This letter was written by Abraham N. Wolf, Jr. (1837-1895), the son of Abraham Nicholas, Sr. (1805-1879) and Polly Mildaberger (1811-18xx) of Northampton, Pennsylvania. A carpenter by trade Abraham Jr. volunteered early in the war as a private in Co. D, 9th Pennsylvania Infantry, a three months regiment. Following that, he reenlisted as a private in Co. B, 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
A very complete biographical sketch of Abraham can be found in Private Abraham N. Wolf—Millwright and “Inventive Genius” on the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers website.
Abraham was married about 1855 to Sarah Trexler (1836-1893) ad resided in Allentown, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania.
TRANSCRIPTION
Camp Griffin ¹
December 29th 1861
Dear Wife,
I have received the box and everything was in it yet what you said was in it and it came on the second day of Christmas. And then I fried some of the sausages for breakfast and took some sausages along for dinner for I was on duty—I was chopping wood—and they tasted pretty good to me for it was something new to me for it was from home. And you can tell Miss Brady that I would send my best respects to her and I would wish her a Happy New Year. And yesterday that the chicken [was] cooked for dinner and so we had a good dinner for it was the best dinner that I had since I left home. And this morning I ate the last part of the chickens but I have some of your molasses candy yet which you sent to me. And I have the big cake yet. And that pocket handkerchief which your mother sent to me I got too. And my respects to her and I would wish her a Happy New Year and your father also and hope till next New Year I can be home myself.
Today is Sunday and the band is playing a hymn and the preacher is a preaching now. We have preaching here every Sunday. And news—I ain’t got any for the army is lying still here now and so there ain’t anything new here.
I am well and hope this will find you and Fairman ² in the same state of health. This war is nothing but humbug. I thought that I went to war to save the country but I believe that I went to war to save some of the jackass necks which are at Washington. So no more at present.
Yours truly. Love, — A. N. Wolf
¹ Camp Griffin was located around a hill west of the Chain Bridge less than two miles from the village of Lewinsville, Virginia.
² Fairman M. Wolf (1859-1935) was Abraham’s 2nd child. Their first child, Amanda Wolf (1856-BefDec1861) must have died young as she is not mentioned in this letter.
Spared & Shared 18 