Franklin County: Thad Donely to Henry A. Bitner, February [?], 1863
Note
Camp near Falmouth [added: Va] [1]
A. Chaunt
[page 2]
[page 3]
Made in the commanding officers
you are aware and probably no more
of it than I do but
their has been
appointment made in the reg! 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 rong
Mash is
Col. now of
this
Regt
I had a letter from Sam
Hoover since you rote to me he told
me how things are prospering
their
and
I answered his and made it a long
one I expect to here
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
pay[added: master]
[page 4]
was here and paid off a couple
regt.
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 dont
please me it
is made out of
the vinegar and powder about a
half hour ago
dont it
look as if
it was a substitute for something
better but whe are in
a
strait and
whe do the best
whe can and hope
I wont fall in love
with any of
the ladys
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).
