Item No. 6794515

An 1861 letter written by Private Lewis M. Prall of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserves. In it, he describes the regiment’s arrival in Washington, pickets firing, expectations for battle, competition with another company for the designation of “Company A,” and encloses a souvenir “star off a secession flag.”

Prall’s regiment had spent the month of August on duty in Annapolis, but at the end of the month traveled by rail to Washington and thence to Tennallytown. There, they joined the other regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserves under the command of General George McCall. Prall writes:

We left Annapolis junction on last Friday and came to Washington. Stayed there all night in a large building built expressly for troops. We then, the next morning, marched to Tennallytown to join General McCall’s brigade, where all the Pennsylvania troops are at, which is about 7 miles from Washington between that and the Potomac river, 2 miles from the river and only 6 miles from the rebel camp. They are 4 miles, the other side river. Nothing but the river between us. There are 14,000 troops here with us. We are looking for an attack every hour. Our pickets and their pickets are firing at each other. Last Wednesday night before we came here the enemy tried to cross the Potomac, but were driven back. All the troops that was here was called out expecting to have a battle, but had none. If there is a fight at all, we will be in it.

Prall next discusses a bit of controversy within the regiment, whereby another company had originally been designated “Company A”:

Oh, I must tell you something. Our Company, which has been ranked as Company K, has been changed to Company A, which we were promised at first at Camp Wayne, but which we did not get, for Old Colonel Roberts put us down to Co. K and the Union Guards to Co. A. Oh, they went on awful to think they were honored so much but as soon as we came here under General McCall, he put us to Company A on the right of the Regiment where we are ranked as the best Company in the Regiment where we get Rifles, Minies. Maybe this will take them down a little, for they were spunky about it.

Near the letter’s close, Prall describes the communication network designed to protect Washington. “We are in the District of Columbia, 7 miles from Washington,” he writes. “They have a telegraph wire from the chain bridge through all the camps into Washington so as to alarm the different camps if the enemy attempted to cross the Potomac.” In a postscript, he adds, “They are busy throwing up entrenchments and breastworks here. I expect we will have to work at it next week. All that works at get 25 cents a day beside his regular pay.” In another postscript, he writes, “I send you a star off a secession flag that was taken near Annapolis.”

The letter was written on four pages of a bifolium sheet measuring about 4 3/4” x 7 5/8”, featuring a patriotic depiction of Colonel Elmer Ellsworth dressed in his Zouave uniform and holding the US flag, while the rebel flag is trampled under his feet. The caption reads, “Remember Ellsworth.” Creased at the original folds. The full transcript appears below.

Camp Tunnel September 1st 1861

Dear Mother
Perhaps you may think queer to receive a letter dated from a new Camp. We left Annapolis junction on last Friday and came to Washington. Stayed there all night in a large building built expressly for troops. We then, the next morning, marched to Tennallytown to join General McCall’s brigade, where all the Pennsylvania troops are at, which is about 7 miles from Washington between that and the Potomac river, 2 miles from the river and only 6 miles from the rebel camp. They are 4 miles, the other side river. Nothing but the river between us. There are 14,000 troops here with us. We are looking for an attack every hour. Our pickets and their pickets are firing at each other. Last Wednesday night before we came here the enemy tried to cross the Potomac, but were driven back. All the troops that was here was called out expecting to have a battle, but had none. If there is a fight at all, we will be in it. Well, I must go to be inspected. Our clothes are inspected every Sunday to see if we keep them clean, and see if we have everything in our knapsacks ready for a march.

Well, I am back again. Just come off of drill instead of being inspected. Oh, I must tell you something. Our Company, which has been ranked as Company K, has been changed to Company A, which we were promised at first at Camp Wayne, but which we did not get, for Old Colonel Roberts put us down to Co. K and the Union Guards to Co. A. Oh, they went on awful to think they were honored so much but as soon as we came here under General McCall, he put us to Company A on the right of the Regiment where we are ranked as the best Company in the Regiment where we get Rifles, Minies. Maybe this will take them down a little, for they were spunky about it.

We are in the District of Columbia, 7 miles from Washington. They have a telegraph wire from the chain bridge through all the camps into Washington so as to alarm the different camps if the enemy attempted to cross the Potomac. We have to drill 6 hours each day. 3 hours in the forenoon and 3 in the afternoon. The days are very hot and the nights very cold. I am as well as ever I was in my life. Did you get that letter I wrote to you? I have got no answer yet from you nor Lib. If you have not sent that box, don’t send it to Annapolis Junction. Send it to, well, send it to Annapolis Junction and I can get it from there to where we go, for I don’t know how long we will stay here. Maybe not 2 days. Well, I must go to dinner. Goodbye.
Lewis M. Prall
Care Cap. Nields
Co. A 1st Reg. P.R.C.
McCall’s Brigade
Camp Tennalley
D.C.

Direct to Lewis M. Prall
Company A

Well, I must stop with my love to you all. As soon as we get paid I will send you some money. We now get 13 dollars a month. They are busy throwing up entrenchments and breastworks here. I expect we will have to work at it next week. All that works at get 25 cents a day beside his regular pay. Mason is here. He is well. Write soon.
Your true son
Lew

J. Herrington sends his best respects to you all. We are all well and happy here. I feel bully.

I send you a star off a secession flag that was taken near Annapolis. Tell Lib to write also.
Lib Gray