Letter from James Graham to Elisabeth Graham, March 18, [1865?]

Letter from James Graham to Elisabeth Graham, March 18, [1865?]

Graham, James

March 18, [1865?]

Letter sent by James Graham to his sister Elisabeth Graham from picket duty with the 206th Regiment on March 18. James has been placed on picket duty to replace another soldier who is ill. He reports that his previous duty included building a "Corduroy Bridge." He notes that the weather is very pleasent. He also discusses how it is better to be an enlisted soldier than a drafted one. James believes that drafted soldiers are treated "not much better than mules" and they are forced to go wherever their officers tell them. He admits that not all officers do that, but he also says that drafted men and substitutes are watched more carefully than enlisted men. James also thinks that new recruits are sometimes treated poorly by older soldiers, but he comments that life in his own regiment is very agreeable; his regiment is superior in every way to others, and his officers are kind and humble. Finally, he asks his sister to knit and send him a pair of socks.

Graham, James--Correspondence. Graham, James--Military service. United States. Army. Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 206th (1864-1865)--Biography. United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military life--Union--Personal narratives. United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Sources

PA Digital

https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Aaiupa-cw_152