| | 1 | Author: | Bitner Collection: Cressler, Alex | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Henry A. Bitner  | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Bitnerletters | Henry Bitner letters | Bitner collection | Letters written to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Description: | I have been somewhat dis- appointed in not seeing you
up here to see the men playing soldier, and now since
Gov. Curtin is expected here tomorrow, (Saturday) I
will feel sure that you are coming, and look for you, my but they do look pretty, Just
come and see. Three Regiments were in yesterday afternoon and make a long line of
people, who with their glittering bayonets under the rays of the shining sun,
accompanied by their Bands, or marshal
music, and the heavy and steady tramp of three thousand men, make all who stand and
look on, feel, that they are not soldiers, all this can but give a very faint idea
of the appearance of one hun- dred and fifty thousand human
beings marched into the field of battle by the warming and thrilling sound of almost countless drums and Oh! what, or who can describe
the feeling of that immense congregation of human souls when the sound of the booming
cannon first disturbs the quiet of that breast and paints death and destruction all
around. We may try to form some idea of the scene presented by a battlefield, both
while in the actual contest and after, but can never, in my opinion, realize the
horrors of such a sight until we ourselves behold it, and such; humanity forbids us from
wishing. May it never be seen in our land, but may the
Flag continue to wave over the land of the free and the home of
the brave. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 2 | Author: | Bitner Collection: Cressler, Alex | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Bitnerletters | Henry Bitner letters | Bitner collection | Letters written to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Description: | Yours of yesterday was received in due time and being fully digested I embrace
this privilege of writing to you again. I was sorry to hear of your
disappointment on Saturday last, and can only measure your feelings by imagining
what mine would have been under corresponding circumstances. Saturday was a
day of interest and satisfaction to me having never seen the like before, when I
cast my eyes along the line, which was formed along the one side of the street,
with arms presented and beheld the field of bayonets elevated above the heads of
thous- ands, and the Governor of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which is the Key-stone
of the Arch, moving steadily and silently along that line, with his penetrating
eye firmly fixed upon them, and his countenance remaining unmoved and
apparently speaking of the condition of the Country and the object for
which so many sons of labor had been called together, I was led to exclaim, "who
can tell what a day may bring forth." From a
person who came from Williamsport Md. yesterday we learned that two Regiments of Secessionists
had come there and by yesterday's Tribune, that the plan is to come on
through until they reach Philadelphia, in order to get
provisions, should they attempt to carry out that design, we will have a
bloody time here, and you may be sure the men here will give them a breakfast
job at any rate, and I hope Shippensburg and the Pines will, by the time they reach you, have their 10
O'clock peace ready for them and see that every man gets his portion due.
This is to much to trifle about, as it may be their design, however I am not yet
uneasy, but should they come it may be that I might never see you again let
come what will, I expect to be prepared for the worst that can happen to me. The citizens of
Chambrg.
are calm, and do not apprehend an attack from the rebels from the
South. I have not in my imagination marked out the plan by which the present
troubles may be settled, but find that the opinion of some is that war is
the only remedy. if such be true then the Northern boys
must go to the work, and what could be more cheering to the hearts of freeman
such as we are, than to see that the whole north will
move to the
work, as one mighty machine none of the
parts being wanting, but all complete, and all of which have been tried in
the days of '76, and found to be as true
a steel, and since the fall of Sumpter it has been greatly strengthened and now is the Greatest
Structure, and most
complet machine under the Canopy of Heaven, and when
it begins to move forward upon the foe, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific,-every part
reveling in grandeur and might, not being driven by steam, but the hearts
blood of million, and the smiles of Heaven, although moving slowly, its tread
will be the surer, and long before it reaches Cape Sable,
secession will be crushed out of existence, and like a
mighty cloud, it will rain Union sentiments on every farm and plantation south
of Mason's and Dixon's Line. Let us start the ball rolling, and
send seces sion to the place from whence it came,
you will now allow me to tell you a little anecdote, which I heard a few
days ago Mr.— A said "that it has often been his wonder what the D—l tempted people to sin for that their sin could not make
him any better," when Mr.— B
said, "Don't you know that he is a secessionist -that he was the first to
seceed from Heaven, and consequently the father of secession," —more truth
than joke — This is a day of sweet recolection to me, being the 21st day of
May. "Rather let my right hand forget her cunning and my tongue cleave to
the roof of my mouth," than for me to forget my hours of unalloyed peace three
years ago at old
Stony-Point,
Those were the happy hours of my life. And I
hope the Friend I there formed may be my friend for life — would to
God that all who participated in that season of refreshment might be able
to say — My labors there have not been in vain, I hope you will
let your mind run back to that era in your life and call to memory the hours
that you with me and many others spent there. Henry dear remember then. I am looking for you this week; dont forget to come. I have been interupted a great deal while writing this, so that you will find
some trouble in reading it. write soon I if it is not to much trouble, I sometimes
think that I am imposing on your time to ask you to write but I cant help it no person else will write and I am very glad
to hear from the pines. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 3 | Author: | Bitner Collection: Cressler, Alex | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Bitnerletters | Henry Bitner letters | Bitner collection | Letters written to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Description: | Yours of the 22nd ult. was received in due time,
but not answered as soon as its demands required, but "better late than
never." "so here
goes." In my last I spoke of the sight presented in our streets, but since that
time things have changed considerably, and the scenes presented in our streets
on Friday and Saturday of last week were quite a different aspect reality be
stamped on every move. On Friday five companies of Cavalry, the heroes of Sumpter (except
Maj. Anderson), four Regs. of troops, accompanied by their bands and
followed by their baggage wagons, which make a peculiar rum- bling noise, this Brigade was six miles long (Capt. McMullens
Philadelphia Rangers were in the crowd.) You may and can
only imagine what the effect of such a
scene would be, the sight was the most sublime that I ever witnessed, the bands
of music with numerous fifes and drums,— the heavy tread of about forty wagons, all conspired to bewilder
the undrestanding and render vague all our
preconceived ideas of war. The movements of Saturday were not quite so imposing,
but for the cavalry it they would have been equally grand.
Sabbath approached finding our citizens in a state of uproar &
confusion, cars were running an screaming — men were
working wagons were moving through our streets from morning till night and
citizens were on a continual parade. truly such scenes, such sabbaths, and such times, were
never before ours to behold.
Uncle Stumbaugh will in my opinion leave very soon, but
when I do not know, but think, to night or tomorrow,
if you should happen to see any of our folks and it is not to much trouble, you
would oblige me by telling them, that if they want to see him that now is
the time,
Isadore has been confined to bed sick for several
days and doesn't seem to improve much, and I fear that he will not be able to go
along with his fellow soldiers. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 8 | Author: | Bitner Collection: Donely, Thad | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Bitnerletters | Henry Bitner letters | Bitner collection | Letters written to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Description: | I take this oppertunity to write you a few line as I told you I should when I got to the sacred soil of Old Virginia. I came here on last Saturday 2 week had no
trouble getting through as the weather was
whe had a pleasant trip took the
boat at Washington for Aquia
[illeg.] Saturday morning got to camp about 8 o'clock in the
evening it is 17 miles from the landing at Aquia
to Fredericksburg. Their is a RailRoad from the creek
up whe came up on that whe are
camped about 3 miles from Fredericksburg
[illeg.] laying along the river yesterday. I was out on picket. I had
a right good time I would just as soon be on picket as in camp
if whe could have some arrangement for sleeping whe are just now cooking Dinner whe have
some potatoes and parsnips that I got in a garden when out
picketing I think it will make a fine dish.
Whe have to manage a great many way to make hard tack and salt pork
keep one alive fried crackers and crackers hamered
up and cakes made out of them is the principal living I tele you I wish I had some of the siders and apples
that are in Cumberland Co.. I could
do well their is not an apple to be had I seen them sell at Aquia Creek at 7 Dollars per
barrel and retail at 3 for a Dime the regiment is Small
at this time their was a good many killed and
wounded in the last fight and since that a great many have taken sick thoes sick have ben sent of
all here are prety
well and the health of the men has been good since the sick have been sent away I have been well much better than I could have expected
just coming from home and going into the hardships of camp
whe I came here the boy had just to lay Down on the ground with out even a blanket some of them it was rather hard [illeg.]
Whe have since got shelter | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 9 | Author: | Bitner Collection: Donely, Thad | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Bitnerletters | Henry Bitner letters | Bitner collection | Letters written to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Description: | I take this oppertunity to write you a few to let you
no that I am well and get along well
their is not sine of a move at this time the weather here has been fine.
yesterday
their was some rain but did last long.
I received John letter a few Days ago I though
I was not going to get any word from home and was much peased to here and was much obliged to John for for the stamp and
sheat of paper I cant
neathe paper or stamp here and I want you to write and send
them to me accationaly I can by
paper at 2 cents a sheat I think I can't stand them prices well
their was some talk a few days ago of our being sent back to
Washington but I think
their is nothing of it if whe are moved
it will be towards the river it takes a good Deal of
figering to live here as the feed is hard to eat but by
taking cair in the cooking
whe still make it go down. If I had som
of the apples that are at home I would have some
fine dishes of saws and apple fliters I
have been very hungry since I have been here by time but I think I will be able to
see it through as their is but about 3 & 1/2 months
illeg. has just been here and say I shall tell you he is will but times are tuff
and sends his respects to all is a good thing the
health of the company is good thare have
been some of thoes sent to the hospital
that have been sent on here are going at
convalesant camp at
Alaxandria.
I hope they will stay their as the hardships is hard
to get through and their is more in the company
that wants to go home. I suppose you have been enjoying yoursalf fine but if their is no more
snow their than their is here the
sleigh wont mount to much this
Regt
is very much cut Down at prisant their is but
315
men in it my paper is most full and I must stop
I got some Tobacco seed whe I was out in picket the other
Day I will send it in this and I want you tents which
are some protection but the weather has been fine I think I never
saw such good weather this time a
year Their was some talk that in camp that this Brigade
would be sent back but their has been nothing said the
last few days so I dont think
their is much in it I
wish
whe would go back a piece for their would
be some chance to By something to eat
their is no chance to get any thing here neathe paper
nor postage stamps as you will see this is ritten on an old
piece of copy book that was picked up [illeg.] main
and if I have to maile this and leave you the postage to
pay you must excuse me or else I [illeg.]
change our position
Their
is several that I would like to write to if I had the paper their is no sutlers supplies alowed to be shiped as the armies is so large that it require
all the transportation the government can raise to bring up supplys their is no much chance for
a forward move from here as the Rebels seam to
bee very well Situated on the other side of the the
Rappahanook
is but a Small river some
paces it is so shalow that it is easely
forded the pickets talk to each other from the banks
of the stream their is no firing amonkst the pickets but a few evenings they wer Driven in
which put the officers on their gard I think I will stop
writing about the armie and tell you that what part of
Virginia I have seen it looks offel hard it is nothing but a lot of hill and the poorist land I have most ever seen their is a
great deal of this scruby
Pine and seder grows here most all the farms are vacated
the inhabitants gon south with the exception of some few Negros
that are scatered about I wish I who
could have been at home to have
tended singing the last three evenings as they have been fine
and I suppose you had a good time
I want you to write to me and give me all the new and let
me no how the singing is going
geting along I wrote to David Early some time ago have
not herd from him yet my paper is most
full my best Respects to your Parents and all that inquire
and I Remain | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 10 | Author: | Bitner Collection: Donely, Thad | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Bitnerletters | Henry Bitner letters | Bitner collection | Letters written to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Description: | It is with pleasure that I take up my pencil to write you a few line to let you
no
that I am well and I get a long fine but today is very
cold. I was out on picket night before last and was rather as- tonished
wne I cam in to get a letter and such a
fine lot of papers it came very handy and I am very much obliged to you their is not any thing that would have suited me
beter at this time your letter
gave me great satisfaction and I am glad that the sing
is geting along so well their
has been no snow here since I came out but it
has
been hit by time and cold but
with the shelter whe have whe get along right
well a few days ago whe had inspection of the
hole
Corp it was a fine sight to day
their was Division Drill which was fine
their is amove at the presant
and at this time they are moving by thousands towards the Rappahack River and whe are at this
time furnish
with 3 Day Rasions and 60 rounds of cartridge to move at
an airely hour to morrow morning and
before 48 hours more their may be a very heavy Battle fought the Men are
some what Depressed in spirits owing to the last defeat at
the River but yet they will go I think I shall be
along nothing happing more than I no it may be the last letter I shall write to you but but whe hope for the best if their is a fight
and I shall do my duty if I no
how their
I much that I could write at presant But
I have not the time as the orders for to march just came in a few minutes ago and I shall
write home yet today and I shall close hoping that you will excuse me for this time
and my mistake hoping that you will write soon to me and remember me to your Parent and
all inquiring friend and I ever Remain | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 12 | Author: | Bitner Collection: Kindig, William | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Bitnerletters | Henry Bitner letters | Bitner collection | Letters written to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Description: | I have been writing and writing and writ ing to
you ever since I am in the army, and at last I've wakened up all of a
Sunday morning to find myself sealed behind a whole sheet of foolscap,
trying to make it look like a letter to old Southampton. I would make an awful long yarn to tell you everything
that has happened since I left home, in fact, twould make a young history, so will try our hand in the condensing
line & squeeze out all the little things re
taining only the big facts. After our
regt. had been encamped on the sacred soil of
Va.
for several weeks near Mun
son's Hill, we were attached to Gen. Duryee's brigade then lying near Alexandria, and our regt.
was accordingly moved thither. Next our regt. was
detatched from the brigade for awhile to guard the R.R. from
Alexandria to Manassas Junction. From this we went 12
miles beyond Manassas Junction to what is called Catlett's
Station, but when
Banks retreated, we fell back on Manassas to defend that place. Here Ord's and Shields divisions soon came pouring in like bees and advanced
thence to Front Royal in pursuit of Jackson, at Manassas our
regt. or rather our brigade was attatched to
Ords
, now
Ricketts
division. I suppose you've read the letter describing this march in
the news. I was not along with the
regt. on this march, but got sick at
Manassas, and was sent to
Washing- ton
, After Jackson disappeared our divison fell
back again on Catletts
Station where I rejoined my regt. after an
absence of about 3 or 4 weeks. Thence we marched to Warrenton, County seat of Fauquier, and from
that again a dis tance of 8 miles out here on the
Rap pahannock
. We are now in Pope's great army of Virginia. The men have great be-
lief in him and his energetic policy, and all desire and expect that he
will soon give us a chance to distinguish ourselves. We all regard his late
stringent orders as just the thing, and all are down on slow coach
McLellan
, who marched his army into the swamps of the Chickahominy, and kept them intren
ching and digging, while they were dying by the thousand, and all this
time made no attempt on
Richmond
He occupies a splendid position on the
banks of the James, but why didnt he go there in the first place. We ex
pect better things of Pope who has already
proved himself no ordinary Gen. in the Western
Campaign. Our Col.
(Ziegle) died the other day. McAllen is too sickly to take the command, so the Gov. I suppose will appoint us a Col.
Jake Gish just got back from Washington last night with his commission as 2nd
Lieut. We have bully officers. MacThompson is a clever Capt., McPherson is clever, but
Gish is the best man of the party. The boys all like
him because he makes him- self so common. Write and
give me all the news of Southampton, Shippensburg, the schools, your studies, &c. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 13 | Author: | Bitner Collection: Kindig, William | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Bitnerletters | Henry Bitner letters | Bitner collection | Letters written to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Description: | I have poor facilities for wri ting, but must do the
best I can. You will therefore excuse this roughly gotten up thing. I was ever
so glad to hear from you and read your interesting let-
ter, moreover that you were successful in getting the same old school
to teach again. I hope your reputa tion in this
profession is now established. I want you to keep me posted in school affairs,
for although I am now a military man, I still take great interest in education- al subjects. I suppose you've heard of
our battle. Our brigade however was not engaged, still we performed some
exploits of which I must tell you. Banks whole corps
fought them all Saturday afternoon, and were relieved by
McDow ells
corps in the evening after the infantry fighting was over the rebels as
usual poured in upon Banks in overpow ering
numbers, and why our (McDowell's) corps was not
ordered up in time I cannot tell. The rebels were retreating however when
Banks
men were ordered to halt because he had not men enough to follow up what
other wise would have proved a glorious victory.
The papers will give you the particulars better than I can state them here.
When we neared the battlefield late in the evening we met lots of our own
wounded returning to Culpepper, where, our Chaplain
told us the citizens treated them very kindly, the women assisting in dressing
their wounds. We had been listening to the roar of artillery and could see the
smoke of the battle all P.M. of Saturday, from our camp 1 mile south of
the battle
Culpepper
, and when we saw the wounded, we felt like taking revenge. When we came
within a mile and a half
of the battle ground, our brigade was
halted; our regiment received its mail here, and we fell to reading letters by
can dlelight; this drew the fire of a rebel
battery, and some half dozen solid shot fell right in among us, wounding
four men of our regiment. One ball fell about three yards from where I
stood, we stood this like heroes for a short time, then we were ordered back a
short distance, but advanced again til we came within
300 yards of the same battery which was firing upon us, and which with several
others, had opened out again with the purpose of ascertaining our position
as well as of the rest of the large number of McDowell's corps which had silently advance under cover of the dark, but
they fired far above our heads, and we lay listening to the loud and
crashing roar of the dogs of war in perfect safety. present- ly the battery belonging to our (Duryee's) brigade let loose upon the one which fired into the 107th and silenced it. This de-
railed their whole programme, and we could hear
them falling back although in good order. Next morning we found two
dismounted guns, 9 dead horses, and two Lieuts.
killed, one having his head shot off. If we had not did this, they would
have continued to kill us, while their infantry would have advanced, and perhaps
have proved too strong for us then, as our main force only came in the next
day. We have been watching the enemy ever since, yesterday they commenced
retreating on account of Burnside getting in their
rear, The reason we have not advanced upon them
since our whole army is here is because they occupied a strong position on a
high knoll. Abe got a letter from Pap which says 9
men from
Corrstown
, including Bro. Harry
have enlisted in Reeds Co.
Chambersburg. Bully for them. Its uncommonly warm
here now. Soldiers live on secesh roasting cans. Cant get my picture taken now, No artist here. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 14 | Author: | Bitner Collection: Martin, William | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Bitnerletters | Henry Bitner letters | Bitner collection | Letters written to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Description: | As I have just now got off of duty I thought that it was my duty to inform
you of some of the proceedings. Friend we left
Har- risburg
[illeg.]of day at 10 O,clock A.M,
and arrived at
Baltimore at 6 O,clock in the
eve- ning where we were treated with much
respect by the citizens The whole Regiment got their supper at the Soldiers
relig.
asso- ciation; a place kept up by the
citizens of Baltimore for the ben-
efit of the soldiers. Our supper consisted of bread boiled ham
cheese, and plenty of first rate coffee, but spreads we had none. And we
left
Balt.
at 9 O,clock that night and arrived at Washington City at 1 O,clock
the next morning A.M.
where we retired for the night we all
slept in the soldiers retreat, a building put up
for to rest soldiers in the morning we got our breakfast which was bread
and a hunk of meat and chocklet with greese
swimming on it a half an inch thick. I had a great notion to greese my shoes with it. We spent a Tuesday forenoon in
running around through the City and about 10 O,clock we were marched to where we now are. We are in- camped about in the 7 miles south west
from Washington. We were marched from the City to
camp wells
7 miles with only 2 rests of about 10 minutes each with our
knapsacks on our backs and our guns and our haversacks
all together weighing about 50 lbs and we were doublequicked part
of the way | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 20 | Author: | Bitner Collection: Shoemaker, David R. P. | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Bitnerletters | Henry Bitner letters | Bitner collection | Letters written to Henry A. Bitner | | | | Description: | Yours of the 18th ult. is at hand, having been forwarded
from Somersville, Va; and I will
have to answer it in brief to=night, as we are under marching
orders for to=morrow morning at 3.30, and I do not know when
I shall have an opportunity of writing again. Our destination is unknown to your
humble servant. I do not know of any regiment in the service which has been moved about
quite as much as the "Gipsies," as Genl Wise used to call us.— I am glad to hear
that you are having good times in old Southampton. Do not
imagine that the toils and privations of a soldier's life have made such a
misanthrope of me that hearing of those
good things you describe would cause "hard thoughts." As far as
wishing myself out of the army is concerned I have wished it long ago, but shall
only get out honorably—either an honorable discharge or death. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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