[*17395  Co H  Feb 20, 183
Spencer   7B  R Hode
Islap*]

Camp Parole
Annapolis, MD
Feb 20, 1863
I dont want to fight for a stinky
nigger anyway. I have been where they
are know something about them a 
greater part of them dont want to be
freed and they wont work without
they are obliged to. I consider myself as
good a nigger any day as long as I 
behave myself, I am not exchanged yet.
George A. Spencer

Mrs. Edward Spencer
Bristol,
R.I.
8-3-63

Sir 
Camp [Parole?] Annapolis Md.
Feb 20th 1863
Dear Father
                        I am well and 
hope these few lines will find 
you the same. I have just received 
A letter from Mother and she 
says you dont get any letters from 
me. I have written to you twice 
and have [n] had no answer
I dont believe my letters reach you
you need not worry about 
me while I stay here nor when
I go to my Rg't, either for when
they go into [the rank] A fight
[?] [?] my place in the ranks will
be filled with my absence.
I dont want to fight for A
stinking nigger any way.
I have been where they are

and know something about them A greater
part of them don't want to
be freed and they want work
without they are obliged to. I
consider myself as good A nigger
any day as long as I behave
myself. I am not exchanged
yet. all the boys in my tent
are making pipes out of laurel
wood I have got two that I made
and they are bully ones two I
would like to send you one
first rate. it prety warm here
to day warm as there in summer

I don't know of any thing
else to write so I will close by
saying good by
give my respects to the Mr. Dawley
from you son
G A Spencer

[*7B RHode
Island
vol*]

166.  SOLDIER'S LETTER, Camp Parole, Md., February 20th, 1863, 2 pages in cover 
with choice stamped cover included, to his father...mentions that he does not want 
to fight for a stinking nigger...a have been near them and know what I am talking 
about...thinks he is as good as any nigger...has not been exchanged as of yet and 
they are making pipes out of laurel wood, George A. Spencer........

Have a nigga wench to cook for us and 
do our washes.
LTR with envelope
B RI u.l.s.
D394 LTR Aug 3, 1863
Spencer 7 B Re u.l
nigger wench

2-20-63
Mrs. Edward Spencer
Bristol
R.I.

Geo. A Spencer.
Co. I 7th Reg't, R. I. Vol.

Drummondtown
V.a.


Drummondtown V.a.
Augt. 3d 1863

Dear Father
I am
well and hope these few lines
will find you the same I 
supose you know we left
Camp Parole and went to
Baltimore to help defend the 
city, we had been there about 
[two] two weeks, when, 25 of us
and A. Commisioned Officer
were sent here to [?]
this place. the Rebes here got
rather sassy when Lee was 
into .P.a. and undertook to 
cut the telegraph wire. and 
we were sent here to stop it
10 of us was left here and the 
others were sent to guard to

the cable that runs to fortress 
Monroe about 48 miles from 
here. James Gladding is with 
them. we draw flour instead 
of bread, and we have got A 
nigger Wench to cook for us 
and do our washing, we go 
out forraging once in A while 
and get Geese and chickens . 5 
of us went in A waggon night 
before last, but before we went 
we borrowed the Cavalry men's
revolvers and went about 6 
miles into the country to A 
secesh farm and began[t] to
get his gesse and chickens 
we all had one under our arm 
when bang, and Whiz come 
A bullet [?]  over our heads
we turned round and all fired
[?? at him] over his head six 
times a piece just as quick as we 

could pull the trigger, he picked 
up his ass and traveled you 
better believe and we took our
gesse and [us] come back to 
Camp the Captain said it 
was all right only we had 
aught to have shot the old 
devil fireing at us,
Drummondtown. A big name 
but A little place, 5 houses
6 barns A Jail and any 
quantity of hogs and fleas it 
is on the [Easton] eastern shore
of .Va. in Accomack County 
I dont know of any 
thing else to write at present 
so good bye give my respect 
to Mrs Dawley and Patt 
from   your
son

171.  SOLDIER'S LETTER, August 3rd, 1863, Drummondtown, Va., three pages in ink 
with a fine stamped cover...he relates that he went to Baltimore to defend the 
City, the Rebs got sassy as Lee was in Pennsylvania....cut the telegraph wire, 
guarding the wire that led into Fort Monroe, have a nigger wench to cook for us, 
[*and washing*] went into the countryside for geese and chickens, borrowed cavalry revolvers.  
we were fired upon and returned the fire, both cover and letter........

Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.