Item: Charles Paige letter from Camp Franklin – Dubuque – August 31, 1862
L.J.T.P.  Number: 200.014  (and 200.014.01)
Medium: 10 1/2  X  8 Paper
Creator: Charles Paige
Date: August 31, 1862
Place: Camp Franklin, Dubuque, Iowa
Period: Civil War America  1860 – 1865
Keywords: Charles Paige, Strawberry Point, Camp Franklin, 21st Iowa Infantry
Citation: Paige, Charles. Charles Paige letter from Camp Franklin – Dubuque – August 31, 1862. 1862. Dubuque.  Library of John T. Pregler, Dubuque.

(Source: Library of John T. Pregler)


Text of Letter [sic]

Camp Franklin   Dubuque, Iowa

Aug 31st 1862

Dear Father & Mother

I received yours yesterday & as I have a few lesure moments I will try to answer. My enlisting was quite unexpected to myself as to my friends.  The time for enlisting was so short that I had to go in at the time I did or lose the bounty & then perhaps be drafted & I never would go as a drafted soldier.  My health is not as good as it should be for a soldier but I can go & stand it as long as I can & I cant more than die & if I should die I shall be released from all further labor sorrow or sickness or trouble & don’t doubt but that my Heavenly Father who drafts all things well, will take good care of me, although I don’t pray in public as much as I used to, & make as much a do about religion as some. Yet  I recollect that all I have comes from God & I admire & respect him above all things else & feel that he wont permit me to be killed or die without it is best & when he calls for me I have no right to be unwilling to go for I belong to him & he can do as he sees fit with me.  Thank you kindly for your prayers & well wishes for we all need the sympathies of each other.  It seems that you are recruiting the light infantry some at home.  That’s the way to do it for we are going to want soldiers for some time yet.  Charlie Reed, aunt Pamelia’s boy is in Dubuque & will soon be here in camp.  He enlisted in one of the Clayton Co Companies.  I had a letter from Wm last night. His family was well. I saw Orville the night before I came away.  They were all well.  You can direct your letters to camp Franklin 21st Regiment Iowa Volunteers Dubuque Iowa.  I am glad to hear that you have so much fruit & that you are all well.  You can send me those likenesses just  as well as if I was at Strawberry Point, but I must stay.  Give my love to all the friends & believe me your affectionate son

Charles H Paige


Reverse Side

I can not write very well as I have to write with a board on my lap as we have no tables to write on