McCormick Letter

Web Author's Notes:
The following letter was transcribed from the original letters of William McCormick, a private in the 16th OVI. This transcription was kindly provided by Joni Crane, 3rd great-grandaughter of Private McCormick. The McCormick family passed these letters down through the years until they were acquired from Alice Armstrong (McCormick) by her grandson, David A. Hilliard. The letters were donated to the United States Library of Congress, Rare Manuscripts Division, with copies retained by the family. Please go to the McCormick Letter Index page to read an introduction by Joni Crane.


Pvt. William McCormick	Actual envelope containing a McCormick letter. A poem, written on the envelope reads: Times of Joy, and times of woe, Each an Angel's presence know, Guardian Angels hover round, peaceful Home, and Battleground.

Camp Cumberland Ford
March 30, 1862

Dear Wife (to Charlotte),

I received yours of the 23rd and was glad to hear from you. We have moved back on the north side of the river, two miles from where our last camp was, we moved yesterday.

I have been sick for a few days, I have a very bad cough which hurts me very much. If I do not get better soon, I shall have to go to the Hospital at Basbinsville Bart. I think I will get along very well if I get no back set.

I also received a letter from your brother William today. You say that I never said anything about that nine month scare of yours, well I thought I did. I think if you look over your letters from me, you will find that I did say something. At any rate I burned the letter according to your directions.

I wrote you in my last about our advance on the Rebels fortifications. We were compelled to fall back to this point where we will remain until we are reinforced, which will be some time yet.

I would like you to let me know if Esq. Peppards has done anything with that Mellhnich affair or not. Let me know just how things stand and I will be better satisfied.

You had better pay Jos. Miller the balance of rent on his house and I want you to draw your proportion of money that will be coming to you from the Relief Fund.

William wrote to me that he was going to move to the East of Fredericksburg on the first of April and he also said Johny was at fathers and he appeared to enjoy himself very much.

In writing to me always send an envelope and sheet of paper enclosed in your envelope as paper cannot be had here nor can we get envelopes. So you see, if you want to hear from me regular, you will have to comply with my request.

I received a half dollars worth of stamps in the letter I received last week from you. Direct all your letters as you did this last and they will come through all safe. My love to all of the friends and to Johny and Clary. Pa sends a kiss and to Ma his hearts fond affection. I must close for this time. Write soon, I remain your husband ever,

William McCormick

P.S. If you can get a package of envelopes and one quire of letter paper and send it by mail to me at a cost of twenty or thirty cents, do so and it will last a couple of months. We have to pay five cents for a single envelope and five cents a sheet for paper here. Yours, WMC