Michael McCarty wanted to clear the record. In a letter he wrote from coal mines of Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania on May 23, 1861, he sought to clarify the news that Luzerne County residents were hearing from their Civil War soldiers at the front lines and in the camps of the United States Army.
McCarty called himself “a lover of truth” and he sought to share a letter he had received from his friend, Corporal Thomas Devenney, from Camp Slifer at Chambersburg. Devenney was serving in Company D, 8th Pennsylvania Infantry along with hundreds of fellow residents of Luzerne County.
Devenney wrote about the food at Camp Slifer (he had gained 4 pounds since joining the service) and what he saw in the Franklin County town near the border with Maryland. In fact, Devenney felt he was living better in the army than he had in his life.
McCarty had hoped that his letter and Devenney’s may provide some comfort to those worrying about loved ones and friends in the Civil War’s early months.
A note on Michael McCarty – he was a native of County Longford in Ireland and came to Pennsylvania’s Coal Region in 1838. He had been mining coal since 1839 and would continue working in and around the mines near Wilkes-Barre until his death at the age of 77 in 1894. His obituary confirms his identity as “a lover of truth.” The obituary concludes: “He was a very industrious man, and always respected for uprightness and honesty.”
From the Luzerne Union, June 5, 1861
Empire Coal Works, May 23, 1861.
Mr. Hannum.—Dear Sir:
As there have been a great many stories told and some published, in regard to the fare of our Wilkes-Barre volunteers and of the hard usage they have had to undergo, and being myself a lover of truth, I should feel obliged if you will publish the following letter from a friend and connection of my own in answer to my enquiries of him, about insufficient food, &c. I think it will put some of those stories to sleep. Your attention to this will be a favor to…
Yours truly,
Michael McCarty.
Camp Slifer, May 19, 1861.
My Dear Friend Michael:
I received your letter on the 18th and was much astonished to hear that any person would write home such letters. As regards provisions, there is no such thing as you mentioned.—(We have had army biscuit only one day since we came to camp.) We get baker’s bread three times a day, and beef daily, except once or twice a week and then we have pork.
For my part I get as much as I can eat. I never was better contented in my life. I am four pounds heavier than when I left home. Those that sent such accounts home never were content at home or abroad. I suppose it was to live like gentleman they came here, and not to stand hardships or fight for their country; but it is very little of hardship they have seen yet; and when we are sent off to “Harper’s Ferry,” or other points, on active service, I judge they will find it quite different, and probably wish themselves back at Camp Slifer.
The ladies of Chambersburg are very kind to our regiment. They bring loads of cakes and pies every day to us, and want to keep us for a Home Guard. Bless their kind hearts and pretty faces; but I don’t think we will be allowed to stay. You mentioned in your letter that if I needed money you would send me some. I don’t need it and have no use for it as long as we are so well provided for. We have mass on the camp ground, and will have it every Sunday, as long as we are in camp; but that may not be long. There is talk of our leaving this week. Remember me kindly to all friends, and believe me, Yours,
Thomas Devenney, of Capt. Bertels’ Jackson Rifles.
Here is too the sons of Erin that never yet was daunted,
Sometimes they have money and other times they want it;
Now in the land of freedom the Union we will defend it,
And return to our sweethearts when the quarrel it is ended.
Read the previous letter from the Letters from War: 1861 series.
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