Johnston Hastings Skelly, Jr.

Home Thursday night [Between September 16, 1861 and May 1862] My Dear Son,... I received yours and Petey's very welcome letter last evening and was very glad to hear of your good health and spirits and that you are comfortably quartered and I heard at the same time that you and Billy Holtzworth would be home today, but we have been disappointed. Your Pappa went to the cars but there was no Jacky there. We missed you very much after you left, but still it was not quite so bad as the first time. There was quite an excitement here I believe among some of the folks, when they heard they were not to receive anything from the relief fund, but they say it will all be arranged so that the families will draw the same as others. We are all well but I am very tired. We were washing today, so you will have to excuse me for not writing much. I will enclose this with Temp Little's vest that I had made. It was not finished when he left. They did not get the buttons so I put some that I had. Please give it to him. Em thought she would not need it now, but I promised to finish it and I send it to him. They all send their love to you, and Eddy says tell Peter to write to him. No more but remaining as ever your affectionate Mother. E.A. Skelly to Jack Skelly York [PA]

Gettysburg Sunday December 14th, 1862 Dearest Jack,... Jack, I must tell you that we had a real lark up at home. There was a Dutchman that belong to this militia. He was a substitute for Will Tutor. He wanted to go with me and Mother thought there was no person like him and I could not bear him and Georgia said there is no person that she hated as bad as him. He gave me a set of jewelry and I took the axe and broke them in about forty pieces and Mother got mad and beat me dreadful about it, and Georgia made me leave home and come and stay with her, but she (Mother) sent after me the same day and told me she was sorry for what she had done and I have come back, but I wish the day was here that I was to leave for good. I would be satisfied to die if I was prepared today. We had communion but I did not go for I was not ready to go. Jack, if you would see my arms and shoulders you would say it was right to leave. Your sister Nell seen the marks that I carry. The drafted men left here last Saturday, a week, but this Dutchman never went till last Thursday and then he would of went with black eyes if I could of got a chance at him, but if I had got at him in the house, Mother would have fell on me. He told Mother if she would banish me from the home, he would send her fifty dollars. He done all of this because I would not have anything to do with him. Jack, you may think this is a very strange letter but you are the only dear friend that I can tell my trouble to. I do wish I could see you once more for I have spent many a sad day since I seen you. May I remain your true friend and well wisher. Jennie Wade Write soon for it is a great satisfaction to get a letter from you. (Letter courtesy of the O'Connor/Skelly family)

(In this letter, Elizabeth Skelly talks about her responsibilities in caring for her husband, Johnston Skelly, Sr., while he is away fighting in the war. We get... a small glimpse into the relationship between husband and wife, as well as her comfort in speaking to Jack about her frustrations. We also see how Elizabeth is busy trying to get supplies for her household, as she is left home alone, while her husband and older sons are at war.) Gettysburg Oct the 20th, 1861 My Dear Son, I received your letter and Danny received Edwin's. We are always glad to hear from you and to hear that you are well. I had a letter too from your Pappa. I will enclose it to you without note or comment. It will speak for itself. I will only add I had made him a nice, gray flannel shirt like your red one. Dan got the flannel, fixed him another comfortable suit of under clothes and stockings, sent him a pitcher of Quince butter and fifty cents. It was all I could spare for I have to pay cash for everything and this is the letter I got. I have washed the [illegible word] and repaired the clothes he sent and added another pair of stockings and drawer and am sending the Buffalo robe tomorrow morning by Fred [Wyssosky]. He took Ed's old overcoat along and I wrote to him to keep it when they did get their uniform. It would do to sleep on and proposed to send the robe if he wanted it and could get an opportunity to send it and I provided him with paper envelopes and pencil, and I even took my own thread case or [housewife] as they are called and supplied it with all kinds of sewing material, and will still do all I can to make him comfortable, although it is not appreciated. I got the key and sent it to him. Creager and Eli, John, George and myself were all out at Craver's on Thursday. We did not get many nuts. Our trip was a failure. All through I had Fahnenstock's horse and Peter Beitler's wagon. I wish Edwin would write to Harper to send me some wood as soon as possible. I do not get to see him and will not cost more to write from there than here. Our wood is just out. We are all in our usual health and send a great deal of love to you both. Tell Peter I will write to him soon. I am sorry to hear he is not well. Good bye my dear sons and God bless you both is the prayer of your Mother. E.A. Skelly. {I will enclose paper and envelopes and one post stamp. I do not know if Dan can get anymore today. I had another, but I lost it.} [Letter courtesy of the O'Connor/Skelly family]

September 7, 1862 Dear Mother, I embrace the opportunity of informing you that I am getting along very well now. We left New Creek [VA, now Keyser, WV] last Wed...nesday and arrived here on Thursday morning, the distance of 100 miles. There is two full companys and the other 8 companys. The other eight companys left New Creek a week before we did. They have have no tents and or baggage along with them. We have all of the baggage with us. There is 15 of our company there. They are all on the sick list, but we get along as well as the rest of them. The regiment is at Beverly. We started for them. The first day we marched 8 miles and then camped for night. The second day we had got about 15 miles when we heard the rebels were in a little place that we had intended to camp at, but there was too many of them, so we skedaddled back to this place where we will stay awhile, till we get more force. We have not heard from the company since they left. Nothing more at present, but remain your affectionate son. Johnston Skelly (Letter courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, DC)

August 14, 1862 Camp Jessie [New Creek, VA] [Part 2] Dear Mother, ... You could not send anything better than them peaches and things. Mrs. Buehler sent me some very nice oranges and lemons from Cumberland. She is staying down there now. The Mayor is attending a court martial and she went down with him. He was here yesterday. She said she wanted to send something then but did not know what to send. I bought a chicken today. Chicken broth and them crackers will taste very nice. I am walking around but I am very weak. You need not trouble yourself about them reports that some person or persons have been circulating. They are all false and I think that I can take as good a care of myself here as at home. My conscience is clear and they can raise as many reports as they please. They can't hurt me. They might make some persons believe it at home, but it don't make any difference. I ask no favors of anybody as long as Uncle Sam got any green backs notes. We sent $40.00 by express. Let us know whether you got it or not. Nothing more at present, but remain your affectionate son. Our love to all. Jack Skelly How is F getting along? [Letter from the National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, DC]

August 14, 1862 Camp Jessie [New Creek, VA] Dear Mother,... We received your letter and the things this morning. It found Ed well and me improving very fast. All that is wrong with me now is sore mouth and tongue. I think the doctor [not legible] me, but it is getting better. I have not eat but five times since last Saturday, a week till today. I have a pretty good appetite today, and what I did eat before, I could eat one meal if I would have been well. They thought I was going to have a pretty hard spell of sickness. The way it started they thought it was typhoid fever, but they checked it in a couple of days, and then I got the diarrhea and when that stopped, I got sore throat. And I suppose when my mouth gets well, there be something else wrong, for I think I am to share of all diseases now. (Letter from National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, DC)

Remembering Jack Skelly on his birthday, August 4, 1841.