Franklin County: Jacob Christy to Mary Jane Demus, August 10,
1864
Summary:
Christy is glad that his sister and family did not incur any harm or damage during the
Confederate raid of Chambersburg. He expresses frustration that the Union soldiers in and
around the city were not able to stop the Confederate forces and suggests that his company
easily could have prevented the raid. Christy also comments on the treatment of black prisoners
of war and on the unequal pay of African-American soldiers.
Mary Jane Demus
August the 10th 1864
Morris Island South Carolina
Dear Sister
I take this preasant time of informing a few lines to you that I am well at preasant hopeing these few lines may find you the same I receive your kind letter and was verry glad to hear from you all that you was well and was geting along so well and was verry glad to hear That the Rebels had not disturb you or none of the rest yet but I seen in the paper that the rebels had come to Chambersburg and burnt it but i hope that thay didnot due any damage to you father And Elizebeth I think that thay was a pretty [unclear: set] men in Chambersburg that would let two hundred rebels come and burn the place for I am a soldier myself and I know what fighting is the compythat I belong to has 80 sume men in it and I know that we can Wipe the best 200 rebels that thay can fetch to us or let us get where thay are Samuel and Joseph is well and cend their love to you and Elizabeth And to father I seen David to day and he is well and cend his love to you and the rest George and all the rest of the boys are well it is verry warm here but we have verry easy now nothing to due but picket duty And were we are we can see the rebels every days and hear them hollow but the river is between is thay was a rebels boat came down to our fleet with a flag of truce it came from Charlston to exchange prisners and thay sade that thay had sume prisner out our regiment thay had the list of three men out our compy but thay did not fetch them along with them but still I was verry glad to hear that thay had not killed them thay been a great deal talk of them killing all the collard soldiers that thay catch
We due not serpose to fight much now any more for we have not been pade anything since we have been in the feild thay have offed to pay us but did not want to give us as much as white soldeirs and so we wont or wouldant take any
I think we will get home before verry long yet and when you rite I wish you let me know What harm the rebels his dun my love to you and father and Elizebeth and all inquireing frends is roll call and I must [unclear: clothe] good night untell again pleas to rite soon and Direct your letter to Compy J 54 Massachuettes regiment volentears Morris Island S.C. via of Hilton Head
Jacob Christy
