John R. Wilson was 21 years old when he was drafted into Co. G, 84th Pennsylvania Infantry in September 1862. Later, he was transferred to Co. K, 57th Pennsylvania for the last year of the war, mustering out in June 1865. His captain, while serving in both regiments, was Robert Clark Lambertson who is mentioned in this letter.
John was the son of John Wilson, Sr. (1792-1877) and Elizabeth Holmes (1797-1871) of Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. In his letter, John also mentions his older brother James Holmes Wilson (1833-1867). According to the draft registration records of 1863, James was “insane, confined, and totally unfit for service” which explains John’s remarks concerning him.
The following letter was written from Falmouth, Virginia, where the 84th Pennsylvania spent the winter of 1862-63. Their next campaign would be in late April when they would march into the Wilderness and fight in the Battle of Chancellorsville.
Transcription
Army of the Potomac
Camp near Falmouth, Virginia
March 19, 1863
Kind & indulgent parents,
It is with pleasure I seat myself once more this morning to answer your kind & welcome letter of the 11th which came duly to hand on the 17th instant. I was very glad to hear from you all once more—to hear of Father & Mother getting well again, & to hear of all the rest of you being well. The money that you sent me was all safe & sound in the letter, $4—$3 in treaury $1 notes & one $1 note on the Bank of North America which makes $4. I am really very much obliged for you kindness in sending it to me. I would have had enough of money without sending fr any had I been well all the time but I, being unwell, could not eat the rations we draw & was obliged to buy something that I could eat from the sutler. And as things are pretty dear down here, money don’t go far.
My health at present is good & has been good for the last week or so & I am on duty. Our regiment was out on picket. They returned to camp this afternoon about 3 o’clock. They said all was quiet along the line of pickets. They were not disturbed in the least. I was not along out. The Captain left me to take care of the Market.
Our cavalry made a reconnoisance away up the Rappahannock about 8 or 10 miles—drove the Rebels across the river with the artillery & captured 150 or 200 of them. Our cavalry followed them over the river.
The weather for the last day or two has been pleasant but before that very changeable and disagreeable.
Wm. Wolf is well & wishes to be remembered to you all. I am glad to hear of Rob C. Lamberton improving so rapidly & being so jolly as you say he is. Also to hear of him enjoying himself so well visiting among his friends & acquaintances. I wish him all the pleasure & good luck that is going. Give him my respects.
The things you sent me in the box are not all done yet, I have some of the dry beef yet. It is excellent. I finished the white puddings today. I tell you, they were good & reminded me much of the old home where I used to relish the same. I have some of the flour yet, hickory nuts, and some jelly yet. So you may think they have lasted pretty well. I don’t wish to have any more boxes sent to me for I think the change of diet has a tendency to injure one’s health which I think it did mine. We have plenty of rations issued to us to keep us a going.
I don’t know when I can get a furlough if I can get one at all. Perhaps the army may move soon and the furloughs will be stopped so that I will not get home at all. It is hard to tell what the day may bring forth. How is brother James getting [along]? I dream frequently about him. Tell him in your next.
I must close with much love to you dear parents & all the rest of our folks. From your affectionate son, — John
[to} John Wilson, Sen. & Elisa Wilson
I will send you a couple of profiles—not mine, but better looking men
Spared & Shared 22 
This is a treasured find for me. John R. Wilson is my great great grandfather. His homestead is just across the “holler” and up the hill from my current home. The Wilsons acquired the land from a William Penn land grant. It was sold at an auction at the square in Carlisle when the last of John’s children died in the 1970’s. My own grandfather use to play with John’s Civil War uniform in the attic of the homestead.
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