Letter to Sarah Garibaldi (Poor)

Scope and content:

Written from "Camp Near Darksville, Berkeley County," Virginia. Letter comments on the kindness of people in Pennsylvania and wealth of countryside there.

Language:
English
Other descriptive data:

Camp Near Darksville, Berkeley County, Va.
July 19, 1863

Dear Wife
I received yours of the 15 of June last few days ago from which I understood with gladness that you was well. This leaves me well at present and hope that when these few lines will come to hands they may find you enjoying the same blessings.

You are complaining in your last letter that I don't write to you but that aint so for when I am in camp I write to you at least every weak. Two or three weeks have passed without writing to you but we were constantly marching in Pennsylvania and Maryland and the mail was right smartly interrupted so that we could neither receive nor send a letter. The last letter I wrote to you was written with the pencil, and it was whilst I was in Maryland.

I saw brother Geroge there and he told me that he had came out of the fight safe and that he was well. He asked me when I had heard from you all, and whether you was [well], and sends his best love to you all. You must try to write me oftner if you can.

I could write to you, now, something about the time we have had in Maryland and Pennsylvania but I think it almost unnecessary as I expect you have heard all about it before this time. The people of Pennsylvania treated us very kindly but I think it was only from their teeth out. When we went to their houses they gave us plenty to eat of every thing they had. They are living in a very flourishing countries, plenty of good wheat, plenty of the best meadows I ever saw in my life. The generality of the people haven't got more than eighty acres of land and they have it in highest state of cultivation and living like princes almost. They seem to be very much unconcerned about the war, very seldom they see a soldier, and they hardly know what war is, but if the war was to be carried on there as long as it was carried on in Virginia they would learn the effects of it, and perhaps would soon be willing to make peace like we are.

Thomas Arrington sends you all his best respects and he is well. Henry Gilliland was killed in the Gettysburg fight. I shall finish writing by giving you, to Russia and mother my best respects and remain your affectionate husband untill Death, John Garibaldi.

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Virginia Military Institute
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