0541----1863 Millersville Normal School letter - Lancaster PA soldiers parade

Description

0541----1863 Millersville Normal School letter - Lancaster PA soldiers parade
0541----1863 Millersville Normal School letter - Lancaster PA soldiers parade
Description
Tremendous 1863 letter from a student at Millersville State Normal School, Millersville PA
to a friend John Lepley in Wellersburg, Somerset County PA.
Signed only as "HGW" we later determined the letter writer was Herman G. Weimer,
later a schoolteacher and principal.
Weimer writes of his current experiences in school, reminisces of his friends growing up in Somerset County,
the new Literary Society he has joined at Millersville, and gives great details of the
welcome home parade in Lancaster PA for the "Nine Months Soldiers"
the 122nd Pennsylvania Volunteers.
This was a huge event in Lancaster!!
I have included parts of a very large article for your review about the parade.
Very well written 6 page letter which includes the original cover.
Very nice "Normal Literary Society" letterhead.
Although the year is not written in the dateline, I was able to confirm from researching the 122nd PA Volunteers,
the letter was written in 1863.
Also, Weimer mentions the death of "Stoneface" Jackson which did occur in May of 1863.
The letter is in VG condition.  Only some minor discoloration and wear.
Some separation at the natural folds.
I have transcribed the entire letter below and was able to decipher about 99%.
PLEASE CLICK ON ALL THE IMAGES BELOW FOR SUPER SIZED VIEWING
Please review all of the various news clippings I discovered while researching.
This should give some background while reading the letter.
These are not included with the sale of the letter, but the buyer is welcome to print them.
Millersville May 18th
Friend Shepley
Doubtless you can imagine how much refreshed I felt after I had pondered
over your highly and interesting letter, nothing affords greater pleasure to my
mind than to have good news from good friends. The new era of which you
speak is of an old formation and did not ?? at the time specified by you. No
your name has always been in my remembrance and if I mistake not I had written
the last letter although I may be mistaken. However it does not matter and
you can rely that old friends and all old times are not all forgotten. No it often
makes me feel sad when I think of by gone times little did I imagine three years
ago while in Pleasant Union that things would
(Page 2)
come to pass as they did. The band of merry young lads or men who used to
assemble at Mr Boyers are now all scattered one seeking his fortune in the distant
west, another standing before the mouth of the cannon in defence of his imperiled
country another attending to the domestic life of home events. I have to pause for a
moment while sitting all alone in my studying room sad indeed. All appears imagination.
Well John, I scarcely know what to write for my mind is considerably exaggerated.
I have been writing all day it is now 4 oclock. I wrote a composition which I am to read
in class on next Saturday, Subject Patriotism. I wrote three sheets of foolscap. I think
that should answer don't you think so. I have to study very hard. I was promoted from
the E to the D divisions which still makes me
(Page 3)
study harder, some think they have to study hard when they attend the Somerset Normal,
but that is merely an outside show in comparison to the way we have to study here.
My sleeping hours are limited to five hours per night. A person is compelled to study
and there is no possible chance to dodge a recitation unless sick and everything goes by
clockwork. There are two grand Literary Societies connected with the school. I am
a member of the Normal Society and am to deliver an oration in two weeks. I have selected
for my subject Napoleon. I was at society last night and I can tell you it was grand the
question for discussion was should the United States procure or maintain a large and
powerful navy. The decision was given in favor of the negative. Oh I wish you would have
been there to hear them read the Normal review.
(Page 4)
a paper connected with the society. I can tell you it was exceedingly good it contained
quite a number of funny pieces also splendid music both vocal and instrumental. I was in
the city of Lancaster yesterday and I do not think that I ever witnessed such a scene before
the city was crowded with people from one end to the other. The nine months soldiers
returned well they had a general jubilee. I imagined myself in a new world, how can a
person refrain from so doing to compare this place with Somerset County. A person can
scarcely believe what a vast difference there is in regards almost to everything. The war
excitement has been very great for sometime. It has somewhat abated now again.
(Page 5)
The report is that Stone Fence Jackson is dead and I suppose it is reliable good many
reports but I do not think that they are all correct. You say that you suppose that I have
a chat with the Millersville ladies. Let me tell you I do not care much about them of
course I like to be in their society from the fact that I consider that natural. The ladies
are plenty and some of them right good looking but I have not much time left to attend
to them though some of them are very sociable. You also asserted that you think that
I would like to hear from Bettie sometimes certainly I would why not though reluctantly.
I had not heard from her until I received
(Page 6)
your letter, I wrote to her some six weeks ago but unfortunately I have not yet received
an answer so I presume she has forgotten H.G. I ask you as a friend in whom I may
confide to let me know all about her who waits on her. If you should happen to see her
ask her why she did not answer my letter. I think I will have to come to a close for we
expect to have a grand time at the school house in about one hour from now there are
about five hundred soldiers coming we are going to cheer them like sixty.
Give my respects to Chauncy Boyer, Sol + George Reiber and all others inquiring.
Do write soon and give me all the particulars yes write much and if it is about the girls.
Very respectfully your friend H.G.W.
excuse bad writing
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