Phelps, Diton (fl. 1861-1864) to his father and his sister, Edith M. Phelps
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.49.06 Author/Creator: Phelps, Diton (fl. 1861-1864) Place Written: Langley, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 December 1861 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 20 x 26.7 cm. Order a Copy
Writes to his father and sister from Camp Pierpont. Says that he received his letter and the cheese that his mother sent. Mentions having very cold weather for this part of the country. Says that they only have boards, no furs, in their tents to lie upon and that some of the boys have dug cellars two feet deep in their tents. Writes of there not being a fence in sight; they have all been cut down and used for fire wood. Reports that the surgeon says that it will be a year before Captain Daniel Bradbury is able to take charge of the camp again. Says that the Captain and his wife are staying a little ways from camp in an old fixed up shed. Thanks his sister for her letter and wishes her well. The letter has a watermark on the top left hand corner.
Diton Phelps enlisted as a private on 15 May 1861. He mustered into "F" Co. PA 35th Infantry. He was mustered out on 11 June 1864 at Harrisburg, PA.
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