Camp Cameron Near Harrisburg Pensylvania

                                               

Oct 19 1861

 

Charles as it has been some time since i herd from you and perhaps since you herd from me i thought perhaps it would not be a mis to exchange communication with each other i am now a volenteer souldiar in the federal army of the U.S. the rigement that i am attached to is at pressent encamped at Camp Cameron about 2 miles from harrisburg the capital seat of Penya the grounds belong to General cameron the Secetary of War thear is in this camp i think near 5,000 souldiers and at camp Curten a short distance i understand thear is some 8000 composed of different rigements when a Rigment gets full they move for some other part our rigment is fast filling up and we dont no the day that we shal moave neither do we no our destination it may be in washington or it may be in Meseuragh a souldier noes but little were he is to be sent. I am in good health good spirits and perfectly satesfied with my situation and if it should be my fortune to face the enemy in close contest i dont intend to be the first to run we have plenty of good wholesome food such as fresh beef smoked shoulders fresh bread bisket coffe potatoes and not much els i have been in camp a little over a month getting my arm hurt was a great dissigevantage to me it was 6 monts before it got wright wel still i made a good living and could a made a living and a little money i was not compelled to list /

I enlisted in philadelphia for a ropper and miner at 17$ per month but after being in camp 2 weaks we were informed that there were no such cumpany in the Rigment some left and some joined other cumpaneys of infantery at 13 dollars my captain and cumpany officers are No 1 men i shal keep my eye open for a permotion i wish i had went in the army when i was 21 years old but i am not to old yet to be a souldier we have about 4 hours drill each day but we are kept pretty close confined i expected to have went to Harrisburg this afternoon but through a mistake in our Orderley we could not pas but we are promised the first chance on monday the Susgahanna lies close to our camp tis a very hilly cunterry in these parts but it looks like a good cuntery if i should live throug this campaign i believe i will receive one hundred dollars bounty if i should not live and thear is any bounty land which it is supposed Congres will pas an act this session i want you to look out and get it i suppose you know how i had some money when i went to camp and a i have a few dollars left. i spent pretty freely round harrisburg at first we had more liberty Charles give my respects to all that you think wishes me wel and i hope you wil write to me without delay if you have heard from Edgar let me know thear is not a man here that i ever saw eneware before to my knowledg / there princeply Pensylvania dutch but a kind set of people. Charles as a mans life is uncertain at best of times and move so in war and me among strangers it might be the last account you wil ever get of me but i hope not. I therefore hope you wil not delay wrighting me a letter if we should leave here before i get it i would be likely not to get it at all. the most i am at los for here is philadelphia news we can get harrisburg papers but thear not much interest to me except the war news i might have told you more of my past experiance but it is not not nessesary i belong to Col Thomas A Ziegler Rigament Pensylvania Volentears

 

Direct your letter to Camp Cameron near Harrisburg

in Care of Capten Diller

 

I will remain your Brother

William W Shivers

 

I wil write to you the first opportunity after we leave here Charles forward me a letter soon

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