Letters of David and Mary Jane Demus, 1863-1865

• Jacob Christy to Mary Jane Demus, May [?], 1863

  Christy writes to his sister soon after enlisting in the 54th Massachusetts. He comments on the challenges of learning about military discipline.

• David Demus to [unknown], May 8, [1863?]

  Demus writes about the cold weather and about seeing other men from Mercersburg.

• Samuel Christy to Mary Jane Demus, May 9, 1863

  Christy writes that he expects to be in North Carolina soon. He also promises to send money home.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, June 18, [1863?]

  Demus writes about capturing and burning the town of Darien, Georgia. He estimates that the federal troops seized at least a million dollars worth of livestock and other goods.

• Samuel Christy to Mary Jane Demus, June 19, 1863

  Christy describes seizing food and farm animals before burning down a town near St. Simon's Island, Georgia.

• David Demus to [unknown], July 26, 1863

  Demus is upset that he has not received a letter in six weeks and says he wants to send 35 dollars. He also reports that he was wounded in the battle at Fort Wagner and is now in the hospital.

• William Christy to Mary Jane Demus, August 2, 1863

  Christy reports on the men wounded during the attack on Fort Wagner, including Demus' husband, David.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, August 18, 1863

  Demus expresses gratitude at having received a letter from his wife and asks that she send him a picture of herself.

• David Demus to Elizabeth Christy, September 4, 1863

  Demus is grateful for having survived a recent battle.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, September 11, 1863

  Demus assures his wife that he is not in any danger and promises to send her some money as soon as he can.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, October 7, 1863

  Demus writes that he heard about the presence of Confederate troops in Pennsylvania the previous summer and says he is not afraid of the rebels.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, October 17, 1863

  Demus writes to his wife about the wound in his head.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, October 22, [1863?]

  Demus tells about the food he is eating in South Carolina and asks about the animals at home.

• William Christy to Mary Jane Demus, 0ctober 24, 1863

  Christy inquires about the garden at home and predicts that he will not return home anytime soon.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, November 8, 1863

  Demus writes that he does not like hearing that his wife is working in a field husking corn. He suggests that he might come home soon--as soon as he is paid the $90 owed to him.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, November 10, 1863

  Demus apologizes to his wife for scolding her in a recent letter. He also mentions that he expects to return home soon.

• John Christy to Mary Jane Demus, November 19, [1863?]

  Christy writes to his relative, David Demus, with news from home, including the births of children and the difficulties plowing land.

• Jacob Christy to Mary Jane Demus, November 24, 1863

  Christy writes about his disappointment at not being paid, his desire to return home, and his frustration with the South Carolina weather.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, November 25, 1863

  Demus describes the games played by soldiers in camp on Thanksgiving Day.

• David Demus to Jacob Christy, December 24, 1863

  Demus reports that his head wound is getting better and says he is sorry that Jacob had to sell his sheep.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, December [?], 1863

  Demus provides his wife with details on the shooting of a deserter in camp.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, January 9, [1864?]

  Demus says he hopes to come home soon and have a doctor put a piece a silver in his wounded head.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, January 16, 1864

  Demus talks about the possibility of receiving a furlough and says he expects to be paid soon.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, February 4, 1864

  Demus expresses concern that his wife has not written recently and reports that he may receive a furlough soon.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, February 4, 1864

  Demus writes that he expects to receive a furlough soon. He also mentions that he is about to participate in a "big" fight.

• Mary Jane Demus to David Demus, February 23, 1864

  Mary Jane Demus inquires about her husband's health and tells him that she is temporarily working at Mr. Patterson's.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, February 24, 1864

  Demus describes a recent battle in Florida where a number of men in his regiment were killed, including his brother-in-law, William Christy.

• Jacob Christy to Mary Jane Demus, March 2, 1864

  Christy reports on friends and family killed in a recent battle. He also mentions that Demus' husband, David, wants to send her two oranges.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, March 4, 1864

  Demus describes the fatal wounding of one of his wife's relatives in a recent battle. He also mentions that he is currently away from his regiment and "waiting on" an officer.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, March 5, 1864

  Demus reports that his head wound has not yet healed.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, March 8, 1864

  Demus reports to his wife that he arrived in Charleston and immediately caught a cold. He also tells about seeing some of their friends from home.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, March 24, 1864

  Demus reports on the death of a relative in battle and expresses concern that his wife is having to work so hard at home.

• Samuel Christy to Mary Jane Demus, April 4, 1864

  Christy writes to his sister with an update on the various illnesses and wounds received by their friends during a battle at Olustee, Florida, in February 1864.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, April 18, 1864

  Demus describes his regiment's movement from Jacksonville, Florida, to Morris Island, South Carolina. He also urges his wife to stop working as soon as he can send her his army pay.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, May 13, 1864

  Demus writes his wife that he is unsure of when he will return home again. He also reports that he has been detailed to butcher cattle for his regiment.

• Jacob Christy to Mary Jane Demus, May 13, 1864

  Christy talks about the Confederate torpedos that blew up a Union ship recently. He also expresses frustration at not having been paid and says he and other soldiers in the 54th MA will continue to fight for the same rights that white people have.

• Samuel Christy to Mary Jane Demus, May 14, 1864

  Christy reports on friends who have been killed or wounded. He also asks about whether a railroad is being built between Greencastle and Mercersburg.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, May 20, 1864

  Demus talks about missing his wife after not seeing her for one full year. He also relays the assurances he has received from his colonel that a furlough, as well as his pay, will be forthcoming.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, June 4, 1864

  Demus tells his wife not to be scared when she receives his latest picture in the mail and promises to improve his appearance soon. He also says he is glad to hear that his wife has become fat.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, June 15, 1864

  Demus comments on his head wound and reports that soldiers in the 54th and 55th Massachusetts may not receive all the pay to which they are entitled.

• Jacob Christy to Mary Jane Demus, July 2, 1864

  Christy updates his sister on the welfare of her brothers and her husband. He also expresses frustration that his regiment has not been paid, especially given how hard he and his comrades have fought.

• Samuel Christy to Family, July 10, 1864

  Christy asks how the family is doing and says that there is talk of being allowed to return home soon.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, July 27, 1864

  Demus is glad to hear his family survived the Confederate raid in Chambersburg. He also writes about working in a store.

• Jacob Christy to Mary Jane Demus, August 10, 1864

  Christy is glad that his sister and family did not incur any harm or damage during the Confederate raid of Chambersburg. He expresses frustration that the Union soldiers in and around the city were not able to stop the Confederate forces and suggests that his company easily could have prevented the raid. Christy also comments on the treatment of black prisoners of war and on the unequal pay of African-American soldiers.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, August 24, 1864

  Demus thanks his wife for her letter and reports that he is getting plenty to wear and to eat now that he is working as a clerk.

• Samuel Christy to Mary Jane Demus, September 9, 1864

  Christy offers updates on how the men from home are doing in the army and mentions that he is still waiting to be paid.

• John Christy to Mary Jane Demus, October 10, 1864

  Christy describes recent fighting near Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia. He also mentions that his regiment's conduct earned the praise of officers.

• Jacob Watson to Hezekiah Watson, October 11, 1864

  Watson writes to his brother about sending money to an "old man" with David Demus.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, October 12, 1864

  Demus is concerned that he has not received a letter from his wife in awhile and wants to know why she has not written.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, November 28, 1864

  Demus comments on the value of his wife's letters and informs her that he has arrived in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, December 2, 1864

  Demus talks about his responsibilities working in a store. He also mentions how hard it was to leave his wife after a recent visit home.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, December 7, 1864

  Demus talks about his desire to return home again and mentions seeing one of Mary Jane Demus's relatives.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, January 17, 1865

  Demus writes to his wife about exchanging family pictures.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, January 24, 1865

  Demus talks about how much he misses his wife and how hard it was to leave her the last time.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, January 24, 1865

  Demus writes that if it wasn't for the black troops fighting for the Union, the war might last another ten years. He also says he feels lucky to have remained safe in the war.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, February 1, 1865

  Demus talks about the difficulties of sending mail home.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, February 8, 1865

  Demus talks about the difficulties he has encountered in getting paid.

• Samuel Christy to Mary Jane Demus, March 14, 1865

  Christy reports that his regiment is in good health and describes the peach trees around them in Savannah.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, March 21,[1865?]

  Demus remarks on the pleasure he receives from reading his wife's letters.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, April 5, 1865

  Demus comments on the value of receiving letters and mentions his company's recent movement through Charleston, South Carolina.

• Joseph Christy to Mary Jane Demus, April 27, 1865

  Christy talks about killing Confederates, burning houses, and transporting slaves to freedom in the final days of the war.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, April 28, 1865

  Demus expresses disappointment that a letter from his wife was not waiting for him after he returned from a recent expedition through South Carolina.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, May 4, 1865

  Demus tells his wife that he expects to leave camp around June 1 and return home soon thereafter.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, May 8, 1865

  Demus talks about plans to buy a house once he returns home from the war. He also complains about a lack of food.

• Jacob Christy to Mary Jane Demus, May 29, 1865

  Christy describes his interactions with former Confederates while in Charleston, South Carolina.

• Mary Jane Demus to David Demus, March 15, [?]

  Mary Jane Demus asks her husband for an update on the health of her brothers and asks whether it was true, as she saw in the newspaper, that a Demus died in a recent battle.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, August 18, [?]

  Demus is pleased to report that he is now the chief commissary clerk.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, October 15, [?]

  Demus expresses disappointment that Mary Jane has not written recently and urges her to write again.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, November 28, [?]

  Demus writes that he hopes to be home soon and will bring money with him.

• Mary Jane Demus to David Demus, December 6, [?]

  Mary Jane Demus writes to her husband with an update from home, including her thoughts on working for Mr. Patterson and a mention of a meeting of black people in Franklin County.

• Jacob Christy to Mary Jane Demus, [no date]

  Christy writes to his sister about sending him a picture of herself.

• David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, [no date]

  Demus writes about how much he appreciates his wife's letters and how he wants to be with her again.