[1]
amen. amen. amen.


Camp Cammeron Meridian Hill
Head Quaters 19th Regt.
Tuesday. Sept. 3. 1861
My Dear Sister
I have not received
a letter from home since I have
been here. it is my fault though
I suppose im not telling you the right
way to direct a letter there are Regt[s?]
here from Maine and Minesota and
your letters were as likely to go to them
as to the Mass Regt.s Dave was
here to day. he has sold one of the majors
horses and is trying to sell the other.
he will be at home in a week or so.
when you get this please write again to me
as your other if you have sent one and may go to
some other Regt let me know about
[page 2]
the money that you are to draw
for Jake and me. how much a
month and from whom and how
often you are to draw it and let
me know if you have got the clothes
we sent home from Lynnfield
one hat two pair of pants and two
Jackets tell Betsey Draper when
you see her that when we have a battle
I will send her some rebel officers
head to make brushes of the hair.
you need not tell her who has her
likeness. but if I get killed some
rebel soldier may walk off with it.
fireing was distinctly heard yesterday
morning in the direction of
Munsons Hill there is some
skirmishing between our pickets
[page 3]
and theirs about every night. it is
about. 10 miles from here. we can
plainly see their camp and with a
glass can see their dirty flag. there
is not a man in the Regt but that
would like to march tomorrow to
haul the miserable thing down you
may think that I am counting on hav –
ing a good time and come of without
being hurt when we have a battle but
at a time like this when we may
have orders at any moment to march
to meet the enemy. I can call God to
witness that (as far as this life is
concerned) I am ready to meet
death at any time in the defence
of the flag that represents and
always will represent not less
[page 4]
than thirty two United States.
tell mother that if she never sees
us agian if we fall in battle she
will have the consolation of
knowing that we died doing
our duty but I must not write
any more of that kind else you
may think we are getting low spirited
but as life is uncertain I wish you
to be prepared to hear of the death
of one or both of us at any time although
I dont mean to die right of yet some
of them rebles had as leive shoot
a fellow as not. bout good bye
now write when you get [this?]
and hereafter direct your letter
to.
Lyman Blackington
Washington
D.C.
Co. F. 19th Regt Mass. Vol