Robeson County NcArchives Military Records.....McArthur, Pvt. Peter September 1, 1864
Civilwar - Letters Co C, 7th Battalion of Reserves
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Tim Bradshaw timbradsjr@yahoo.com December 3, 2010, 8:12 am

Letter To Sister -  Miss Maria Jane McArthur
Peter McArthur Letter
Addressed to Miss Maria Jane McArthur
Philadelphus P.O. Robeson county, NC

From Private Peter McArthur
Co. C 7th Batt. of Reserves

Postmarked: Wilmington, NC but written in Smithville, NC Sept. 1, 1864
Maria (PRONOUNCED Ma-RYE-ah) J. McArthur

Dear Sister
     I received your letter day before yesterday and I assure you that I was 
glad to hear from home. I am not so well today as I have been. I have got a 
very bad cold. I have a little head ache not-at-all dangerous. I have not had 
the Diarea yet. No telling how soon I will take it. Well Maria I would have 
liked to (have) been at home when Kate Powers was there but so it is/ I am 
doing very well down here if I can just keep my health and I have taken a fair 
start to keep it. I can eat all I get. I have never refused a meal’s victuals 
yet. Anyhow, you wanted to know how I faired eating and sleeping, and how I 
stood my big coat this hot weather. I don’t wear my coat at all. I drew a round-
about at Raleigh and I wear that all the time. I drew a coat and pants, 
drawers, cap, shirt, socks and a pair of shoes and a knapsack at the Camp of 
instruction in Raleigh and a blanket, haversack, cap box, carterage box and gun 
in Smithville. And as to the eating part, we get enough, and we have a very 
good cook—that is the main part of it. Elious Davis is our cook and a brother 
to Mother’s good boy that came to the mill two or three times before I left 
home. Me and a fellow by the name of McRae and one by the name of Willis and 
Glover stay in a tent together but McRae got sick before he got here and got a 
sixty-day furlough, and Willis was toted to the hospital yesterday very sick so 
that leaves nobody in the tent but me and Glover. There’s about half of the 
Battalion sick. Now we have to go on guard every other day, and I tell you it 
keeps a fellow pretty busy to keep his gun clean and go on guard every other 
day. Tell George he must try and fatten up the horses by the time I come home 
so I can ride big. I had like to forgot—Mother wanted to know about my washing. 
I got a mulatto to wash 2 shirts and 1 pair of pants and 1 pair of drawers for 
$1 1/2 and I washed 2 pairs socks myself. And about the money—all I have is new 
issue but I had to lose 2/5. Old 5 dollar bills only count $3 gold. Must come 
to a close as I am corporal of the guard today and it will soon be time to post 
my relief. You must write just as soon as you get this and tell me all the news 
of home.
Your affectionate brother, Peter McArthur 

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