Copy of Lieutenant P.S. Early Letters sent to America
December 1st 1890
Philadelphia
August 27th 1861
My dear Theresa
I write these lines hurridly [hurriedly?]
as I am waiting every moment to go
off as Lieut [Lieutenant?] in a mounted riffle [rifle?]
company we expect to leave from here to
be encamped at N.[New?] York at a place
called Yankey I sent some old clothes
on for Tom and Charles I am out of
place this last two month I did not
write when I had no money to send you
then I did not know my position I
had to get money from my brother to
purchase the uniform and I had to spend
all the money I saved myself recruting [recruiting?]
and getting up the company I did not
know what to do there is no work for any
person now and men must enlist but I can
resign when I please so dear Theresa dont
fret I will be with you as soon as I can
save some money but without money I
shall never go I wish to God I had stopped
in Tullyard as bad as we thought it for
I have seen plenty of the world since
but there is a good time coming surely
to God I will live to see you once more
If I had a five hundred dollars saved
I would go to Ireland and content
myself in the most humble life I
could get a living May God protect you
and my dear children till I can do more
for you I done the best (sic) I could and I
am still going to do better give my love
to all the family and tell Mother and
Anne J to pray for me as I expect to go
back to Ireland again when I will
be more happy than ever there is a
sweetness in the word home you can
write to my brother
I still remain your friend
Lieut [Lieutenant?] P.S. Early
(Transcribed by Tony Flanagan.)
