Letter written by George W. Pearl, private in the 117th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company C and F, to his father, mother, and sister of Clinton, New York, from Camp Alexander, September 7, 1862

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Entered according to act of Congress (Congress) in the year 1862, by L N Rosenthal (Rosenthal, L.N.) , in the Clerk's Off of the Dist Ct of the Eatn Dist of Penna. LN Rosenthal's Lith (LN Rosenthal's Lithography) 327 Walnut St Phila (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
CAMP SEWARD (Camp Seward, Maryland) , 117TH. REGT., N.Y.S.V (117th Regiment, New York).
Col. W. R. Pease (Pease, William R. (Colonel)) , Commdg.

DE. Land
Camp Alexander (Camp Alexander, near Newport News, Virginia) Sept 7, 62 Dear Father (Pearl, George A.) Mother (Pearl, George A. (Mrs., Marcia C.)) (Pearl, Marcia C. (Mrs. George A. Pearl)) & Sister (Pearl, Adaline C.)

You have
all written to me and I was glad to hear from
you. Too day (Today) is the first Sunday it has seemed like
Sunay (Sunday) since I left home, for I have been on the march
picket or guard evry (every) Sunday it is very warm here too day (today)
the warmest I have seen since I left home.
I was very glad to hear from you all and too (to) hear that
you were all well. Addie (Pearl, Adaline C.) I should like very much
to be there and get some of those good apples with
you there is but very few apples here we have to
pay five cents for two there is lots of peaches but
they are as dear as apples. There are so many
Soldiers here that they can get most any thing

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for them
they ask I have spent most all of my money
for something to eat it takes a good while to get
used to the rations all we have is
corn beef hard crackers strong coffee sometimes
rice and sugar sometimes soup made from
green peaches dried and pressed the rice
and soup is very good but the coffee and
crackers a person wants to be pretty hungry
to eat them at a meal we have three
crackers one pint of coffee and if we
have meat one peice (piece) and [if] we have rice
one plate and a cup of coffee and [if]
soup one cup and six crackers that is
pretty [small] quantity but we buy
pies cakes and cheese I did not eat
[my] rations till last wednesday besides
rice or soup had soup once and rice twice
last Wednesday we went out chopping and
that gave me a good appetite I have
spilt my ink and have to write with
a led (lead) pencil. Mother I wish I had some
of your baked potatoes and good bread
for supper to night (tonight) I have not seen
any potatoes but twice since I left [home]
I bought some the first time I was on
[written in margins: Adda give my respects to all the girls and boys
send that letter in my coat pocket with John Booth (Booth, John) s]

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picket and roasted them and once the
boys put in five cts a peice (piece) and bought
a bushel so we had them for rations
I am very glad to hear that the Clinton (Clinton, New York)
people are doing so well for the volunteers
Where is Emry Davis (Davis, Emory) and lady going to
are they going to stay in Clinton (Clinton, New York) or
is he going back to Oswego (Oswego, New York) when you
write tell me all about it give my
respects to John (John) and Mary (Mary) tell John (John) I
should like to hear from him.
About thirty thousand of McClelan (McClellan) (McClellan, George Brinton (General)) s
and Pope (Pope, John (General)) s troops passed within two miles
of here last week the 34th went through
and stopped at Camp Seward (Camp Seward, Maryland) night
befor (before) last I went over there yesterday
morning to see John Booth (Booth, John) but they had
started for Poolville (Poolville) so I did not see him
We have just been orded (ordered) out on dress
perade (parade) so I have got to stop a few
minutes. Monday evening sept 8
I have not had a chance to write till
to night (tonight) after parade supper roll call
then to bed our bed [are] nice fether (feather)
bed the ground with our blanket around

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us and knapsack for a pillow it has
been very warm here. I have ben (been) chopping today
we have to chop eight hours a day or have to be
away from camp eight hours and chop an hour and [... gap ...] said [... gap ...]
all my money [to] not that I want you to send
me any I am going to sell my boots to John Grant (Grant, John)
for three dollars dont say anything
about what I said about the rations I dont [mean]
to complain it is as good as I can expect
The picture at the head of this is the camp
where we were when I wrote to you before the
street that is marked was company G (Company G)s street and the tent
that is near [... gap ...] Tell Mary Harrington (Harrington, Mary)
that Edward (Edward) is well and has not been poisoned
sick Jim Harrington (Harrington, James) was over here last
Friday afternoon he is well his regiment
campd (camped)  over night (overnight) at camp seward (Camp Seward, Maryland) over night (overnight)
started for Poolville (Poolville) Saturday morning I heard
that the news was in Clinton (Clinton, New York) that the
117 Reg (117th Regiment, New York) got in a fight with [... gap ...] in [Jersey City] (Jersey City, New Jersey)
and that two of Co G (Company G)s men were shot on
picket it is no such thing but two of Capt
Walcott (Walcott, John M. (Captain)) s men were shot both were shot by
Carelesness (carelessness) one was shot while on drill a man
in the rear rank had his gun cocked and undertook
to push the hamer (hammer) down did so and
shot a man through the head killing him
instanly (instantly) the other was shot in the leg while
on picket by one of their own men I wish you
would send me some more postage stamps they
are very scarce here and I wis (wish) you would [subscribe]
for the Brother Jonathan (Jonathan (Brother)) and it directed to
Washington (Washington, District of Columbia)
My sheet is full and I must stop. give my love to all write
soon please send me a [letter] once in while from [your] son and
Brother

G W Pearl (Pearl, George W.)