This letter was written by 19 year-old Owen Jones (1842-1921), the son of Isaiah Jones (1812-1888) and Matilda Darrah (1812-1888) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Owen enlisted in Co. K, 3rd Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry (32nd Volunteers). This regiment was organized at Philadelphia and moved to Easton, Pennsylvania, on 20 May 1861. They remained in “Camp Washington” at Easton until 22 July when they moved to Harrisburg where they were mustered into the US Service on 28 July. Owen was promoted to corporal on 1 March 1862 and then discharged on a surgeon’s certificate on 2 December 1862.
After the war, Owen was employed as a police officer in Philadelphia.
TRANSCRIPTION
Camp Washington
July 18, 1861
Dear Mother,
I thought I would write a few lines to thee. I was glad to hear from thee. I was glad to see Luke. I hope thee is well and all the rest of the folks. I was glad to hear thee was well and Pap too. Tell him I am well. I had a pain in my stomach and the colic but I am better now.
We have got our clothes and money and we have got marching orders. I don’t think we will go for a month. The governor was here today and see our regiment. [We] marched as well as the regular soldiers in New York. I hope we will go [a]way soon for we are all anxious to fight. We are all pleased today for we got paid in two five-dollar bills and a two dollar bill and eighty three cents—more money than some of them [have] seen for a year. Half of them [got] drunk.
I would like to come down to see thee and Pap. The old rascal Dave went down on Monday. He said he would come and see thee and Pap. I told him [to] give my love to all the folks. I wanted Luke to stay a day or two but he said he had to go home. I give him my vest and pants and boxing gloves. I give the boxing gloves to him. I was glad to see him. I guess I will stop this time.
My love to all and the greatest from thy dear son, — Owen Jones
Direct thy letters to C[apt]. William Bryant, Company K, Easton [Pennsylvania]
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