Here is a Civil War letter from my Great Grandfather, then 18, who was a "100day soldier" (an effort for the Union to provide much needed soldiers in short times), written to his wife-to-be in Boonville Indiana. I just transcribed it today and thought it was interesting enough to send on to the person who was looking for Civil War material. Nancy Eckel To Maggie from Galen in Nashville, TN in the Army June 4, 1864 My own darling Maggie: Your long looked for and anxiously awaited letter came to hand yesterday evening. It is the second one I have received from you since I have been out. No one can tell until he has tried it how much good it does a Soldier to receive letters from home friends. No one can tell how much good it does me to receive letters from you. I do wish I could receive them regularly once a week. I have written to you every chance I have had and I shall continue to do so I assure you. Of course I shall do with you just as I would be done by if anybody is of a mind to talk about my writing so much he can just talk. If anyone is a mind to tell that you were on the street “Hollowing and crying” the day I left they will just have to tell it I suppose. I am sure I saw no such a thing and whoever says he did is simply guilty of wilful culamination{?}— if not downright lying. I am glad that you and Lucy and Mollie are all right on the friendship question again. I suppose the Butternuts really are having a fine time but thank fortune our time of service will be out before the election comes off. Let them go, “Every dog has his day.” You spoke of receiving a letter from a young lady a little before you wrote me in which she sent her photograph. You said you answered her letter the same evening and asked her to come and see you next winter and why you wanted her to come &c. You forgot to tell me her name. You left it out by mistake I see. I suppose it was Jennie Allen was it not? It is all right. I just wanted to know her name.——— Well Maggie to tell you all we have been doing since I wrote you last is impossible. I will simply say we have been soldering. Wednesday evening we were ordered out of our Quarters to give room for another Company which was to stay where we had to pitch our tents while it was raining torrents. The principal thing we did next day was to pack up our wet things and march to Colesburgh. Staid[sic] there until ten oclock that night when we took the cars for this place. We got here at 4 oclock yesterday evening. Marched out on the commons about one mile from the depot and pitched our tents. I slept as soundly as could be lying on the ground with my blanket around me. Everything is confusion now. We are getting ready to march. I suppose we will have to take it on foor the rest of the way. If I can only be well I don’t care where we go. I have been about half sick with a cold ever since I have left[crossed out] been out. I have a very severe cough but hope I shall get used to being out before long so that I shall not take cold. Every day I am going to do the best that I can at any rate and hope I shall be ready for duty all the time. This is a low dirty town. I never saw so many flies before. Every place is literally alive with them. They bother me so that I can scarcely write at all. Besides this botheration there is an unceasing hubbub of confusion all around here, some laughing, swearing, singing and I do not know what they are not doing. Our Company was having some Records taken while at Indianapolis. I ordered one sent to you. You can do what you please with it. I received a letter from Jennie Day this morning. She said she had got one of my Photographs. I suppose they came out all right. I think I sent enough to supply all I had promised them to. If not send me word as I have received the other half of them. Jim McCalla received a letter from Sue yesterday evenihng and another one this morning. I am glad that you received more letters from me than Sue had from Jim because I know you were glad to get them. Some of the companies are starting off and I suppose we will in a few minutes so I must close and mail this while I can for when the order to march is given there is no chance for anything else. Give my love to your Mother and Father and all inquiring friends. I hope that God will take care of us both and permit us soon to meet again here if not to dwell together Forever. I am still determined ever to live a Christian. I have no Idea where I will be when I get to write again. I am your loving Galen forever. P.S. Lotson[?] Neavis is here in the hospital sick. I did not get in to see him. Pete Weirbacker and Maj. or Capt. Lankford[?] were out here yesterday evening. Write soon and often to your own Galen Spencer.