These letters were written by John Charles Loomis (1846-1924), the son of Confucius Fitch Loomis (1809-1885)—a tanner by trade—and his wife, Betsy E. Lyons (1815-1891), of Great Bend, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. John claimed to be 18 years old when he enlisted on 23 September 1862 at Montrose to serve in Co. C, 151st Pennsylvania Volunteers, a nine months regiment. However, public records indicate he was actually born on 30 December 1846 making him 3 months shy of age 16!
John was with his company at Gettysburg when he was wounded in the left shoulder, left elbow, and left leg on the first days fighting while attempting to defend the left center of the 1st Corps against vastly superior numbers. General Doubleday credited the 151st Pennsylvania with “saving the Army of the Potomac” on Seminary Ridge but it was at a staggering cost. It went into the fight with 21 officers and 466 men; of these, 2 officers and 66 men were killed, 12 officers and 87 men wounded, and 100 men were missing.
Letter 1
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Michael Passero and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Camp near Union Mills, Va.
Sunday, January 18th 1863
Dear Brother,
As I have nothing else to do at present, I will write to you for the first time. I will try and give you a slight description of our picketing. Friday night about 5 o’clock we were ordered to fall in with our guns, cartridge boxes, and knapsacks without anything to eat to report to headquarters immediately—we knew not what for, but soon found out what for. We were sent out as reserves to the cavalry pickets so if the rebels made another attack, we would be around. The rebels tried to surround our out pickets the night before but did not succeed in getting them so they went back without firing a gun. It is not the rebel soldiers that shoot our men when they are on picket.
I have often wondered whether you ever got them turkeys you went after up to Mr. Dearborn’s. I would like a hind leg if you have got it done.
I suppose you are a firing yet as I have not heard any different yet. I think that the Lackawanna boys must have a nice time laying off. It is different with you fellows than it is with me. You can lay off when you have a mind to but we can’t until our nine months is up.
There was firing all along the picket lines last night and this morning about half past six the long roll beat and the regiment was drawn up in line of battle. The Colonel gave us a short Battalion Drill and dismissed us for our breakfast. There was no more falling in until Dress Parade. It is most bed time and I must close. Yours in haste. From your brother, — John C. Loomis
Direct to Company C, 151 Pa. Regiment P. V., Washington D. C.,
Write soon.
Letter 2
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Charles Joyce and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]
Camp near Bell Plain Landing No. 2
March 8th [1863]
Dear Mother,
As I have plenty of time to write today and am doing a little writing, I thought I would write to you. We have had a pretty hard time of it every since we left Union Mills but it is getting better weather now and the times are getting much easier for me. I am glad we have not got but 14 weeks longer to stay but if it holds this weather long, we will make another attack on Fredericksburg. Gen. Hooker says the army has got to take the place and be made mince meat of. I guess we will be moved on to Fortress Monroe before long.
We are in camp [with]in about 3 miles of the landing where Hod is. I expect him up here today. Lieut. William [Dubois] Lusk ¹ has gone home. I suppose you will send my shirts down by him. If you so not, you had better send a box. The most I will need is some shorts, some black pepper, dried fruit, butter, sausage, and &c. I think that will be all I will need.
I am in good health. So is the rest of the [Great] Bend boys. I suppose you will have lots of company now seeing it is maple sugar time. I suppose you had a good time with Mrs. Decker and Mrs. Crook. I heard they were coming up to see you—that is, if it did not storm. I got a letter written to you from [brother] Jule 2 directed to me. He said he would be home in about 3 weeks or so. I have no more to write at present.
From your obedient son, — John C. Loomis
P S. Write soon
¹ 2nd Lt. William D. Lusk was promoted from Sergeant on 3 February 1863. He mustered out with the company on 27 July 1863.
2 John refers to his brother Julius (“Jule”) Fitch Loomis (1842-1915).
Spared & Shared 17 -- Saving History One Letter at a Time 