Franklin County: Thad Donely to Henry A. Bitner, February [?], 1863
Camp near Falmouth [added: Virginia] [1]
A. Chaunt
[page 2]
[page 3]
Made in the commanding officers
you are aware and probably know more
of it than I do but
there has been
appointment made in the regiment and
commissions given that are not so well
approved by the men as they should
be but they have to put up with them
right or wrong.
Maish is
Colonel now of
this
Regiment
I had a letter from Sam
Hoover since you wrote to me he told
me how things are prospering
there
and
I answered his and made it a long
one I expect to hear
from him
soon. I have not answered
David
Eberly yet
but shall do so
soon. Tell
me how he gets along with the girls
and I shall bore him pretty well
if I can. I wish some of the boys could
come around here and spend a few
days. I tell you they would learn a
heap and have a gay time the
paymaster
[page 4]
was here and paid off a couple
regiment
in our Brigade and I tell
you they have had a gay time since
lots of money and whiskey so they
never mind the [unclear: weather] while the
goose hangs high. Well Henry I
shall soon stop as my paper
is most full and my ink don't
please me. It
is made out of
the vinegar and powder about a
half hour ago
don't it
look as if
it was a substitute for something
better but we are in
a
strait and
we do the best
we can and hope
I won't fall in love
with any of
the ladies
while I have so little room
to spread myself and
no better place
to pen the desire of my heart but
I can console my
self for the [unclear: future] I am
hoping you will make best use of your
[unclear: [illeg.]
]
as ever
Thad Donely
Note
[1] Based on the contents of this letter,
we have determined that it was probably written in February of 1863.
Donely mentions that Levi Maish had just been promoted to colonel
of the regiment;military records show that Maish was made Colonel
of the 130th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers on February 3, 1863
(see Samuel Bates, History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, Vol. IV, p. 207).
