NOTE:  All letters presented here in the Notebook are just as they were written or sent to me.  I don't believe in "correcting" spelling or grammar.  I want the letters as pure as they were written. 


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The following letter was written by my husband's ggrandfather to his wife to be Tamar Worrall.  Levi and Tamar were married November 17, 1853 in Philadelphia, PA

Harford County Maryland
November 11 1852
Dear friend 
    I take this time and opertunity of writing to you to let you no how wee are geting along in hartford weell I left you place on munday morning last and got home and maid up afire and had a nap before enny of them got up got up and I felt just like a turtle shell a little hard and I doenot think that you felt muhch better this is Saturday night at about 8 o’clock and all of our people is in bed but the old man and he is fast aslep and all the compney I hav is my pen paper and candle and the night is as dark as the ace of spades and pretty wet to it remines mee of last Saturday night but the ours is longer I got home on wensday last and I have bin very busey sense geting ready fore the carpenture fore they are coming hear on munday next and I was at L Moors on last thursday night to see James and they wair all at singing school at Dublin and I went there there was a prety fair turn out of girls that little girl of Leads is over hear now on a visit and she was there it put mee in mind of old times Oh I wish you had of bin there altho I met with a sad disapointment my horse was road off and 4 more besids hur wee hunted our hourses all around Dublin and I found mine but no rider and I left  the rest hunting their horses and I went to Moors with James and staid all night and wee had a sing to our selves and went to tea  My Dear friend the ours is groing late and my eyes is groing dim but I hav something more to say yet

I remember the Dear girl when
far on the maryland side
All though I crost the watter
that is runing swift and wide
the land it is plenty and 
he girls they are not fiew
but in rememberance of
the above I bid them all adieu
remember mee dear girl oh do
the time that eye hav spent
I hav spent a meny silent hour 
that eye never can foregett

Tamar wee hav spent amenny along night together in that kitchen to gather along side of that ol stove and I wonder where that little chicken is that kept up a nois under the table many acold night I have laped myself up in my old bufflaw skin and pushed fore home I could not tell whether you loved mee eney or not I just thought that you went along with mee fore the sleighing ride I was affraid that when slaing was don that the fun was all over with mee but them days wair happy wones to mee I loved you at that time but I was afraid that their was none fore mee but my hopes has brightened cince then and eye love you still  I thought of the times that wee have bin togather at Senter Ville and  hapels and the nights was not very worm thoughts fore the I hav staid with you ameny a cold night when you wair unaquainted with my thoughts I was happey with you then and when I look back on the past I think to my self is there things to before got or not oh no the time that wee have spent to gather will never before got by wone that is cinceer and fond recolection drives my back to the  dweling place and to they happy home where my horse has stood fore menney along hour and looked fore my return the night that wee wair at old Mosesys it was cold enough to of frose enny thing but love so dead that it could never kick again but it never had anney affect on us our constituteans must be prety good or else wee would of bin laid in the cold and silent day I think some times that the great god the hight protecher of all has bin murcifull to thoes that are left that they may worn the rest of the time to some but wee must warn them before (slaying) times comes ore it well be sturnally to late although I think wee are weell enough fore to tak caire of our selves I doe not think that I will ever keep my horse out in the cold as mutch as I have done but I hope that the horses will fore give mee  Tamar you hay think mee very foolish fore wrighting in this way but I cannot help it but I hope that you will think over it before you decide against mee and my Dear frien I hope that you will consider weell what has pasted betwen us and I will not write the peticulars as wee doenot know whaire this letter may goe but study weell fore there is but one thing that can make mee happy you may think that I have bin in fun but I cincear well my dear I must mow bring by letter to aclose as my time all most out I doe exspect to be up in about three weeaks from the time I was up fore I hav a man that I must attend to about that time I must bid you fair well fore this time I have bin very well cince I saw you and I hope that thoes few lines will find you the same do rite soon this all at presant fairwell I send my love to you 

         from Levi McCormick to Tamar Worrall
Remember me I love thee still all though Iam away

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This letter was written to Levi McCormick's wife Tamar by her brother John W. Worrall

September 24th 1860

Dear sister I thought I would rite you few lines this evening  You said you would come up to the exibition if I would rite and let you now ther is to this year (Allice and Isaac was at one today,  Isaac and me expects to go to reading to morrow to a exibition ours will be on the 1th 2th and 3 of October  Allace is buisy in making things to take she is nitting this evening  she wants you and the children to come up on tuesdy and stay til saturday try and get father to come with you I would like to see him up here in here parts  Ther  has been a good bit of excitement about the war up her this (  ?  ) days  I expct to have to go yet ther will draft soon I would lik to see you  The Company that I belong for has gon to Harisburg  I get to thinking about it some times and I think I will go I will have to go any how sooner or latter  we have bee cutting corn and I feil tired to night so you must excuse me from writing a long letter  it is amusing to see the wome how they will watch there boys to try to keep them from going one wome the other day had to sons satrted to go to the war one of them got one the car to go and she pulled him of and his girl was glad she maid him stay the other one walke 7 miles to get on the car she went on the car till he got on and she fetched him home to  that is all at heard be shoor and com up

Your Brother
John W Worrall
to Tamor Mcormick
my love to all

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This letter was written by my husband's GrGrandfather Nathaniel Walter Sharpless to his wife Maria.  Their daughter Lydia, would eventually marry Levi and Tamar McCormick's son Joseph.

Suffolk   Sept 11 1862
My Dear whife  I reseved they letter last evening which was of grate pleasure to mee  the may do pend for I woush I could half our everry day But as I half bin out on picket and lost so sleep I could not rite last nite but I am riting to nite My Dear wife this is the hardest plase I ever wos  we can’t git near anuf to eat and it is the hard kind of work I expect there will be a fight soon there was about  7 thousand went out to the black watter to day and we whare all coled up and got 40 rounds of catriges  we may be coled out to nite  I think it verry quear and hard the way they act up at the house but I hope the almighy  will se you card for till I git back  I thnk it verry kind in Thomas Hood to com and help you bucher  I will rite him a letter soon fear (ri) the sed  Hoods came over in they slay it dont seam like winter down hear if they (  ?  )  her so quear at they hous I would like John to git safe and bin to come up and move her and the childern down thare be sure and git Lydia home  My dear wife bit I would love to se you  tel eva I am afrade I cant git home on Krismes please rite soon and tel me wether you half anuf to eat or not for I dont git half anuf   we are fusin everry day about the ratin  My I woush I was home I half no pease hear for thinking about you  I hope the Lord will se us threw this triel  It is about 8 oclock now and hour lutenent jest cam in to hour tent and told us that we are to be redy at aminets notes  I may be in battel before morning and I may never be I hope I may ever be but I dont feel frittenned  I will half to quit riting as the frums are beting for role call and if I ant thare I will be put on dubel duty please rite soon and tel me everry thing and I will do the same  I will rite soon as this batle is over  No more to nite
 
from they ever loving husband
I send you all a sweet kiss
                N W Sharpless

I am so sorrey that they do act so quear with her I cant tel why but if she would rather moove to Johns why I am sadesfide I hope you will git a nice day to move but rite soon and tel me more about it and tel me how you got along with the butchern and all giv my respect to all inquiring friend and farwell dear wife  your loving husband
            N Walter Sharples

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This letter is from John W. Worral, (Levi's brother-in-law) to his father, Joseph Worrall

December 2th 1862

Dear father I received you letter this morning I am sorry you are so lonsom I think I will be with you in the spring I would not like to hear of you leaving till I could once see you on the old place I will take it if I should live to get ther it will not be long not till my time is up it will be up the 11 Day of may next if you can make out till them I will love to come back again to you but do what you think best for your one comfort you have tride to keep me in the right path and I thank god that I haf a father to direct me this far in the world I love you more than any other living person on earth how often I think of you when I lay down at night so far from home I am in good quarters now better than if I was with my ridgment we are well fed and clothes good Dear father think not hard of me I will try and do the best I can and if I should not meat you on this earth I hope to meat you in the next I hope that I may meat Samuel in my travels I have not got any letters from you this long time I heard from ( ? ) being at arlington highths there is ( ? ) men there from the first Del rigment from Stanton one of them from Wilmington and there is others that I do not now I am well now and feel as well as ever I did I woush this war was over so we could come home there is one man in this tent shot through the head he cannot se at all and will not see I think all wounded in my care give my love to all and think not hard of me and I will try and do the best that I can I would lik to hear from you as often as you can rite to me I am Down Spirited some times but I shake it of give my love to all

your ever atacked Son

John W Worral

Direct you letter to Camp A Near

Frederick City M D

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This is from Levi to his wife Tamar 6 January 1863.

Dixey January 6th 1863

4th Del Vol 2 Dev 3 Breg 5 Corps

Dear wife this is friday morning I received the box last evening & the things all come safe & we hav had some of the scraple for brekfas & we are going to have turkey for diner to day this is the first box that has come for our Compney but their is a number of boxes on the road J. S. Mote is looking for one the weather has bin very stormy hear it snowes & rains when ever it get ready but the snow dont stay very long & it makes it disagreable we are all wel hear & I hope this will find you enjoying the same blesing their has bin a good menny of the men sick Since we come off the raid but they are geting beter W. Mott & C, Yong has gon to the Hospitel their is nothing new hear we have bin hanging some men for Desirtion they went to the rebes but our men cought them a gain & they had to Sufer Death we had to go & see one hung last friday 2 weaks it is a serious thing to witness but I could not Pity him I thought to my self while he stood on the Scafold that he had bin a traitor to god & his country & our men could not pity him it took him about 20 minutes to die he was dresed in rebel cloathing he had them on when he was taken by our men Col A. H. Grimshaw has resined & he is now at home but I cant blame him for I dont think that he was treated right but ( ? ) he was some to blame but he is my man yet he is at home but his hart is with us he come round & bid us good by in the morning before it was daylight he was sorry to leave us but he is to mutch of a gentleman to be tramped on it dont look wel in him to leave us but he wanted his rights so I dont blame him he is a Soldier friend he has alway tried to save his men but we will try and take cair of our selves if we live to get through Safe I think we wll be beneyfited by it we can tel what liberty is worth every child should be taught to stand up for this goverment & the rights of the people I hear that Mansfield More is dead & buried he was hear when the 6 Corps come over hear from the valey the cars turn off the track & he jumped off & broak his leg & it was take of Samuel is wel & he sais to tel West that he has not got a letter from him since he wrote to him & he wants him to write if you have not got our letters it is in falt of the mail for we write once aweak but I hav not got but one letter since I came off the raid until last night & it was in the box I got the one that had the post stamps in we are ver mutch obliged for the box I will stop by sending my love to you all from you loving

I have the sosage bage hung over my gun in our house
our house is smal but it is warm & we have plenty of wood

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This is written home by Levi's son's father-in-law to be.

Camp Newburn North Carlina January 3 1863

My dear wife I reseved they 2 last letters and had not tim to rite to the before we left camp Suffolk now I rite to the from north carolina we started on foot sunday morning from suffolk and marched all day sunday till 10 oclock on sunday nite then we lade over along the rode till morning the we started agin and traveled all day till evening win we reached gaitsvill a real hot sickon cuntry we went on about 3 miles farther then we lade over agin till morning then we started agin and marched till nite win we reached sumsuch landing on the chowan river thin we saled 60 miles to Albamarl sound then 60 miles to Pamlico Sound..(bottom of page is torn off)

thare was now rebels I expect she has moved to Johns I was thinking about you the day before new years the day she sed you ware going to move I was setting on the boat in albamarl sound I hope she will enjoy it thare till I com back 3 munths will soon be up now and 6 more will soon role round and then I will be home to se you all agin then we will half a nice time for darn my buttons if anney rebel can kill me win I left home wade 140 now I way 160 I half ganed 20 lb I dont now how it coomes for we dont git near nuf to eat there was 3 of us lived on 3 crackers one day and a nite I must tel you about some new relation I half found in camp suffolk.(torn off) is William Sharpless.(torn off) Now my dear wife you dont now how bad I want to se you if I was home I could tel you a menney a thing that I cant rite for I ant got pahence to rite so much I never saw so menney negars in my life as thare is hear som almost wite now I will quit riting for this time dirrect her letter in this way

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January 12th 1863

4th Del Vol 3 Breg 2 Dev 5 Corps

Dear wife this is Sunday afternoon I received your letter this morning & I glad to hear from home we are all wel we left our old camp last Sunday morn and maid a quick march up to 9 oclock whear we met the rebs in their brest works at Hatches run but it is as big at Whitley Creek and we soon drove them Capturin about 30 rebes we had Severel wonded Majjor D. Kent commanded our Regment he was wonded before we could cross the water their was 2 men drowned in try to cross it was a very bad place to take but after the ball opened we dont caire and in we went and on munday we got in two a reglar fill-old fight-but we drove them with a serious loss we lost 8 men in all kiled and wonded there was two shot close by me and George Wolaston they boath are dead one of them name if Hanley & leave a wife in Wilmington we have fel back hear to rest & draw cloathing we have advanced our line about 7 miles & hold our lines we worked 2 days & 1 night all night the weather is cold here it rained on us 1 day & 1 night & froze as it fell we are hear in the woods to day some of the boys are shooting wild turkes and some are shoot dear the have shot one dear and one pig and they got 1 turkey our fires smoak so bad that we can hardly see Henry Spenser is wonded in the side but I have not sean him but they say that he will get wel Thomas Yong is wonded & taken prisoner it was a hard fight but it did not last long we took 1 fort & 4 guns an 5 hundred prisoners they hav no over coats and they liv on cornmeal ground cob and all we sean them with it so we can believe it we are all wel & in good hart and if we live out of doors the rebs will hav to pay for it when we find them we are thankful that we are granted the privlige of writing to day while many are laid low in the bowels of the earth no more from your loving Husband Levi McCormick I send my love to you all remember me to my Dear little children

good by

you can send me the tobaco by mail if you please

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Feb 11th 1863

Camp A

Dear Sister

I received your letter on monday last and I now will endevor to reply to you I am as well as common and hope that you keep harty althu you have some of the trouble of this world I received a letter from father the same time that I got yous he seams to have a good bit of trouble yet he is worring his life out why I not take the world easer than he does troubling does not make it better Lizzy rote me a long lette She is beginning to count the time when I get home that is not right there may something happen yet that I will never see you again We have had a very mild winter so far thou we may seent rough enough yet it is raining here now and the ground is very mudy whare there is so nutch walking about it tramps up the ground if I was Samuel I would not rite to a girl that showed all my letter to other people She does not think mutch of him or she would not do it, it is not mutch of a place for women about these hospitles there is some women here but they are the lowest kind of women they wash for the hospitle there is one of the Dr wifes here but they live better than the rest of us they have a tent fixed up for to sout themselves I am sorry that Levi and Samuel has such a set of officers as they have any man that gets drunk are not fit for officers tell father that I have not got but three papers he does not give the right directions it is Camp A Near Frederick City he has it general Hospitle Frederick it goes to frederick and does not come out to me this camp is about 2 miles from the citty when you rite again tell me all the news and do not everry one see my letter but burn it soon as you read it they are not worth keeping now one sees your letters but me I have them all yet that you sent me how is granmother I never hear from hur any more and Cosin roberts folks how they are you can rite more news than I can I am here and do not go out of the camp mutch I have been to frederick but one sense I came in camp William Holstein was down here the other day and gon home again they was down to fredericksburg and he said that there was six thousand sick and wounded men down there there is a great many sick men here thou not so many as there has been it is raining here very fast now I will quit scribling answer as son as conveniant Your Brother

John W Worrall

Camp A

give my love to all

I hope that I may see you in a few months

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February 17th 1863

Dear wife I have bin out all last night and dont fel mutch like riting now but I wil doe the best I can we have had our dinners and their has bin quite an exightment hear to day the boys is hollouring fifty dllors all around camp and the Col came to one of our tents and called all of them out of their tent and asked hoe it was that holloured it and he could not find out whoe it was not one of them would say and he told them that he gloried in their spunk he would stand by them for their fifty dllars and we wanted them to have it they have called on him several times and he never took enney notice of it but Sechary Stantain has bin rithen so on the subject of the bounty money and told hime that the men has bin in listed under falce pretents and it has maid a big time fear but nothing will doe but the money will put them straight but I hope that we will get them righted with out troble but the people will have sompthing more to doe than talk when the men gets home for soome of them will get home but we no not who it will be we have have bin ronged and until they are righted we will hold them accountable to the end of time but they think we are of no account but we hav bin schooled to fight and we will fight for our right wehav don our duty and we hope that they will doe theirs but if they do not they will find that all talk and no sider wont doe we want our money and that aint all we are going to have it the men go over th picket line and gits chickens and what ever they want their is 4 (ole) nigroes over at (fork) town but thank god their is none of them mine your dream wont doe the things that you sent was verry nice the paper was spoiled a little but the rest of the things was verry good and verry glad to get them but I have not time to rite all of these little things I would like you to please to send me some post stamps for we cant get them hear for love or money Andy Morison is geting better but Mr Grimshaw has found out that the solders of this reg I will not be fooled with him enny longer and he thinks he must doe sompthing for to sadisfy the men but the men will not stand it some of the men of this camp gets letters from Wilmington that the land lords will sel them land if they doe not pay them their money they will do sompthing their will be troble in camp I want them to disbanden 4 Delaware and draft the ones that we have left behind and put the bounty men in two and let them stand picket one night and they will be glad to pay it we heard where their was a pen with sixtyhaggs in it beloning to the rebels I must stop riting I have my rations to draw this afternoon I send my love to you all I would love to see you all rite soon you can rite when you please good by

Husband Levi McCormick

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On Mar 31 1863 Tamar McCormick sent a box to Levi from: Office of the Adams Expres Company, Express Forwarders. Upon receiving it he wrote the following letter on the back of the receipt and returned the notice to Tamar