Tell Frank Bunnell to write to me, and you give him my address so he can tell where to send it. You must write as soon as you get this, and tell Lyon to send me a line.

Your sincere friend,

*** [Name left out]

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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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