Item No. 1671435

Sergeant Thomas Hatton of the 31st Pennsylvania (later renumbered 82nd Pennsylvania) letter to his wife, Kate, written August 26, 1861, from “Camp William” near Washington, DC. In it, Hatton describes his regiment’s new camp, is tired after marching to be issued muskets, and expresses his disappointment at the appearance of the capital city.

Hatton begins his letter by describing how he and his comrades “have been very busy since we arrived here getting our camp fixed up.” Located at a “splendid location...high and dry” near Washington. “The only difficulty is about water,” he writes, stating that an area to wash was a quarter mile away and that “good drinking water is as far off.” The view from camp, however, was “very fine,” adding that “we can see Washington City, Georgetown, Alexandria, and all the Camps for miles around.”

Hatton remarks that Colonel David B. Birney’s 23rd Pennsylvania is camped nearby, and that he briefly saw a friend, Private William Carpenter (POW Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864; paroled; died of disease February 21, 1865 at Annapolis). Hatton writes:

Col. Birney’s Regiment is right below us and only arrived the day before us, and in passing them I seen Wm Carpenter, but have not had a chance to go over to see him since. I would went over today (Sunday) after I came off Guard, but after being on duty all night, I had to fall in line, and we marched about seven miles and back through the hot sun after our Muskets, and did not get back until near night.

Hatton next writes that the men:

have plenty to eat and plenty to do. The fare is a little rough, but it is good enough for anyone to eat. And the man that gets as good and growls ought to be shot. Still, we have some growlers with us.

He then describes how he can’t help but feel let down by the lack of grandeur in Washington:

I was very much disappointed in the opinion I had formed of Washington City. I have been over a great part of the city, marching up one street and down another. But it is the meanest place that ever I seen for to be the Capitol of the United States. I visited the Capitol building, seen the White House and several other buildings, but none of them are as fine as I thought they would be.

Near the end of the letter he writes, “we have a first rate set of men, and will have a good regiment that will tell if they get into an engagement.” He signs and provides his mailing address.

Hatton and the 31st Pennsylvania would train throughout the summer and fall. In the spring of 1862, the regiment would embark upon the Peninsula Campaign, fighting at the Battle of Fair Oaks (after which the regiment was renumbered as the 82nd Pennsylvania). At the Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1, Hatton was seriously wounded, and he would die on July 5, 1862.

The letter was written in pencil on four pages of a blue letter sheet measuring about 5 1/4” x 8 1/4”. Creased at the original folds, along with some light foxing and toning. The full transcript appears below.

Camp Williams
August 26th 1861

Dear Kate. I send these few lines to let you know that I am well and am very much pleased with Camp life. We have been very busy since we arrived here getting our camp fixed up. We are encamped about one mile and a half from Washington City, in a splendid location. The ground is high and dry, and should be a very healthy location. The only difficulty is about the water. There is no place to wash within a quarter of a mile, and good drinking water is as far off. The view from our camp is very fine. We can see Washington City, Georgetown, Alexandria, and all the Camps for miles around. I suppose there is about seventy-five or one hundred thousand troops encamped in sight of us. Col. Birney’s Regiment is right below us and only arrived the day before us, and in passing them I seen Wm Carpenter, but have not had a chance to go over to see him since. I would went over today (Sunday) after I came off Guard, but after being on duty all night, I had to fall in line, and we marched about seven miles and back through the hot sun after our Muskets, and did not get back until near night.

We have plenty to eat and plenty to do. The fare is a little rough, but it is good enough for anyone to eat. And the man that gets as good and growls ought to be shot. Still, we have some growlers with us.

I was very much disappointed in the opinion I had formed of Washington City. I have been over a great part of the city, marching up one street and down another. But it is the meanest place that ever I seen for to be the Capitol of the United States. I visited the Capitol building, seen the White House and several other buildings, but none of them are as fine as I thought they would be.

I hope that you are in good health and the children also. Tell them that they must be good boys. Give my respects to your father and mother and your Brother Albert. Give my respects, also, to E. Kelly an all the rest of the boys in the House of Lords at the end of the market, and tell them that I am gay and happy still, that we have a first rate set of men, and will have a good regiment that will tell if they get into an engagement. Tell Kelly to send me some papers once in a while and I will be much obliged to him. You can give him your letter when you write to me and let him direct it so that it will reach me.

Direct to Sergt Thomas Hatton
Co. D, 31st Regiment, Col. Williams
Capt Peters
Camp Williams
Washington City
D.C.

No more at present as I am tired and can think of nothing more to say. but that I still remain
Yours
Thos Hatton