Nov 17 1861

 

Camp Cameron Near Harrisburg

Brother Charles i am stealing a few moments time to write a few lines as we expect to leave this to morrow for washington this has been a wery stering day among some of us the rigement that our cumpany was to went with has been disbandened and put into 2 other ridgments i shal be with the same captain but a different curnel i shal be with the Zuaves so we have to have some different uniform and we wil have to learn some different drill but i gus i can learn it we have been getting our uniform pretty much all day pease to time and now i have to run for a cap cover we have plenty of good warm clothing but i am afraid thay be onhandy to carry i sold a very good pair of satnet pants to day for 50 cts a coat that i paid 6 dollars for about 1/3 worn for 75 cts i did not do it for want of mony but i could not carry them and had no poor friends to give them to if a man could cum along with a lot of cloves about the time the boys get thear pay i think thay might make something of them as they get none gave them People that is comfortable at home ought to think of the souldier he makes many sacrifices that thay no nothing about but thank god i am in good health and wel satisfied ready to take it as it comes i am not tired 

 

Some of the fast boys went out last nite and brout home a pretty good load of chickens thay got home about 2 oclock some inquiry was made ware the feathers came from but nobody knew thear is many little incidents happen in camp amung 3 or 4 thousand men 3 companies left our camp yesterday for camp curtain the first chance for a corporal my name is down for i hav friends in the company at the time i received yours of the 24 we expected to go every day and i was afraid i would not get it i was very much pleased when i got it but was better pleased to find you was all well and sanctioned my course at this time and to hear that you are giving your daughter the education that you are my sincere wish is that she may be an honer to herself and a pride to her father i have heard a short but very apropiate sermon to day thear is some talk that we wil be sent from washington to port Royel in south carolina i dont care ware if it is gods will i hope to return safe

 

You will let father hear from me give my respects to your wife mary and all the rest and that i hope to help crush the tyrent that would bind thear children in slavery we have not received any pay yet but expect to at washington but thank fortune i have a little left if i had not sold my cows i wil wright to you at the first convenient time when i wil be able to give you full petickalars of the ridgment letter of the cumpany and brigade. you will excuse this letter for it has been wrote in a hurry Good by Charles for the present

 

I Remain your affectinet brother

William W Shivers

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