Owen, Oscar James Letters (1861-1864)

              [page 1]
[letterhead illustration: man in fireman's attire, standing next to a period fire hydrant, in background, another man and a house; Captioned: The School of the Fire Zouave.]

August 4th 1861 

Dear father Mother Brother 
& sister I take my pencil 
up to write you a few lines 
I am well at present and 
hope you the same. We arrived at Marietta 
thursday evening at 1/2 past 10, marched in 
camp and after much noise attempted 
to retire but did not get to sleep till 
about one o'clock rose at 4 in the 
morning spent friday in drilling and 
in town friday night at 12 oclock 
we was called on guard till 2 
saturday drilled in the morning 
and after dinner went to the point and 
had my picture taken. drilled in the 
evening till near dark when we 
wer let out of camp to go in swiming  
Ely and I stoped for James; stayed 
that night. sunday morning went 
down to Charles fixed and went 


[page 2]
[left side of page 2] 
to meeting. in the after noon 
about 2 o'clock finds Oscar writing 
at a letter.  I have enjoyed good health 
since we went in camp. we have to cook 
for ourselves now.  We are very comfort- 
ably situated in camp with our 
pots plates knives forks and spoons 
and our nice blanket for to sleep 
on. We have not got our arms nor 
uniform yet & dont know when 
we shall. Mother I want you to 
fetch down my linen pants my 
shoes & [symbol for checkerboard ?] shirt & my straw hat 
when you come in town for I have 
had to borrow a pair of pants of 
James to wear if I had not I 
would have spoiled them.  There are 
about 250 soldiers in camp now 
There will be preaching in camp 
to night at six. Amos has gone 
home  Ely is at Jims ben and 
Jon S. is in camp and I must 
go to pretty soon

[right side of page 2] 
We get plenty to eat.  Bread meat 
potatoes coffee sugar &c. of which 
we get plenty. It is very hot today.  
Now I have given you a brief 
description of things as they are so 
I hope you will all be satisfied 
tell all the folks that I send my 
love to them & would be glad to 
see them.  Angeline come 
down you & Charlie when Ma or 
pa comes if you can  
Angeline tell Mary that John 
Smith is all right. 

Attention: Company, right face 
left face, bout face forward 
march halt.  Well I must leave 
off for this time for it is time 
to go in camp.  come down as 
soon as you can. when you come 
bring Ben Clay's Hymn Book. 
No more at present. 
I remain yours truly 
Oscar J. Owen 


[page 3]
P.S. Tell aunt Jane Mr. 
Miller is back and Jessie is 
well. 


[page 4]
[envelope]
[illustration: US flag, waving on flag pole with tassel attached at top; 
Caption: 
"All hail the glorious Stars and Stripes!" 
The echo leaps from hill to hill! 
We first drew breath beneath its folds, 
We'll live and die beneath it still!]
[no postage stamp or postmark]
[hand-written address]
James Owen 
Lowell Washington Co. 
Ohio 


[page 5]
[lock of hair, tied with string]