| Summary: | 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.[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
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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
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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
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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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