The Civil War Letters of Joseph and Mary Carter of Bear Lake PA 1861-1865

Book excerpt: Joseph Carter of Bear Lake PA was 34 years old when he was drafted into the Union Army in 1863, serving until the end of the Civil War. He was married to Mary Ellen Howles in 1854. They had a successful 90 acre farm and five children in the Village of Bear Lake in northwestern Pennsylvania. Joseph was an older soldier by any measurement. He was not rich, famous, commissioned or privileged so his writing is that of a simple gentleman. He served as an infantryman with the 82nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment throughout the war seeing many skirmishes and battles. We are fortunate to have the exchange of letters between Joseph and Mary. As paper was very scarce in army camps, Joseph would write on the back of Mary’s letters and send them back to her. Joseph was a foot soldier thought out his enlistment. He endured the boredom of soldiering, periodic carnage of battle and incarceration in Libby Prison as a Prisoner of War. Mary and the children stayed at the farm and kept it running while awaiting his return. The letters they exchanged showed how they tried to keep each other’s spirits up while they were apart. Mary kept Joseph apprised of the happening with the family, the farm, and the village. Joseph in turn wrote Mary of his travels, battles, and army camp life. Joseph nearly died during his imprisonment at Libby Prison in Richmond VA in January-February 1865. He was so emaciated after he was released from the Army hospital at Camp Parole on furlough home that no one recognized him. It was said that you could see candle light through his hands. He returned to the army in June 1865 and served till the 82nd was mustered out in July 1865. After the war, he returned to his wife Mary and the farm at Bear Lake. They had seven more children. At age 46, in 1876 he applied for a veteran’s pension due to health issues from Libby Prison. He died at age 50 on 7 July 1889.