1864 PETERSBURG IL Letter - CIVIL WAR - Escaped the Draft - COPPERHEADS

Description

4 pg. letter, approx. 5-1/4" x 8", dated
"Near Petersburg, Ills., Oct.2nd, 1864"
, from J. D. Kerr, to Miss Emma Peter, at Brighton, Illinois.
Good content Civil War homefront letter from this young man who had been travelling in the Southern part of Illinois and is now travelling in the northern part, writing of his luck in having
escaped the Draft when he was at home
, and of his soldier brother being home on a furlough . He writes of Emma's brother probably being home, (soldiers who reenlisted in 1864 were given 30 day furloughs to go home), and that
he wouldn't be surprised if the Regiment were stationed in the county "to offer arguments conclusive to some of the Cops [Copperheads] that they will stand the draft"
.
Includes the original cover (envelope), posted the next day at
Springfield, Ill.
(about 24 miles from Petersburg.
The letter includes:
"Dear Emma,
If you will excuse me for not complying with your request to write you when I was at home last, I drop you a line or so this morning. Yours of the 10th ult. was in waiting for me when I reached home and also the one of 22nd came whilst I was there, and it was my intention to write to you while there, but had no time until Sunday and then we had company, tho' I excused myself from them at one time and commenced writing, tho was soon disturbed, and as to my coming down to see you would have been almost impossible, as I did not stay at home as long as I expected or wished to, and was quite unwell two days of the time. I was, however, quite successful with what little business I had on hand that then demanded my attention, and best of all was one of the lucky ones that escaped the Draft in our Precinct...
My Brother was at home nearly all the while I was gone on the trip South. Came home the second day after I left and started back to the Regt. at St. Louis the third day after I came back, so I was with him but little. Your Brother I suppose has been at home before this time, in fact, I should not be surprised if the Regt. should yet, if not already
[be]
stationed in the County to offer arguments conclusive to some of the Cops that they will stand the Draft.
I would write another half sheet, but there is a couple of newly married people here and they keep such a noise. They enjoy themselves hugely to all appearance, tho' tis sickening, I think,
[to]
prudent people of more experience in life..."
Fine.
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