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1862-03-30: [Alexander, A. H.], to Alexander, Lizzie, Letter

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1862-03-30: [Alexander, A. H.], to Alexander, Lizzie, Letter

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[page 1]
The Shield of Liberty 1776 1862

Headquarters 103rd Reg't. Co. A.
Camp Alexandria
Sunday Morning Mar 30th 1862

Dear Sister Lizzie

I received your very welcomed letter yesterday evening and was glad to hear that you were all well. We left Washington on last Friday at 5 O'Clock P.M. and marched to Alexandria it was a pretty good march, we arrived at
[page 2]
Alexandria at 12 OClock Same night and were marched into a field where we lay down on the ground and slept until morning. I tell you it was a pretty hard night for it got very Cold again morning. We left that place at 10 OClock A.M yesterday and marched on to a side hill about 1 mile off and pitched our tents. This morning we will go on Board Transports at Alexandria at 12 O'Clock. for what place I don't know. We are just beginning to find out what soldiering is. The Boys thought that it was pretty hard times when they had to sleep on the ground without anything to protect them from the weather. I lay down with
[page 3]
Wash Gathers on the Ground and we had one blanket between us. I slept sound for about 3 hours when I wakened I was very cold. and got up and made a fire and stood around it until morning. I was down in Alexandria yesterday morning and was in the House that Col Elsworth was killed in, and saw the stairs that he went up. The Town is about as a large a place as Kittanning. I saw Dale and a number of others of our Callensburg Boys Dale stayed all night with us he looks very well. They have been laying out for the last fifteen days without any Tents or any thing else to cover them. I sent Father $450 by Adams Express and
[page 4]
Mother & Elmira my Photograph which I suppose you have received by this time. As soon as we get to our destination I will write again. it is a little difficult to send a letter from this side of the Potomac but I will endeavour to write as often as possible. Nothing more at present My love to you all Uncle & Aunt & Grandmother tell Grandmother that I think of her often. Lieut Schott sends his best regards to all of you
write soon
Good By
Your Affectionate Brother
Alex

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Title	1862-03-30: [Alexander, A. H.], to Alexander, Lizzie, Letter
Creator	[Alexander, A. H.]
LC Subject Headings	United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 Alexander, A. H. United States. Army. Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 103rd
EOA Categories	History – 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War and Reconstruction Peoples -- Military Life Government and Politics -- Military
Description	This document is a letter from a soldier in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment named Alex, most likely Lieutenant A. H. Alexander, to his sister Lizzie Alexander. The letter, dated March 30, 1862, describes camp life during the regiment’s stay near Alexandria, Virginia. Note: The writer of this letter is most likely Lieutenant A. H. Alexander. The envelope accompanying the letter was addressed to “Miss Lizzie Alexander,” and the letter itself is addressed to “Dear Sister Lizzie,” which suggests Alexander was the soldier’s last name. The letter states it was sent from “Headquarters 103rd Reg't. Co. A.” References in the body of the letter to Kittanning and “our Callensburg Boys” suggest this refers to the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry. A survey of the role of Company A, 103rd Pennsylvania found at http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/103rd/103dcoa.html indicates that the only soldier in the regiment with the last name of Alexander is A. H. Alexander.
Digital Publisher	Auburn University Libraries
Date	1862-03-30
Original Format	1 letter, 4 pages
Type	Text
Format	PDF
Original Item ID	RG 1124
Rights	This image is the property of the Auburn University Libraries and is intended for non-commercial use. Users of the image are asked to acknowledge the Auburn University Libraries. For information about obtaining high-resolution copies of this and other images in this collection, please contact the Auburn University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Department at archives@auburn.edu or (334) 844-1732.
Relation With	www.american-south.org
Language	eng
File Name	18620330 Alexander AH to Lizzie letter.pdf
Collection	Vick Collection
Repository	Auburn University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Submitted by	McRae, David R.; Coates, Midge
Transcript	[page 1] The Shield of Liberty 1776 1862 Headquarters 103rd Reg't. Co. A. Camp Alexandria Sunday Morning Mar 30th 1862 Dear Sister Lizzie I received your very welcomed letter yesterday evening and was glad to hear that you were all well. We left Washington on last Friday at 5 O'Clock P.M. and marched to Alexandria it was a pretty good march, we arrived at [page 2] Alexandria at 12 OClock Same night and were marched into a field where we lay down on the ground and slept until morning. I tell you it was a pretty hard night for it got very Cold again morning. We left that place at 10 OClock A.M yesterday and marched on to a side hill about 1 mile off and pitched our tents. This morning we will go on Board Transports at Alexandria at 12 O'Clock. for what place I don't know. We are just beginning to find out what soldiering is. The Boys thought that it was pretty hard times when they had to sleep on the ground without anything to protect them from the weather. I lay down with [page 3] Wash Gathers on the Ground and we had one blanket between us. I slept sound for about 3 hours when I wakened I was very cold. and got up and made a fire and stood around it until morning. I was down in Alexandria yesterday morning and was in the House that Col Elsworth was killed in, and saw the stairs that he went up. The Town is about as a large a place as Kittanning. I saw Dale and a number of others of our Callensburg Boys Dale stayed all night with us he looks very well. They have been laying out for the last fifteen days without any Tents or any thing else to cover them. I sent Father $450 by Adams Express and [page 4] Mother & Elmira my Photograph which I suppose you have received by this time. As soon as we get to our destination I will write again. it is a little difficult to send a letter from this side of the Potomac but I will endeavour to write as often as possible. Nothing more at present My love to you all Uncle & Aunt & Grandmother tell Grandmother that I think of her often. Lieut Schott sends his best regards to all of you write soon Good By Your Affectionate Brother Alex