During the first week of September 1861, new troops and units poured into Camp Curtin, the military training ground in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Among them were several units of young men from the Coal Region, joining the United States Army for three years’ service during the Civil War.

The US Army was recalibrating after a shocking series of defeats in the summer of 1861, preparing for a longer war against the rebel armies of the South. In Washington, a confident young officer named George McClellan had taken command of what he called the Army of the Potomac, and he was shaping raw recruits from across the North into a well-trained fighting force.

In a letter to the Miners’ Journal of Pottsville, an author signing himself “W.H.G.” described conditions at Camp Curtin as thousands of men waited to head south to Washington or receive assignments elsewhere. Among the units with Coal Region companies gathered there, but not yet assigned their numbers, was the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry under Colonel James Nagle. It is this regiment that W.H.G., whose identity remains unclear, writes about at greatest length.

The author describes the death of the first man of the 48th Pennsylvania, Private William Millet, killed by a train near the railroad depot in Harrisburg on September 7, 1861. More on that below.

Other units with soldiers from the anthracite fields also appear in the letter: Colonel Joseph Knipe’s 46th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry under Colonel Tilghman Good, and Colonel Benjamin Christ’s 50th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

The letter below offers a close view of life at Camp Curtin and of the men themselves as they prepared to depart for the “seat of war.”

From the Miners’ Journal, September 14, 1861

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Letters from Our Volunteers

Camp Curtin, Harrisburg,

Sept. 8, 1861, 

Messrs. Eds. – 

The news around this part of the country is very scarce. I received a copy of the [Miners’] Journal this afternoon, and the boys were so anxious to see it, that it passed through the whole band (25 hands), before I got a chance to read it. 

Troops continue to arrive here daily. There were between 4 and 5,000 on dress parade this evening (Sunday) and about 1,500 present to witness the parade. There are only about two regiments uniformed, and they look remarkably well. 

An Indiana regiment passed through Harrisburg this evening, en route for Washington and a train of five cars arrived here today from Pittsburgh. 

A sad accident happened to a member of Capt. Joseph Gilmour’s company last evening, while crossing the railroad at the depot. An engine came along and caught him. He had both legs and a hand cut off. One leg was cut off close to his thigh, the other below the knee. His name is William Millet, and he resides near Orwigsburg. 

The boys enjoy excellent health, and are getting fat. Some of the troops are fat, rugged, and sassy, for they have no coats, and some only have knee breeches, and others only a crown of an old hat… 

The reason is this: No company can receive uniforms until they have 83 men enrolled. Then they are sworn into the United States service. When they first arrive they are examined and mustered into the State service. 

There was Divine Service on the ground this afternoon, but I am sorry to say it was not very well attended. 

Col. James Nagle’s Schuylkill County Regiment is filling up very fast. He has nearly 700 men now in camp. There are three regiments now forming here besides Col. Nagle’s, viz: Col. Christ’s, Col. Good’s, and Col. Knipe’s. 

The latter is very nearly full and expects to be ordered away during the coming week. The commander at this post, Col. Welsh, is a gentleman in every respect, and is very much liked by both officers and men. There are at present only two or three cases in the hospital, and there is nothing here to make persons unhealthy if they will only leave apples and other fruit alone. 

When our regiment moves, I will let you know and will try ad keep you posted where we are and what we are doing. 

Yours respectfully, 

W.H.G. 

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William Millet’s remains were sent home to Schuylkill County after his death at Camp Curtin. Another story in the Miners’ Journal writes:

“Mr. William Millet, a member of Capt. Jos. Gilmour’s company, at the time of enlisting residing near Orwigsburg, this County, met with a terrible accident at Harrisburg on Saturday night last, which in a few hours resulted in his death. It appears that he was on a freight train with the intention of coming home, when the accident happened.

As the cars were crossing a bridge, they gave a sudden jerk which threw him off, and upon the track. The train passed over him, cutting off both his legs, and one of his hands almost off. His thigh was put out of joint. The unfortunate man was picked up and carried into the depot, where every attention was paid him. He was after laying there about three hours, taken out to Camp Curtin in a wagon, but died before reaching the Camp. The commandant at the camp, Col. Welsh, was very kind.

He had a coffin made… and on Monday it was conveyed to Millet’s friends, in this County. The accident cast quite a gloom over the company to which he had been attached, the deceased having been quite a favorite with all the members.”

Thanks to historian John Hoptak for sharing that news clipping on his fantastic 48th Pennsylvania blog.

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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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