***

Dear Anna

After two weeks of turmoil and bustle we have organized our Company and are settled down enjoying a quiet Sabbath morning to be broken how soon by marching orders we do not know.

Our officers were mustered into service yesterday. They are Capt. Wm N. Adams 1st Lt John N. Boyer (writer) 2nd Philip L. Houck. We expect to leave here perhaps tomorrow for Washington or some other point in Dixie. I do not expect to be home again before we leave. I have sent you 333 Dollars by the hand of Benjamin Deardorf you will get it someday this week. You can then give Father 200 Dollars and he must give you that note I gave him for Jennie then pay that note of ten dollars that Philip Beamer holds against me give your father 56 dollars and tell him to lift them notes that Martin Thomas holds against me and return them to you. Tell Charles A. Boyer to bring you that due Bill he holds against me and when he brings it to you pay it it is 25 Dollars. Tell my Father to Settle and pay all I owe to the Fahnestocks and take their receipt you can then pay him. That will take all the money I can send you now. I bought my uniform yesterday it cost me 65 dollars. We are drawing our gum blankets and Shelter tents today will likely move tomorrow don't write to me until you hear from me again. My health is good. The Boys are all well.

Be strong Anna. Ever remember me in your Prayers do your duty to yourself and to our children as I shall try to do mine to my Country.

With much Love from you Husband

J N Boyer

Dear Anna

Here I am with the boys in front of Petersburg all Safe and Sound and all well save a few cases of homesickness and it is laughable to see the long faces some of the Boys do wear and yet I guess they feel bad enough. We have had almost constant Picket firing since I am here and a lively artillery duel that makes the earth tremble where I sit is going on. I feel well my spirits are fine. I believe I am doing my duty and that I will be sustained, we have poor fare and poor accomodations but I do not complain. I did fear that when I would come to face danger that I might perhaps fail to do honor to the dear ones I have left behind. But I now feel as if it were good to be here. I believe that if called upon to face death on the battlefield I will prove myself equal to the emergency. My Prayer is that I may prove to be equal to anything that may be required of me. Let yours be (the) same. We had a very pleasant trip the whole way from Baltimore by water to City point 270 miles we made in 22 hours. We laid over one day in Baltimore waiting on the boat. I think I shall send my good clothes home by Express tell Father to see if my trunk is at the Express office if it is not there tell him to tell Charley to see Broadhead, the Express Messenger, and tell him to inquire for it at the Junction. The trunk is directed to P. L. Houck Gettysburg. I must now close. Write immediately tell me how you are get (ing) along and how everything is going. Direct to John N. Boyer 1st Lt Co K 184th Reg P V 1st Brigade 2nd Division 2nd Corps

My respects to all who inquire. Tell your Father that I am obliged to him for the call he made the morning I started. I may never see him again but I bear him no ill will

With Much love Your Husband,

John N. Boyer

Dear Father

This is a cold windy morning It froze very hard last night and the mud and water caused by 12 hours of incessant rain is pretty well dried up

We are in winter Quarters the men have put themselves up log cabins covering them with their Shelter tents making quite comfortable little houses So you see we are quite snugly fixed. The men come on picket about once in ten days the officers once in fifteen days. We have company and Battalion drill and dress parade every day when the weather will permit we also have a School of Officers where all that pertains to infantry drill and manoeuvreing and outpost and Picket duty is taught. The officers of the Reg. are required to attend under penalty Our Company is rapidly learning to drill we can just take down anything in the 184th No matter in what way you take them. The men all seem Satisfied and willing to do duty whenever called on. And with a few exceptions are reasonably well John McIlheny is at the hospital sick. David Tate has been sick but is well again Robert Bell was down to see me on the 20th. He said he would send down a horse for me to come to see him about Christmas

Capt Earnshaw was to see me a few days ago and in one hour did more swearing than I have heard since I am in the service. My health is very good but my wound (J N Boyer was shot by musket/rifle through his chest puncturing a lung in the fall of 1864) still troubles me there is a constant internal soreness in my wounded side that does not seem to get much better or much worse. I have as yet done no duty I was yesterday appointed officer of the day but the rain coming on I was relieved. The boys will not hear of my leaving the Company as long as I am able to stay with it and in truth I feel no inclination to go home I am much better content here than I could be at home, whilst the company is here My spilled blood has only taught me to love my country more and to hate her enemies more bitterly. I wrote to Anna Mary as soon as I arrived here I will write when good again Tell Mr. Wible that he shall tell Charles Boyer that I will send him a certificate to be presented before the Lodge as soon as another five weeks are due me from the time that I was last paid. And that he shall write me immediately and let me know to what date I have been paid. Tell Anna to send Mrs Welty, Mrs Earnshaw and Mrs John Tate in Hunterstown Each one of my pictures also one to Houchs and one to Wm Wible. My Master was all right and I do not have to be mustered here.

Answer soon and tell me all the news

Ever Your son

John N Boyer

Dear Anna

I wrote you as soon as I reached Camp since which time I have written to Father and also to Charley. I am as well as I could expect to be although no so well as I would like to be I have had considerable pain in my wounded breast since I am here, but I have had some cold ever since I left home and I suppose that is the cause. I have very good quarters yet I cannot keep warm at night and consequently do not sleep very well and when I lose sleep I do not feel as well as I expected I would, and with all this I have had considerable diarrhoea.

Taking all things into consideration I get along very well. The Officers of the Reg. are kind men and knowing me to be unfit for duty require none of me. I hardly think that I will come home this winter for should I become strong enough by Spring to stand Campaigning I ought to know all and more than I can learn between this and Spring. I am sadly deficient in all learning that pertains to the science of war and as it is only during the winter season that we have any opportunity of learning I think if my health will at all admit of it I shall remain with my Regiment. It would certainly be pleasant to me to be with you but duty Calls me here and it is meet that I should be prepared to do duty whenever I become able.

Thus far I do not regret that I have responded to My Countrys Call by taking up the sword. I believe our Cause is just is Holy and will triumph in spite of all the prayers of Northern Cowards and traitors. We have a Company of as brave men as ever Carried Muskets I love them and there is not one brave fellow in Co. K who has any other than kind feelings for they were jubilant over my return and I want to stay with them to the end. We can take down the Regt. for appearance and also for intelligence. We have not had a drunken man since we came out. I wish you could see us in our log Cabins we have a town of them about 15 miles long. It is astonishing how soon men will learn to Accomodate themselves to circumstances.

Major Bell Capt Earnshaw and Adjutant Cress have all been to see me. Amos Detrick and Tom Hagerman were here today they are all looking very well. Capt Adams is not very well. Phil Houck is out on Picket. Daid Tate has been sick but is some better. John McIlheny is at the Hospital sick with intermittent fever. How are you getting along How are the little ones bless them all If I should not live to see them again teach them to love the cause for which their Father gave his life. Get another girl if you cannot keep the one you have at once try to get one that will stay sometime no matter what wages you may have to pay her only so you do get a good one and then you can ask your Uncle Mike whether he was just (letter abruptly ends here - apparently this letter was included and mailed with the one of Dec 26th)

Dear Anna

I wrote you a long letter yesterday and this morning I received your letter of the 20th and though as I had not yet sent it away I would write a few lines more in answer. I am glad that you are getting along so well and have to say that this morning I am feeling better than usual and hope that I may someday be able to lead my brave boys to battle for their Country. Tell Pap to try and find you a good girl and then you can finish up with the Miller tribe and shut down on them.

I dont think that Mother had any right to feel aggrieved at my not coming to visit them again before I left if she will look back she will see that I spent quite as much time at her house while I was home as She did at mine. So the Canadians are still returning. Wonder if Mike dont wish he had stayed in Canada he must feel pretty sorely to come home and put his foot right in the draft. Who wouldnst be a Soldier of his Country. Who is there who would not dare to do and to die that his Country still may live. The Boys are all in good spirits that are well and learn to like soldiering. They are highly pleased with Father Abraham for ordering another draft.

We had a tremendous rain last night. This morning is cloudy and very damp.

Once more goodbye

John

Dear Anna

Your welcome letter of the 7th came to hand last evening and moved me to writing you a letter but as I had not got very far with it I concluded I would take a fresh start and write an answer to the one I received. I had heard of the children being sick through Wm Wible and was anxious to learn from you particularly that your health is good because whilst you are well I can be perfectly satisfied here. My health is not as good as I could wish yet it is quite as good as I have any reason to expect taking into consideration the kind of weather we have had for the three last weeks. Such a succession of wet and cold as we have had for three weeks and I believe I feel better today than I have done for that length of time. I am very glad you have sent me my blanket as it will come very good to me and the box will also come good when it gets here. Some of the boxes started when Fidlers box started have not yet come to hand. I am sorry that you are likely to be left without a girl and as you cannot get along without one and do justice to yourself and the little ones pay any price rather than do without one.

And so it is currently reported that there is to be a wedding at Witnsons but the draft might interfere and that would be awful. And they have had a meeting at the School House poor fellows I have no doubt they are badly scared. I do not do any duty yet and (don't) expect to do much before summer comes, but now is the time that I should be here in order that I may learn to know how to do my duty if I should at any time become able to endure the hardships of campaigning. The Study has become very interesting to me and the more I see and learn of infantry movements the more I wish to learn. I do not think I will get home this winter and not in the Spring unless I should be unable to stand marching.

I owe my Country this service and I shall do what I can and do it willingly. Tell Ellen that I am glad to hear that she is a very good girl and hope that She in her teachings may pleas all good and Loyal men without regard to what Copperheads may think and say. My love to all inquiring friends my everlasting enmity to all Cops and Cowards and renegade Canadians. Kiss the Little ones for me and answer as soon as you can and dont be uneasy about me for if I cannot stand the exposure without injury I shall not stay in. With Much love.

Your Husband

John N. Boyer

Dear Anna

Your letter of the 13th came to hand this morning finding me reasonably well at least not any worse than usual. A few days ago ( I ) was very sick and feared that I would have to go to the Hospital and I suppose if I had taken the Medecine the Doctor wished me to take I would have gone but it is sometimes best for a man to suffer and wait for nature to perform a cure and I think I am better off than if I had taken the medecine because I am now as well as usual yet that soreness in my breast (continuing body reaction to his collapsed lung) still seems to cling to me so that sometimes I hardly know what to do with myself. Major Bell advises me to apply for Admission into the Invalid Corps. Every day makes it more plainly manifest that I will not again be able to do duty in the field. I do not like to resign. I do not want to go into a strange Command and I do not like to leave the Officers & Men of my Company as they are brave and noble men. And yet by remaining with them I am only standing in the way of men who are able to fill my position. My resignation would give Adam Black a Lieutenancy and he would make a splendid Officer. There is not a young man in the Regt. who is so universally popular as he is particularly with the Field Officers of the Regiment.

You made a mistake by Expressing my Cap. I certainly wrote to you to send it by mail. You can send my mittens as they will be much more certain to come safely through. That is a bad go for the Taylors colt. It does spite me too much. I am very glad to hear that Ellen is getting along so finely with her school. Tell her to act well her part there all the honor lies. I am sorry to hear that our house has been polluted by the presence of a Canada Renegade. I should like very much to see John Wert but would like to have him come in better company. The Paymaster has not yet made his appearance and the Boys are becoming very impatient with the tardiness of his movements as they are pretty hard up for the one thing needful.

I am not doing any duty and am only staying here. I have two blankets and still cannot keep warm. Neither of my boxes have yet come to hand. They are both due now and I am anxiously looking for them particularly the tobacco box as I am short on the weed yet I still have some money. Capt. and Phil are about played out of change so I have to supply the material to run the machine until they can raise the wind by a remittance from home. My respects to all inquiring friends. Kiss the little ones for me

With much love

Your Husband

Jno N. Boyer

Dear Father

I wrote you a letter some time ago but recieved no answer and have therefore concluded that I would write you another one this morning. It is raining heavily this morning and freezing pretty nearly as fast as it comes down the ground is completly covered with ice and as is usual at such times very slippery. Many a poor Soldier sits down This morning before he is ready. My health is about as usual always worse on damp rainy days. I can tell when we are going to have bad weather by my wound as well as Proffessor Jacobs can by the Barometer. There are now four of our officers absent on furlough for 10 to 20 days we are allowed one furlough for every five officers So that when those who are now absent return four of the others can go. Captain Adams will likely get home in next month. After him Philip's turn will come. I want to stay until Captain has had his turn if I should not get any worse. I hardly know what to do about remaining in the Service. Every day makes it more plain that I will never be able to go with my Regiment in to the field. Major Bell advises me to go into the invalid Corps but I cannot see such a thing as laying in some one or other of our cities that is not what I came out for and I shall not do it. If I can not go with my company I shall resign and give others a chance to rise. My Cap came to hand yesterday all right. John McIlheny came back to the Co. yesterday he is looking pretty well. David Tate is improving rapidly. The health of the Company is improving we have now to present officers and men. Some few of the boys are homesick. The war news are glorious and looks to an early winding up of this accursed rebellion Have the copperheads determined what to do about the draft? I would like to be there to see their movements. If they succeed in raising the men and money. I want some arrangement made by which I can avoid paying the tax. Nothing more this time

But remain Your Son

John N. Boyer

Dear Father

Your letter of the 27th came to hand yesterday and found me in tolerable health. I have had a very severe cold for some days and a great deal of coughing with it causing more than usual pain in my breast but I am better now and hope to get along.

The weather has been very cold and the ground is frozen to the depth fourteen inches but yesterday it began to moderate and this morning looks and feels like spring and we now hope that the cold weather is over. We have glorious news this morning It has been officially promulgated through Camp that Alex. H. Stevens the Vice President of the Confederacy and five others of the chief dignitaries of rebeldom came into our lines in front of the 9th Corps on night before last to sue for peace. It caused the wildest cheering through our camps. No one would welcome the early return of peace more heartily than the Soldier The Pickets have become very sociable of late. They even go as far as to borrow each other's axes to chop wood. There is no firing along the lines. The Rebel Soldiers say that they are promised peace in sixty days. I do no duty and am able to do none. We have inspections drills and reviews all the time. My Tobacco box has not yet come to hand and I expect it is gone up. My other box came through in fine condition. The health of the Company is pretty good David Tate is getting better we are trying to get a sick leave for him. I hear that Jacob Fidler has got (gone) home none of them boys will ever make soldiers. They are not made of the right material, we have a few more that have no stomach for lead and steel but only a few and I dont believe there is anything so contemptible in the sight of God or a brave man than a coward in blue uniform Phil Houck will likely be home next week and Capt Adams the week following. I have no notion of coming yet I dont think I could conceve myself there while the boys are down here I feel at home here although I am not fit to be here Try and get a girl for Anna as soon as you can for she is not able to do without one

Write soon

Your Son

Jno. N. Boyer

Dear Anna

As I am not in a position to receive the letters you may have written me since I last wrote I came to the conclusion that I had better write you a few lines that you may know how I am where I am and why I come to be here.

On last Wednesday night our Corps received orders to prepare to move. And as the Dr did not consider me fit to march I was sent up here to stay a few days until the storm blows over. We have a very good quarters here and I am very comfortable.

My health is about as usual. My breast still pains me about as much as usual and although I am quite comfortable in most things yet I would feel much better if I could be with my Regiment. It is very unpleasant to me to have to lay here in the Hospital when the boys are doing the hard work in the field.

The latest news I have from the front is that our Regt. has not yet moved If such is the case it is not likely they will move as the weather seems to be breaking up. We have had very beautiful weather for the last few days - just like the opening of Spring and the frost is fast coming out of the ground.

We have a very quiet good-humored set of sick and wounded officers in our ward and we have a general good time. Although we do not have quite as much to eat as would be pleasant, but we are going to wake up the establishment some of these days, as we have to pay one dollar per day we are going to have enough to eat if we have to turn the thing upside down. I will go back to the Regt. as soon as I can learn their whereabouts. You can write and direct to Section A - Ward 5 - 2nd Div. - 2nd Corps Gen. Hospital City Pt Va.

Kiss the little ones for me

Always thine

Jno N. Boyer

Dear Anna

I wrote you a few days ago that I had been sent to this Hospital preparatory to the movement of the army. The movement has taken place and there has been some terriffic fighting we are reported to have advanced our lines about five miles. The rebels were the attacking party. Our loss is said to be heavy, how the poor wounded fellows must suffer as it is raining sleeting and freezing and is intensely cold.

Our Division is represented to have done some tremendous fighting but so far as I can hear they sustained but little loss. I have not heard from my Company yet and know nothing of them save that our Division was in the fight.

Feb. 8 - I did not get my letter finished yesterday but have no other news to write this morning. The movement of our army is considered a decided success. The 5th Corps suffered the most and at one time is said to have broke and run, but were rallied in time to avert any serious disaster. The Cavalry and part of the 6th Corps were also engaged. This morning great numbers of wounded are here but up to this time there has none come in from our Corps, so that the probabilities are that the loss (to) the 2nd Corps is slight. I am exceedingly anxious to hear tidings from my company. I do hope that amid the storms of battle and the fierce fight they may have all escaped unharmed.

This morning the weather is clear and cold, the ground is covered with ice. My health is about as usual. I cannot say that my wound is any better. I begin to feel disheartened. We have some eight or ten sick and wounded officers in our ward non of them much worse than I am and most of them not quite as bad, We have a very pleasant sociable time of it.

I have never received that helmet perhaps someone else has appropriated it to their own use.

No Kiss the little ones for me. My kindest regards to all my friends. Answer soon and direct - Section A - Ward 5 - 2nd Corps - Gen. Hosp. City Pt Va..

With much love, Ever your Husband

Jno. N. Boyer

Dear Father

I leave this morning for the front again for how long I do not know. My breast is much worse but dont tell Anna. I shall not stay at the front any longer than I can help. If I can not get sick leave I will ask (for) a discharge for I find that I must get away (from) here the Exposure is too much for me. Tell Anna that she shall not write to me until she hears from me there has been some pretty hard fighting and we are on the South Side Rail Road the 5th Corps done most of the fighting.

Done in haste

John N. Boyer

Dear Anna

I received your kind letter of the 1st of this month this morning and found 5 dollars enclosed for which you have many thanks. I was pretty nearly out but now I can get along until I hear from you again. The letter with the 2 dollars has not yet come to hand but it may still come. My health is about as usual. I came down from City Point Hospital yesterday. I was told that our Division had returned to their old Camp but when I came here I found it untrue, but our Head Quarters has not yet been moved and I am staying here until the Regt. returns or puts up winter Quarters where they are. The weather is still very cold although not quite as severe as it was some time ago. Our Regiment did not have any fighting to do in this movement and consequently suffered no loss. Tell Ellen that my stables were not made to shelter Copperhead horses and they might all freeze to death before I would lend a helping hand and that I am very sorry that she cannot afford a good loyal beaux as my roof is too sacred to shelter men who wish me nothing better than death upon the battlefield. They all hate me and I can most heartily reciprocate all the hatred they bear me and I do hope that they will cease to insult me by coming to my house in my absence. Now I mean what I say and I want them to stay away and cease to pollute my home by their foul presence. At least until I return home so that if they talk treason I will be there to kick them out. There I guess that will settle the matter of Copperheads coming to my house and you many tell Hiram that if he dont want to be kicked he would better let all Copperhead beaux horses stand at the fence. I dont want them in my stables. I want the whole tribe to know that I have not shed my blood that they might insult me with impunity. I am very glad that you have found a girl for I have been very anxious for fear that you would overwork yourself and be sick.

By all means hire Miss Bittinger if you can then save yourself. I am quite sorry to hear of your pigs dying. Pap thinks that the horses and cattle look very well. I would like to see that sorrel colt I expect he is a nice one. I was disappointed in not finding your likeness in your letter I would like much to see it.

That ham was a shoulder and no mistake. I told our cook that there was a ham in the bag but couldn't see it in that light, did you put pickle on your pork that piece did not have salt enough to keep it. My tobacco has not yet come. My love to all. Kiss the wee ones for me. Anna's picture (his first child) is much comfort to me. Write soon. Ever yours

John N. Boyer

Dear Anna

I am back in camp with the Company again. I have been here now for five days. The weather has been very cold up to yesterday when we had a whole day's rain, this morning is cold and cloudy. We have pretty good quarters good enough at least to keep warm and dry within. Our new Camp is about three miles in advance of the old one. I received your letter containing the two dollars you sent me also your photograph. I do not think it a very correct picture unless you have become much fleshier than you were when I left home yet notwithstanding its faults I was very glad to get it because it is your picture.

My health is about as usual except a pretty severe turn of diarrhoea and of that I am better now. Capt. Adams is quite unwell of the same disease. The health of the Company is generally good. We have lost three men by disease in the last three weeks, viz. Charles M. Felix, Saml A. Bigham and George W. Stouffer. They all died in the Hospt. I see by the Star paper that the quota of Butler Township under the coming draft is pretty heavy. Have any of the Shank boys got subs. They will be in an awful way if they have to stand it. Bill Thomas will be in an awful sweat about his chances to draw a prize (in) in Uncle Sam's Lottery. I hope they will all take it kindly now as the Peace Croaking and draft fearing community up North have so long been prating about. My opinion has always been that lasting and honorable peace could be obtained only by fire and sword and as yet I can see no reason to change that opinion. I am glad to hear that there is some chance for you to get a good girl do not let the chance slip even if you should have to pay a dollar and a half or even more that that per week.

Hudson has gone home on furlough his time will be up on the first day of March. I do not know that I will get home this winter. I had a letter from Wm. Wible a day or two ago. He talks of coming down. I do not think he can get to see us unless he gets a pass from the President allowing him to go anywhere with the Union lines. Give my respects to all inquiring friends. Kiss the little ones and answer soon.

With much love, I am as ever, Your Husband,

Jno. N. Boyer

Dear Anna

Your kind letter in answer to mine came to hand this morning. I am sorry to (hear) of the illness of our little one and still hope for the best. But if his Creator in his wisdom sees fit to take him from us we must bow to His will. Although our children are very dear to us if he calls them to himself it would be very hard to lose our Willie (William, their 2nd child, didn't die - his decendants today own and operate the "Boyer Orchards and Nursery" of Adam's county) but we could have this consolation that our loss is gain to the dear ones that God may take from us. I am in better health than I have been for some time. We have again put up Winter Quarters and are living quite comfortably. I have not yet received any letter that you sent to the Hospital but I will no doubt get it. You need not send me any more money as the Paymaster is coming this week. I sent up my resignation this morning, but I am not sure that it will go through. Even if it does go through all right I may not get home before the middle of March. You need not write again until you hear from me unless our little one should be no better. I am very sorry that I said anything that wounded your feelings. I certainly did not think that you would allow treason to be talked in my house, but you know how they treated me when I was at home. And something that I had just heard made me particularly sore. You must forgive me. You know that if there is one thing upon which I am more techy than upon another it is the cause in which I have spilled my blood. And although I should be very glad to get home yet I would feel much better satisfied if I were well enough to be with the Dear brave fellows who came out with me unto the glorious end that seems to be fast approaching. We have the news of the fall of Charleston. We had such cheering as only soldiers can do last night for thirty miles along our lines, one continuous cheer. If Willie is no better write to me immediately. My love to all. Kiss the little children for me.

Ever your loving Husband,

Jno. N. Boyer

Sir:

You are hereby notified that your claim for pension No. (58916) has been allowed at $ (8.50) per month commencing (2nd March) , 186(5), payable at the Pension Agency in (Philadelphia). Your pension certificate has been issued and sent to (Robt. S. McILheney) Esq., your appointed attorney, residing in (Gettysburg, Pa.)

Respectfully, yours,

(Joseph H. Barnett)

Commissioner.

To

(John N. Boyer)

(Gettysburg Adams Co. Pa.)