Letter written by George W. Pearl, private in the 117th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company C and F, to his father and mother of Clinton, New York, from Elmira, September 12, 1863
Primary tabs
ELMIRAN.Y. (New York) (Elmira, New York)
SEP 14 1863
[written in margins: Aug 13/63]
Mr.
George
A.
Pearl (Pearl, George
A.)
Clinton
Oneida Co.
N.Y. (New York) (Clinton, New York)
(Oneida County,
New York)
Elmira (Elmira, New York) Sept 12th/63
Dear Father (Pearl, George A.) & Mother (Pearl, George A. (Mrs., Marcia C.)) (Pearl, Marcia C. (Mrs. George A. Pearl))
I recd
yours of the 8th day before
yesterday.
Since I last wrote
I have been to New
York (New York)
with
a lot of
Conscripts. I had a
very fine time. I started a
week ago last Thursday
night
and stayed till Monday night
We lost three going down. They
jumped out of/one of the
windows while the cars were
going at the
rate of twenty miles
an hour. I dont know whether
any of them were
hurt or not
Hope they were some. I met
with quite a misfortune
the day I last wrote. There were
about 100 substitutes came in
that afternoon and stayed in
our barrack that night. I
had to be around amongst them
I went to take out my pocket
book to make some change for
one of our boys and behold!
it was gone. I hunted high &
dry but no pocket book. I had
$20.00 in it. It took all I had
except .25 cts which I happened
to have in my fob pocket
I dont know whether it was
stolen or whether I lost it
out. I lost nothing besides that
These Government pants pockets
are bad about keeping things
in them they are so on one
side that if you sit or ly (lie) down things
are apt to fall out
Guard duty is lighter
on the old soldiers than it
has been, As there are two
garrison companies of conscripts
and one of invalids that do
the duty. I was not surprised
to learn that Mary (Mary) has passed
away but am sorry John (John) could not
have the privilege of seeing her
again before she died. I recd a
letter from him a short
time ago he said there was no
prospects of his getting a
furlough. I will send his
letter with this so that you
may read it. I receved (received) two
Heralds & a Courier first and
a herald with your letter
I dont know how long we will
stay here than I did when I was
at home. I am getting somewhat
reconciled to staying here I
dont after all but that I had
just as [lives] be here as at
South Carolina (South Carolina) . No more
at present. Give my
love to all and save a
good share for yourselves From your Son G W Pearl (Pearl, George W.)
Part: of 4 
