John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 14 April 1862
                                                                                                Camp McReynolds
                                                                                                            April. 14.1862.
 
Dear Jennie: Here I am in Camp and have the good pleasure of acknowledging a very kind and lovely letter from you this forenoon It gave me great satisfaction to hear that you are still among the list of healthy, But it makes me feel sorry to hear that you passed such a discontented week since I left. but still I feel glad that I have a friend at home that takes such great interest in my welfare, and for your sake I will take the best care imaginable of myself, and live in hopes that the day will ere long arrive that I will be permitted to see the rebellion ended and all of us soldiers returned to our friends never to part while life remains /
 
I have the privilege of telling you that I am again as healthy as ever and am attending to duty as before. The snow has left and our Camp is very nice and dry. On Saturday last we went to the woods and got poles and spruce and made arches and wreaths for our Camp and everything has the appearance of home. We have been put down to duty in full. We have to drill some 6 hours each day and have great difficulty in getting out of Camp. But still on tomorrow I am to have a pass to go the City and then I will get my likeness taken and send it to you for your special benefit, with the firm belief that you will take the utmost care of it until I return to Blair Co. for good. Yesterday being Sunday our Camp was full of / citizens, and Oh! what a number of ladies were in to see us. We used them as well as we knew how and invited them to call again. Alex is still with us and will not return home for two weeks. He is well pleased with Camp life and enjoys himself exceedingly well. Evans & Jacob Walters received your respects with pleasure and join in sending their regards to you with the news that they are well. Barney is getting along well. You may tell Mrs. Engle so. I am not surprized to hear that the people of Duncansville thought you and I were married, and more than that I do not care what they think for my part. Indeed they must be very foolish to think that I could not stay over night / with you, without being married. When any person asks you again about us getting married just tell them what you think proper and it will be all right with me. You will not do anything I know but what will please me, for it will be hard for you to displease me. Give my best respects to Lue and tell her I am well and am busy all the time. My best respects to your mother and tell her that I often think of her while I am in Camp. When you write again you need not use Col. Fristmuth’s name for he is no longer our Colonel. I will give you the address below, as it is changed. Take good care of yourself and trouble yourself as little as possible about me, for I am all right. My best love to you and I remain yours as ever with great respect—
                                                                                    John H. Black
Address                                                                                   Camp McReynolds
                                                                                                811 Noble Street
                                                                                                                        Phila.
 
                                                In care of Capt. A. Hartman
                                                                        12th Cavalry Regiment
3129
DATABASE CONTENT
(3129)DL078059Letters1862-04-14

Letter by Sgt. John H. Black, 12th Cavalry PA Dated April 14, 1862


Tags: Camp/Lodging, Courtship, Gender Relations, Nature, Photographs

People - Records: 2

  • (1342) [writer] ~ Black, John H.
  • (1343) [recipient] ~ Leighty, Susan Jane ~ Black, Susan Jane

Places - Records: 1

  • (39) [origination] ~ Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

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SOURCES

John H. Black to Susan J. Leighty, 14 April 1862, DL0780, Nau Collection