Item No. 8963845

In this June 1861 letter from Williamsport, Maryland, a Pennsylvania soldier in General Robert Patterson’s army writes to his uncle in Minersville about the action along the Potomac River in the days before the First Battle of Bull Run. Although unidentified, evidence suggests the author may be Private Thomas Rhodes of the 16th Pennsylvania.

Near the beginning of his letter, the author gives his uncle an update on his status. “We are still on marching orders,” he writes. “We can’t tell what minute of the day or night that we will be called for to meet the enemy.” Continuing, he relates how “we was roused out of our sleep” the night of June 18. “There was some balls come from the other side of the river over to our barracks, but we didn’t leave our campground.” He adds that “We was all in ranks in double quick order, and when we was dismissed to go to quarters, then the orders was for us to have our muskets laying by our sides.”

Of Williamsport he writes,“The people of this town is very much afraid that when they [the Confederates] will make an attack, why that they will fire on the town first,” noting that the rebels “have 3 cannons planted the other side of the river.” He continues describing how on June 16 the regiment “waded across the river” and on the 18th “recrossed the river again back to the same town.” He adds, “It is what they call the Potomac River.” As for the wading, he explains, “The reason they was there before we came here, and they take the ferry up so we couldn’t ferry across. But that didn’t stop us. We wade into it and waded across the river like the Old Brave did in ancient times.”

Of the goings-on across the river, he writes:

We have to be on the watch very sharp just now while we are in an enemy’s country. Here just now they are making all the preparations that they can, but I think we can handle them. I thought when we would get in Virginia why that we would get some corn cakes, but my calculations were wrong, for when we came across the river why we still met with some fine union men that had farms. Well, they told us the secessionists left here on Thursday while they heard we was coming on for to see them. Well, the farmers told us that they broke in their houses and took from them whatever they could get a hold of. This town that we are close camped, by way, they are all union men pretty much. So we have one secessionist in our guard house just now. The march that we will have why will be for old Virginia again. That is my belief, that we will go direction for Harpers Ferry or Manassas Gap.

He closes the letter by mentioning several local acquaintances that he had recently seen in other regiments, including William Bowman, Co. H 6th Pennsylvania, from Port Carbon; John Lavenberg, Co. H 6th Pennsylvania, from Pottsville; Robert S. Thirwell, Co. G 6th Pennsylvania, from Llewellyn; and John M. Heilner, Co. A 8th Pennsylvania, from Shamokin.

The letter is unsigned. The author is perhaps Private Thomas Rhodes of Co. K, 16th Pennsylvania, who was also from Minersville. The postal cover included with the letter is addressed to “George Rh___ds” of Minersville. The surname is obscured by soiling on the cover, but a relation to Thomas Rhodes seems likely. The 16th Pennsylvania’s service history also matches with the events described in this letter.

Less than two weeks later, Patterson’s army again crossed the Potomac. Marching south toward Martinsburg, they skirmished with a rebel brigade under Thomas J. Jackson at Hoke’s Run. Although he took Martinsburg, the campaign faltered when Patterson withdrew toward Harpers Ferry, allowing Jackson’s and several other rebel brigades under Joseph E. Johnston to move to Manassas in time to turn the tide at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21.

The letter was written upon two sides of a letter sheet measuring about 7 3/4” x 9 3/4”. Light foxing and toning, with some light soiling seeped through from the postal cover, also included. The full transcript appears below.

Williams Port June 20 1861

Dear Uncle
Dear Sir
I will this morning endeavor to pen a few lines to you so as to inform you that I am well, hoping that these few lines will meet you all well and in good health. We are still on marching orders. We can’t tell what minute of the day or night that we will be called for to meet the enemy. We was roused out of our sleep night ‘fore last. There was some balls come from the other side of the river over to our barracks, but we didn’t leave our campground. We was all in ranks in double quick order, and when we was dismissed to go to quarters, then the orders was for us to have our muskets laying by our sides. The people of this town is very much afraid that when they will make an attack, why that they will fire on the town first. The [illegible] was yesterday that they have 3 cannons planted the other side of the river. But I guess that was all talk, at least we can’t find out much here. They keep all dark from us as much as they possible can do. We waded across the river on Sunday morning and on Tuesday morning we recrossed the river again back to the same town. It is what they call the Potomac River. The reason they was there before we came here, and they take the ferry up so we couldn’t ferry across. But that didn’t stop us. We wade into it and waded across the river like the Old Brave did in ancient times.

We have to be on the watch very sharp just now while we are in an enemy’s country. Here just now they are making all the preparations that they can, but I think we can handle them. I thought when we would get in Virginia why that we would get some corn cakes, but my calculations were wrong, for when we came across the river why we still met with some fine union men that had farms. Well, they told us the secessionists left here on Thursday while they heard we was coming on for to see them. Well, the farmers told us that they broke in their houses and took from them whatever they could get a hold of. This town that we are close camped, by way, they are all union men pretty much. So we have one secessionist in our guard house just now. The march that we will have why will be for old Virginia again. That is my belief, that we will go direction for Harpers Ferry or Manassas Gap. I seen John Heilner here yesterday afternoon. He camps about a 1/4 of a mile from us. John Heilner, he looks well.

I seen Willi Bowman, Phillip Humels, & Robert Thurawell. John Latenberger.

The day we marched why the Regiment that John Latenberger is marched also. Well, we hadn’t gone but 6 miles when I men John laying longside of the road. He had the cramp, but he soon got better. That is all in this time. You need not write to me, for we are moving too much about.