Only one letter written by Lewis Simpson has ever been found. He wrote it less than a month before the Battle of South Mountain to his sister in Unadilla, NY, Mary Jane Simpson Beardsley. The original copy of this letter exists in the Frazier Farmstead Museum, 1403 Chestnut Street, Milton-Freewater, Oregon 97862. Here is the letter, dated Fredericksburg, VA, 18 August 1862:

"Dear Sister,

"Mary Jane yesterday was the Sabbath and I was made happy in receiving your kind and welcome letter written July 18th and poste marked August 3rd. Since writing my last letters to you Gen. Burnside has removed moste of his forces from North Carolina into Virginia. In the vicinity of Fredericksburg, Burnside's troops are at present camped. Our regiment removed from Roanoke Islands to Norfolk where we remained some over one week when we went on to Newport News where we remained about the same length of time when we advanced to our present locality.

"I have seen something of the world since I left my pleasant home and kind friends and may God Speed the happy day when peace on earth and good will towards man will be proclaimed in heaven. So that the poor soldier can return to his home to greet his loved ones again.

"Old Stonewall Jackson is out with his hordes of miscreants, composed of murderers and cut-throats, thieves and robbers and that follower of the arch-traitor Jeff Davis. Stonewall Jackson with his infamous crew are endeavoring to advance on and capture Washington the Capitol of our once glorious and happy Country but Jackson has run afoul of a snag in the person of General Pope and if he don't make the best of the bad fix that he is getting into by playing the secesh game of skedaddling he will shortly meet with more snags in his front and rear in Burnside and his bully fighting generals and soldier. He will wake up some morning to find his stonewall all gone to thunder and his soul singing rebel anthems with the Devil and his Angels in Hell. May God arrest him in his mad and reckless career and convert his guilty soul over to taking the oath of allegiance to our dear good old Uncle Sam before it will be everlasting too late for him to repent.

"Mary Jane you must pardon me for being so rough in expressing myself in this manner but the fact I feel ugly towards the rebels.

"I have not received but one letter from home since I left home. I hope my Father and Mother will write to me. Give them my best love and you must reserve a share for yourself and Theodore and the rest of my friends. I will get my likeness taken the first opportunity and send it to you. I wish that you and Theodore would get yours taken and send it to me. I would prize them very much. Do write to me again and write often and I will write to you and the next time I write maybe there will be something worth while that I can write to you.

"Direct as follows to me 89th Regt. Co K N.Y.S. Vol 9th Army Corps Gen Burnsides division Via Washington, D.C.

"From your affectionate brother--Lewis Simpson"





Submitted by Pat Simpson