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- Letter to Rachel Walters from David Walters
Letter to Rachel Walters from David Walters
Object Details
- Description
- This two-page letter is from David Walters to his wife Rachel while he is stationed at Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the third letter from David to Rachel in the collection, and comes a few weeks after David mustered in at Indianpolis, Indiana as a private with Company I of 90th Regiment, 5th Indiana Cavalry. The notation “Per John S Louderback” at the close of the letter may indicate that the letter was handwritten by Louderback for Walters. (The same handwriting on the cover seems to indicate this letter was enclosed in an envelope, museum ID 0.256400.3, postmarked Indianapolis, Indiana, September 30, 1862.)
- In his missive, David Walters describes how the soldiers have been in camp for about a month and some of the novelty of soldiering has worn off, although he assures his wife that “I like soaldiering fine.” The letter begins with David alternately expressing his resignation to God’s will and trust in His “rules” while longing for his wife. David also continues to detail camp life, explaining his daily schedule and that his Company has received weapons but no orders yet as to where they are going next. Other regiments however are rapidly marching through camp and David expects to receive orders soon. David sends Rachel a miniature, a ring, and some of his clothing. He also sends $25 to Rachel along with apologetic instructions to move in with her father so that she can receive better care, indicating his worry about how life is at home in his absence. David also relays information on how their friends are doing that he has seen at camp, saying that he has seen Clay Sellers of Fulton and that he is “takeing the best care” of William House who is in the hospital.
- Rachel wrote a response a week later on October 7, 1862 (museum ID 1991.0291.42).
- References:
- Soldier’s Certificate No. 2665, David W. Walters, Private, Company I, 90th Indiana, 5th Cavalry; Compiled Military Service Records M540 roll 80; National Archives, Washington, DC.
- Heidelbaugh, Lynn, and Thomas J. Paone. Between Home and the Front: Civil War Letters of the Walters Family. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2022.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- September 29, 1862
- Object number
- 1991.0291.5.1
- Type
- Covers & Associated Letters
- Medium
- paper; ink
- Dimensions
- Height x Width: 7 13/16 × 9 9/16 in. (19.84 × 24.29 cm)
- Place
- Indiana
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Topic
- Civil War and Reconstruction (1860-1877)
- Covers & Letters
- Record ID
- npm_1991.0291.5.1
- Usage
- CC0
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