Allegheny County PA Archives- Military: Civil War letters sent to Mary Shoop, dated 1861 - 1865 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: John Snowden, , Aug 2010 Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/ ________________________________________________ Mary Shoop is my Great great grandmother, and these letters were written to her. The letters have been passed down in the family. Most of the letters are from her brother George Shoop, and her cousin, George Lemmon. Mary and both these soldiers are grandchildren of George Remaley of Springdale (East Deer). George Shoop was in the Army of the Potomic. Most battles in that part of the war are discribed in the letters, as well as the names of the soldiers, officers preachers etc. George loved God, he prayed all the time. Shoops and Remaleys founded the St Marks Lutheran in Springdale. The St. Marks Church grave yard was the Remaley family plot long before there was a church there. ======================================================================= Westminster Carrol County Md. July 4th 1863 Dear Sister Your welcome letter of 23th came to hand in due time. And I now found time to answer it. Our Regt. has not been in any of the fights yet, But the Corps Is now on the battlefield at Gettysburg whitch is about 30 miles distant from here. Our Regt has been detailed for wagon guard and is now on duty at this place. I am well as usual Thanks to a Merciful God for his kind care over me an Unworthy creature, Well we have fortunate in escaping the fights so far. Although we may not remain here long. Our Brigade as far as I can learn has been in the fight yesterday and I heard our General (Wheaton) was wounded and afterward died. Whether true or not I cannot say. Our Corps (it is said) done nobly and drove the Rebels back some distance Ive have been on picket along the roads leading out toward Gettysburg. There is some fears of the Rebel cavalry making a dash on this place, but they will be meet with a warm reception if they do come The second Division of cavalry came in here yesterday and they are now caping about a mile and a half from here, watching out for Rebs. A great many prisoners have been brought in here and shipped away on the cars, and a great many wounded have been brought in also and some are taken care of by the citizens, and others are taken to the hospitals at this place and a great many are being shipped away on the cars. The fighting has been going on for three days, and to-day I still hear cannonading. So I think it is a fight still. They are celebrating the fourth of July. God grant that this day may, may be celebrated as another day of Independence. Some of the Rebel prisoners say that they hope we may capture Lee and his whole army. They say all were opposed to Lee's coming out on this invasion. And they all appear to think that this will be the last struggle that they will either make or break. The Rebel General Longstreet was killed on Thursday, and one ours (General Reynolds) was killed the same day. The latest account: I hear that the battle is progressing finely on our side, and many more prisoners taken. This is a beautiful country and plenty of fruit, and we can buy bread pies cakes and many of things, pretty reasonable. And it is a great farming country, crops looks well in a general thing all round. A great portion of the Army wagons are here, that is the supply trains and forage trains, and they are daily going out & coming with and for supplys for the Army out there. Westminster is triving little town of about a thousand inhabitants. It is a mile long, but then it is not broad there being only one Main street in it, and the houses are scattered all along on both sides of the street. It is the county seat of Carrol County. The rebel cavalry stole or took many horses in this county, and in this place about here. Our Regât left the Brigade on Wednesday Evening. All the boys in the 139^th were well at that time. How they came through the battle, I cannot say, but trust they are all right. We have quite a change in officers in the Regiment. Lient.. Col. Patterson is Col and Capt. McGlwair is Lient. Col. and Capt. McGloughlin is Major and Alexander P, Callow (of our Compy) is Ajutant. I hope you will all have a Pleasant fourth of July. And never let my absence make it unpleasant to you for recollect I came at my Countrys call and I could not now be away when they need soldiers so bad at this time and place. I could not be contented at home while this war is raging. It is now raining. The weather has been very warm. Give my kind regards to all friends and Love to selves I remain as ever your affectionate Brother Geo. ======================================================================= Camp Near Burks Station, Va. April 30 1865 Cousin Mary, Your welcome letter came to hand this morning. I was very glad to hear from you. I am in good health at the present time. I hope these few lines may find you all the same. We have been moving Camp today and building summer quarters. We have gay quarters built but I don't think we will stay here very long. I think we are going back to Richmond or Petersburg closer to our base of supplies. The 5th and 2nd Corps moved in that direction this morning. The report is that we will remain here a few days yet. Well Mary, I did not get time to finish this letter last evening. I was called on to draw rations. I will do as well as I can this morning. We had some rain here in the night and looks as if it will rain more today. I hope we will not have such a flood as you had the day I started to the Regiment. I suppose you have heard all the news about the last battle. I got through safe and was there when Lee surrendered to Grant. I was talking to your brother George when the news came that he had surrendered. I tell you there was a happy set of boys. The cheering went from one end of the line to the other, and our caps was flying in the air and all the brass bands was playing The Star Spangled Banner. Well Mary, we got good news this morning that the rebel General Johnston has surrendered to Sherman. If this story is true, we will soon get home. I think the last battle has been fought. I don't want to hear another cannon fired. We got some very unwelcome news the other day about the assassination of the President. It created great excitement in our camps for several days. Well Mary I think I will close. Your brother George is well. I send my best wishes to all the family. I will wait very patiently for an answer. I remain, your cousin, George Lemmon