Dear Mamma,                                                 July 23, 1861     

It’s me, Robert Marshell I arrived in camp a few months ago by the time you read this. I have finished my first battle. People call it the battle of Bull Run we fought on July 21. In Virginia, No words can say what I have seen. Soldiers and friends were blown to bits the horrors of man can be seen during this battle. My buddy Jefferey I saw him get shot and had to keep on fighting it was the hardest thing I have ever done. Everyone thought it would be over soon but the confederates put up a fight. This war is going to be a lot longer then we thought. After the fight, we had a celebratory dinner though no one could eat. Even if we did the food is so bad the dogs won’t eat the meat. And the beans are so hard we have to crush them up into a fluid. I don’t know how to keep my sanity. The best way for me is writing but some of the other soldiers don’t have paper so I don’t know how long they will last mentally. I have decided not to make any more friends because it seems every time I do they die.

We have gotten orders to move to Shiloh Tennessee on April 6. I’m worried about this fight we have not been on a winning streak so far and this war is now far from over. The camp is buzzing generals are being replaced left and right so no one is comfortable right now with a general they feel will fail them. Food is hard to come around now even with all the low-grade everything. People are now finding unripe apples to eat and other stuff. Because of this disease is rampant dysentery has killed many of us so I am keeping my distance. I wish I could come home right now I am really missing you guys, how is little jack doing? The army pay is nice I am sending you ten dollars back with this letter. Use it to buy food and necessities. I miss you and hope to see you soon.

From,

Robert Marshell