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Transcribed by Dick McCracken
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1864 letter from Pvt. Franklin Strong, Co. F, 203rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to his wife Lucy. It is contained within a recent envelope, the name Lucy Welling written on the front. It is one of three letters from Pvt. Strong to his wife. I found them in my mother's personal effects. There is no known connection to my family.
Single sheet of lightly lined white paper. written front and back in ink. There is a small embossed seal in the upper right corner (censor's seal?). The finished letter is tri-folded.
For clarity I have added punctuation, enclosing it in brackets. I have also placed brackets around text which I cannot decipher or which is questionable. I have tried to retain the original spelling.
Franklin Strong was born 4 Oct 1837; died 16 Nov 1890. He served as a Private in Company F, 203rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry from 6 Sep 1864 to 25 Jun 1865. He was wounded in the hand at Fisher NC, 15 Jan 1865. He is buried in the Terrytown Cemetery, Terry Township, Bradford County, PA.
Franklin and Lucy Strong had daughters Mary B. Strong; Frances E., wife of George G. Jackson; Anna S. Strong (from probate records, courtesy of Mrs. Ellen Glueck of Towanda, PA).
Richard J. McCracken
Towanda, PA
May 2000
Camp Cadwalader Sept 21st/64
Dear wife[.] I have but a few moments to write a few line to you to let you now that I am well with the exception of a pain in my side and back but I do hope these few lines will find you in good health and happy to hear from your unworty husband for I feel more concerned about you than I do about my self so take good care of your self for my sake and remember me for I think of you Continually[.] we have orders to leave here this afternoon and are to be ready at five minits notice[.] if we have time whin I get this letter rote I shal get my picture taken and send it in this letter to you[.] they say now that we will not get our green suit here[.] we are not certin of getting them att all[.] it is in the papers that four companies of this regament are to be transfered to the [graves][.] if it is us we will not get the green siut so I will not send any home now[.] we have got our guns and over coats and gum blankets[.] I want to now if you get my bounty of James 5.10 dollarsand my cloths that i brot from home except the sox and under shirt and boots and suspenders[.] the rest I sent home to you[.]
Page 2.
(Indented and penned across the top of the page: Direct your letters to Camp Cadwalader[,] Company F Regament 203 PV and they will follow me[.] F. Strong
I am in so much hurry I am not able to rite much but give my love to your folks and all the rest of your friends[.] we all had to give one dollar to buy sords and revolvers for the offacers of our company[.] I would of much rather you would of had it than them but all the rest did and I could not hardy help doing the same as we are boys to gether[.] my money is al gon but 2 dollars[.] we expect to get one third of our government bounty soon[.] I looked for a letter from you today but in vain[.] I am verry acious to hear from you[.] pleas to rite and tell me all[.] tell your borthers I think of them and would be happy to see them or even hear from them and that I will write to them as soon as I can[.] I shal have to close and go for my likeness[.] when this you see think of me though many a mile away[.] but remember that we will meet a gain eather to part or to part no more[.] but let wat will come[.] remember me for I shal all ways remember you and esteem you a bove all others while life shal last[.] it is for you and yours that I desire to live[.] I want to live as long as you and no longer[.] so good by for this time[.] this from your unworthy butt affectionate husband Franklin Strong
1864 letter from Pvt. Franklin Strong, Co. F, 203rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to his wife Lucy. It is contained within a recent envelope, the name Lucy Welling written on the front. It is one of three letters from Pvt. Strong to his wife. I found them in my mother's personal effects. There is no known connection to my family.
Letterhead: U.S Christian Commission... sends this as the Soldier's messenger to his Home. Let it hasten to tose who wait for tidings. -- "Behold! now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Central office: 11 Bank Street, Philadelphia. Branch Office: No. 500 H Street, Washington. There is a dove with and envelope around it's neck in the upper left. The note is folded with the above inscription on one quadrant. There is an embossed seal (censor's seal?) in the upper left corner. There are several running ink blobs running over the penned words on page four. Pages 1 through 3 are much more widely spaced than page 4. The text on page 4 is inverted and the writing is cramped, obviously to save space.
For clarity I have added punctuation, enclosing it in brackets. I have also placed brackets around text which I cannot decipher or which is questionable. I have tried to retain the original spelling.
Franklin Strong was born 4 Oct 1837; died 16 Nov 1890. He served
as a Private in Company F, 203rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry from 6
Sep 1864 to 25 Jun 1865. He was wounded in the hand at Fisher NC,
15 Jan 1865. He is buried in the Terrytown Cemetery, Terry Township,
Bradford County, PA.
Franklin and Lucy Strong had daughters Mary B. Strong; Frances E.,
wife of George G. Jackson; Anna S. Strong (from probate records, courtesy
of Mrs. Ellen Glueck of Towanda, PA).
Richard J. McCracken
Towanda, PA
May 2000
Page 1.
Chafins Farm Dec 4th/64
My Dear wife[,] having a few leasure moments this evaning it is with pleasure that I take my sheat and pen in hand to improve them [infaning] a few lines to one I so often think ofand should be happy to see and hear from on all occasions[.] I have no time to write much for it is most roal call and then we have to poot out our lights[.] I now I shal have no time to rite tomorrow for thare is to be inspection and the rest of the time I have to coock so I shal have to hurry and do as well as I can[.] I dont expect it will be verry interesting to you but I mean well and wish to send you my love and best respicts all ways for it is grater and more than I have word to express it[.] i have not words to express my thanks to you for your kindness to me[.] I never shal forget them nor you[.] I can say to you that I am well and I do hope and pray the few lines may find you a sharer of the same
Page 2.
blessing for I think good health is as great a blessing as we mortals can enjoy while here we stay[.] this day I received your kind and interesting and loving letter dated Dec 27th/64[.] Oh how glad I was to hear from you[.] it done me good to read it[.] it was so good and kind and one of your letters does me more good than a half a dozen from any one els[.] So dont for get to rite to me as often as you can and I will do the same[.] I got your letter that had bin written Nov 16th/64[.] it told me of the mittons and the plaster and the yarn and nedles[.] they come the next day to me and I feal verry thank for them{j.} I answered that letter and told you I got them but you had not got it when you las rote{.] I got the save (salve) you sent me[.] you sent me to much[.] it woul kill me to use that much in this unhealthy climate[.] I would like to heare if thare are any more drafted up thare and who thay are and I should be verry glad if you would tell me all a bout how your folks are getting a long[.] you more I think of them and of thare kindness to me[.]
Page 3.
I would be glad to have them write to me[.] I never got a curnel of weat of [feat] McGuire Father got that weat and paid him for it in clover seed and he got the clover seed first[.] he is a little roge and I shal tell him so if I get home[.] when I left home I owed no man a cent but the tab I told you to pay[.] I would like to now if you sold your butter and how much you had and if your hog is fat and if you have got all your chickens yet and how young arther was and how the seat looks[.] I think you had not best to keep many chickens over for grain will be deer and you will have no chance to rais any next season and tell me where you are a going to move and how you are aa going to manage the cattle till I get back[.] if you can get a long till I get home I think it is best to let the lot go and buy a place to gether that is larger and will suit us better[.] I dont think we will have a better chance to sell that is my opinionabout it for my part I am will pleased with the sale you are a bout to make[.]
Page 4.
I now it is cheap and now it has cost us all of eight hundred dollars[.]
if one was to count all that we have done and laid out [....] I now
it is poorly watered and it is to small and I know you dont enjoy your
self thare as well as you would [...] at her place and I think I
can find a place that will suit us boath better[.] for my part I
am willing to risk it if you are[.] I am glad you did not tak those
bonds[.] I was afraid they was not as good as the cash or as good
as [...] you see the discount has to be made more to get them cashed[.]
you said they was good as the cash[.] he new better when he
told you[,] so that in a big shame I think and that is better than you
could do with them if you had them you may be assured if that is the best
that such a man as muray could do it is better than you or I could do[.]
I should like to now what your folks thinks of your selling the lot and
if they are [su...] or if they are not[.] you now your are dependand
upon them till I get home[.] if you sell you must have some place
to live[.] I spose you think of going up thare . still you
did not tell me so if that is your intentions and if they are a greed to
it I am willing to pay them well for thare kindness to my dear famaly[.]
I dont begrude anything I can do or give to make my little famaly confortable
if you cant keep all your stalk {stock) so as to make them pay you had
best sell wat you can spare [.est.] you now as well how to [....] them
as well as I can tell you[.] I understand by your letter that you
intend to sign over the old deed and not make a new one[.] I think
that is the only way it can be done for that is all ready acknowledge and
you could not acknowledge a new one for we would have to be together to
acknowledge a new one[.] you of course now how it has to be done[.]
be careful and dont agree to do what you cant[.] the plan you thot
of is right[.] give a deed and take [...] notes and be shure and
have them [...]
tell me if you have the letter evan sent [...] I want you to
tell [...] you got it.
I am a fraid we will move be for the deed reaches me[.] I shall
look for it soon [started] it the 1st Dec it ought to be here in to days
from now[.] I dont think of any thing more to say for now ... here
it to you only that I best [...] and rest in ... prayers and remain
your true and loving husband
Franklin Storie
1864 letter from Pvt. Franklin Strong, Co. F, 203rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to his wife Lucy. It is contained within a recent envelope, the name Lucy Welling written on the front. It is one of three letters from Pvt. Strong to his wife. I found them in my mother's personal effects. There is no known connection to my family.
This letter is drafted in pencil on plain white paper, folded in half and written on four panels. It was then tri-folded. There is an embossed seal of a wreath with illegible lettering within, approx. 1 inch in diameter, in the upper left corner of this letter (censor's seal?). The original envelope is missing.
For clarity I have added punctuation, enclosing it in brackets. I have also placed brackets around text which I cannot decipher or which is questionable. I have tried to retain the original spelling.
Franklin Strong was born 4 Oct 1837; died 16 Nov 1890. He served
as a Private in Company F, 203rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry from 6
Sep 1864 to 25 Jun 1865. He was wounded in the hand at Fisher NC,
15 Jan 1865. He is buried in the Terrytown Cemetery, Terry Township,
Bradford County, PA.
Franklin and Lucy Strong had daughters Mary B. Strong; Frances E.,
wife of George G. Jackson; Anna S. Strong (from probate records, courtesy
of Mrs. Ellen Glueck of Towanda, PA).
Richard J. McCracken
Towanda, PA
May 2000
In front of Fortified Monroe Dec 11th/64
Dear and affectionate wife[.] I am glad of the privalige of sending a few lines to you to let you now whare I am and how I am[.] I am on the boat cald [Pdeha] and am laying in sight of fortified monroe Thare is a bout six hundred men on this boat and rations for twenty days and it is more than she can carry anny farther. The boat is from [hunninota] hundred this far and she is wating it is said to have a boat come and take off two companies[.] then we are going to north carolina[.] that is what we think [.] we dont now[.] shure we are marching unnder sealed orders it is said [.] we have bin laying here three days [.] all ready it is a very hard place for men to be[.] it is afful cold up on deck and afful dearty down under and thare is two horses onh board and thare s [nus] runs each sid of the boat as she rocks and the men are as thick as ever you see she [afr[ crouded to gether[.] we have no chance to lay down at tall thare is such a crowd[.] I cant say to you that I am well for i am most dead with the heat ake and I have got
Page 2.
an afful cold[.] we leftr our napsacks on Chafins Farm and the news is on board here today that the rebbles has got that place back a gain[.] if that is so it it is good by to Mr napsack[.] it is now most night and I have tried all day to send you a few lines and i could not get any paper untill a few minuts ago and then I had to give five cts for this paper and invelop when you get this if you can poot in your letter so I can send it back to you as soon as I get it so you will now whar I am[.] I answered all your lettrs that I got be fore I left camp the deed jest came in time for me to sign and start it back[.] I had not time to rite to you then for we was all read to start and it was a bought twelve oclock at night and I did not have it more than fifteen minets be fore I mailed it back to you[.] tell me if you get it all right
Page 3.
and remember the name of the boat that we are on So if she was to be
recked you will now what be come of us derest[.] the same as be fore
only the Corps say the 24th Corps short of the 10th[.] tell James
famaly he is here and as well as could be expected under the presant case
and that he sends his love to them[.] he could not get any paper
to rite to them to day[.] tell Mary B I thank here for her few lines
she sent me and I asked the same and that I sent my love to them[.]
I am not able to write to them now but that I would be glad to if I could
get any paper[.] it is very cold tonight here and we have nothing
to [hant] over us but our gun blankets[.] it is now dark and I shal have
to wate till tomorrow to finish for I cant see what I am saying[.]
The morning of the 12th/64[.] Dear Lucy[,] I will try and
finish my letter but I have a verry poor place to rite and it is very cold[.]
I am in a large skift way up on the upper deck and a heavy cannun
Page 4.
over me resting on my head and it shakes me so that I cant rite hardly[.] my head akes verry bad this morning[.] the old cornel said last night that we was one years men and we could stand it[.] he was heard to say that that we inlisted for the bounty and that shot shoes have much he thainkul for[.] he has a nice room with a stove in and six men to gard it[.] it is so very cold here I shal have to rite in a hurry as I shal freeze[.] I shoould be very happy if I
sit your stove this morning but as I can not have that privalige I will think of you and pray
wich all blessings flow[.] the capton of the boat said he would lay here 3 months be fore hearing wed go to sea with all these men on[,] so I dont now how long we will be here[.] I am well aware that
I am not at all well but I hope thes few lines will find you much mor comfortable than my self[.] take good care of yourself and dont for get to remember me at the folks as I am not able to write to them and that deed
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