Military Home Page

Revolutionary War 1773-1783   ·   Civil War 1861-1865   ·   Spanish-Amer War 1898-1902   
WW1 1914-1919     ·      WW11 1939-1945     ·      Korean War 1950-1953  
   Vietnam Era 1964-1974   ·   Desert Storm 1990-1991   ·   Afghanistan-Iraq 2001-        Other

Click on any menu icon or underlined link to find out more about a subject or individual.
Use the Search Our Site icon to find specific words or topics on the entire website.

Letter from E.B. Willcox to his Sister during
War of Rebellion-Civil War 1862

Camp Parole Alaxandra VA
Oct 28th 1862

 

Dear Sister

I received a  letter from you dated Aug 8th two or three days ago.  You wrote that you had not received any letters from me once I first went to Washington.  I do not see where my letters go to.  I have written to you several times.  I have received three letters from you since I came south. One while in Washington, one in Frederick and one after Banks retreat from Winchester.  I think that is all that I have received from you until this last one.

You cannot imagine how dull it is here. We have nothing to do but eat and sleep.  I do wish they would exchange us and send me to my regt.  I had rather be on duty everyday than to lay around in camp.

They have told us that we were exchanged two or three times but I do not think that we care.  We have been mustered for pay twice since we have been here but we do not get any yet.  Some of the men here have not had any money for eight months.  There is four months pay due me the last of this month. I had $26 while  I was in Richmond and when I came here I had not a cent.  But I went to the regt and Mr. VanMatter paid me some that he owed me so that I have got along very well.   I was a prisoner 22 days and I bought nothing but eatables so you see board is not very cheep in Richmond.  I could not have stood more than one wek (week) longer at Richmond.  There were six of ours from our Co. taken togather (together). One we left in the hospital in Richmond. Two are in the hospital in Washington and one is sick here and I have stood it all.  So you see your little brother is pretty tough after all.

The President gave us a call day before yesterday.  It was the first time I ever saw him. He looks much better than any picture I ever saw of him.  I am too sleepy to write any more at present.  Please write me soon as you receive this.  Direct your letters to the Mich Cav. Co. M.  Washington D.C.

E.B. Willcox to

Mrs. E. M. Dyre.

Bert Dyer 1933