This Civil War soldier letter letter was written by Cpl. George R. McCarty, Co. E, 78th Ohio Infantry in December, 1862. Writing from “camp near the Youcapatapa River, Mississippi,” McCarty informs a friend in Triadelphia, Ohio, about current camp happenings. He writes in a very collegial manner, relaying entertaining stories of stealing a keg of whiskey, fellow soldiers fattening up on crackers and "fat meat," how he carries a tent half on his back, and that when connected to another soldier’s own half, it makes a shelter “big enough for that old hog of yours to turn around in.”

McCarty also talks about the Battle of Shiloh. He writes, “On the 6th of April we marched to Shiloh Battlefield, participating in the fight the next day. We bivouacked near or on the battlefield until the 16th of April when we moved to Shiloh Springs.” After a long journey the 78th Ohio arrived at Pittsburg Landing in time to participate in the battle’s second day. They camped on the battlefield for the next 10 days and during that time were detailed to bury the dead, brutal work that actually made some men sick.



[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Ulysses S. Grant, US Grant