[Letter] 1862 November 22, Loonesville [to] Mother / F. Rupert.

The letter is part of the Stuckey-Nunn collection of Civil War correspondence between Union soldiers (Joseph D. Richardson and Francis Rupert) and their families, as well as one letter from a Confederate soldier, William T. Bickham to his cousin; see additional letters from Francis Rupert in the collection.

Francis explains that he is writing by candlelight as he just came in from picket. He received his mother's letters along with paper and envelopes. He responds to her question about why Lloyd is out [home visiting?] and he isn't. He tells her that his horse gave out below Centreville and he had to walk nine miles to camp, then was sent to Loonesville for picket duty. He states that Lloyd cannot write because he has no paper, but please tell his folks not to be uneasy. He promises to send money as soon as they are paid off to help the family during the winter. He hasn't seen any of "our boys" and isn't sure why he's in "Hincelman's core." Rupert served with the 2nd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Cavalry, 59th Volunteers which saw action in Northern Virginia, assisted in the defenses of Washington, and was present at major battles of the war including Antietam, Gettysburg, and the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House. Rupert became a POW and died at Andersonville Prison in Georgia on June 26, 1864; the overcrowded conditions there led to the deaths of 13,000 from disease, malnutrition, and exposure.