Civil War Private PA 8th Tanfield Writes Of Colonel, Clerk Taken Prisoner For Sale

The PA 8th Infantry was organized at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, on April 23, 1861. They performed duty at Chambersburg until June 7. The 8th was attached to Williams’ 3rd Brigade, Cadwalader’s 1st Division and Patterson’s Army. They moved to Greencastle on June 7 and went on guard duty along the Potomac. They were ordered to join the Brigade at Martinsburg on July 6. They were mustered out on July 29, 1861. Col. A. H. Emly (often spelled Emly in some documents) was a key officer associated with the 8th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

JOHN A. TANFIELD of Moscow, PA. enlisted as a Private on April 23, 1861. He was mustered into B Co., PA 8th Infantry and mustered out on July 29th, 1861. 7 ¼ x 9 ½, 3 ¼ pp, Tanfield writes to his mother On Jue 28th, 1861, from Williamsport, Washington County, MD. Tanfield references his commanders as Caldwell and Williams.

Brigadier General George Cadwalader(1804–1879) was a prominent Pennsylvania officer who served as a Major General of Pennsylvania Volunteers early in the Civil War, commanding a brigade or division in the Department of Pennsylvania. He was notable for his earlier success in the Mexican-American War and was involved in securing Baltimore in May 1861, often working with or alongside forces commanded by officers like Alpheus S. Williams during the initial 1861 campaign.

“...You hear a great many things about the 8th regiment that is not so. We have not been troubled yet in any way. We have not been on the other side of the Potomac yet and don’t expect to...Col. [Samuel] Bowman and Chase, his clerk, thought they would take a ride into Virginia when they had gone about a mile, the rebel picket guard took them prisoners of war. They are in Richmond and they are treated well. They are at liberty to go where they please in the camp or city but they have to report themselves to headquarters every six hours. Col. Emly got a letter from him yesterday which brought this news they sent to or three men with a flag of truce. They brought the letter to Emly and took a letter back with them with 100.50 dollars for Col. Bowman...They took a secessioner yesterday. He had a flag with him. It is the only flag I have seen of that kind. You want me to let you know brigade. It is third brigade and first division. General Cadwalader and Williams are the commanders of our brigade. You need not feel uneasy about me if the enemy gets up to me before I know it. They are smarter than I am. I can hear quick enough. I don’t have to stand guard as much as I did. I have not been on guard for more than two weeks...If we miss roll call twice, we are put on guard. I have never had to do any extra duty...I don’t know how they get guards enough to put on every day...If we don’t come home...you must not feel uneasy because we may not get discharged till the time is out...You need not be afraid of the enemy killing me. There is no danger. We practiced charging bayonets last night. Emly set a company on us and we charged at them...I believe that I could stand my ground. We have not had any trouble yet our horse men took forty of the rebel men’s horses...Tell father that I will settle with Ed Hodgson when I come back. Again the boys are all middling...I am getting fat...I don’t believe that (I) weighed more than 100/50 lbs. and that is light for me. That was just before we left for Chambersburg...

“Good bye from your loving son,

“John O (A) Tanfield”

Light staining. A few edge breaks reinforced with archival tape. Grammar and punctuation corrected for clarity in transcription.

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