CIVIL WAR LETTER - 84th Pennsylvania Infantry, Slaves & Secesh at Berryville, VA

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
Civil War Letter by Soldier in Co. I, 84th Pennsylvania Infantry
This Civil War soldier letter was written by 27 year-old Jackson Potter (1834-1862), the son of John Potter (1807-1880) and Mary Rishel (1813-1879) of Luthersburg, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania. Jackson enlisted on 1 October 1861 in
Co. I, 84th Pennsylvania Infantry
and he died on 11 July 1862 at Alexandria, Virginia.
Most of the letters were written to his father, or his sister, Jane Potter (1839-1905), and a few to other family members such as his brother, William Marion Potter (1842-1916).
Of Potter’s service, his commanding officer wrote, “the company joins with me in [conveying to you, his father,] that they have lost a true soldier and a pleasant companion.”
Transcription
Berryville, Clarke county, [Virginia]
April 15, 1862
William, it is with the greatest pleasure that I take my pen to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well, hoping that you are all the same. I received a letter from you some time ago and at that time I had not time to write to you.
We are still in Berryville and I think we will stay here for some time. On the 10th we was mustered out for pay again but I don’t think we will be paid before the first of May and then there will be four months pay coming to us and it is greatly talked of that we will be discharged soon and there might be such a thing as us getting home some time in May.
We have the best times here that we have ever had—not much to do. We drill sometimes and we have to stand guard about once a week. We get some prisoners here nearly every day. The most of them takes the Oath of Allegiance and is let go. The Rebels is getting very quiet since they have had so many losses and [it is] reported that General Beauregard has died from the wound that he got at Pittsburg Landing and that Jackson is now captured which we will soon know the truth of it.
I must now quit writing for this time for the time has come to go out on dress parade. Last night I got a letter from Jane dated the 5th and was glad to get it and that my money had got home. Write soon. Your brother, — Jackson Potter
to William Potter
Frederick county, Va., 84th Regt. P. V., Company I
Write soon.
April 20th 1862—It is reported here today that we will be in Penn. inside of four week.
Berryville, Clarke county [Virginia]
April 17th
Little sister Joey,
It is with pleasure that I take my pen to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well, hoping that you are the same. Today is the warmest day that we have had this spring. It makes the sweat roll off us today,
There has been soldiers going through here today. There was some cavalry and three brigades of infantry and about thirty pieces of artillery and two or three hundred wagons. It made the Secesh look wild for they thought that the Yankees had all gone through here before we came. The Darkeys says,
Lord a massy, whare you all come from?
The white people is nearly all sesesh here but one or two.
Joseph Kritzer has been waiting in the hospital at Cumberland for more than two months and I have not seen him. Yesterday at the ferry below here a little piece, there was fifty-three privates drowned and three officers. The flat[boat] sunk with them.
And if you want me to fetch you a little darkey home to you when I come, you must write to me and let me know. No more for this time. — Jackson Potter
[to] Joey Potter
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