CUMBERLAND COUNTY 1863 LETTER
WRITTEN IN CARLISLE PENNSYLVANIA

Contributed by Kay Cynova

Carlisle  August 1st 1863



Dear Mother

    I promised you and aunt to write and let you know all about the

folks, but as all is going on as usual and Tom was going home 

so soon I neglected to write thinking he could tell you all that is 

nesserery.

  

    I recieved two papers yesterday which I suppose came from tom, 

but I have been looking everyday for a letter from bob and am 

begining to feel uneasy about him, for, I have never had to wait so 

long a time unless there was a battle going on. I am very glad I 

came to Carlisle for the Friends were all glad to see me and I don't 

feel uneasy about being a burden, for they all have plenty to eat 

although provisions are higher of course on account of the raid.



    There has been a great many soldiers passing through ever 

since I came here and in a few (days this was crossed out) weeks 

there will be drafted men from 27 counties stationed here, so the 

town is livelier than I ever saw it.



    I am still at Annie Cormans, sleeping at her mothers, and have 

only spent one day with cousin Margaret and part of a day at 

Cousin sarah's but I have promised to be with them next week.



    I have not been to grahams yet although the girls came to see 

me as soon as they heard I was in town. Charlotte McGinness 

came with Fannie and gave me a pressing invitation to come to 

see her which I will do but I have to take my time to visit as I have 

not  been able to (visit -crossed out) walk much since I came.

If you see Maggie Miller tell her I see Uncle Philip every day and I

went to see Lyle last Sunday afternoon. She was just getting ready 

to hunt me up when I got there, little Katie is a very pretty little girl

with a curly head and the babi is a dine girl named Alice very mush 

like Lyle.



    I have not seen Dorse yet and know knothing about him or his 

family.  I suppose told you that Annie and Mary Brady got home 

before he left, they left all the folks well but Cousin Charles  wife 

She has the Dropsey and will never be well, if She gets better 

MAry Lizzie will come to Carlisle this Fall. Lyle Bretz came home 

yesterday and was disapointed that she did not see Tom.  She 

left Maggi in Potsville.  She is looking for a house there to go to 

housekeeping.  I would like to write you a long letter but I really 

don't know  what to say for I don't see any difference in things here 

from what they always were. I went to see Lottie yesterday afternoon

 and I have promised to spend some time with her before I go home. 

the folks all insist on it that I am to stay till cool weather.



    There is still a great deal of sickness in town and yesterday Jenni

Cheston burried one of her twins.  Old Mr. Leiby died night before 

last and Old Mr. Elliot died this morning.  The town dose not look 

much the worse  for the rebels being in it and the people that stayed 

at home say they would not have been away for anything.  They say 

the Rebs were very much astonished to see so much prosperity in 

the north and so men walking about. I feel too low spirited to write a 

very interesting letter so I will have to promis you a better one next 

time. I want Hugh to write to me and as soon a letter comes from Bob 

let me have it.



    Give love to all the folks from your only daughter





Emma

I want Tom to send me Fathers address as I forgot it and I will write

him from here and can tell him the Carlisle news.



(Tom and Hugh are two of Emma's brothers.)