August   the 15th   1862

iam in camp at Harisburgh sins yesterday we came on atrain from Sunbury
after ienlisted in Sunsbury on the 8 of aug ithought iwould come Sooner but
i guess they wanted to bring us all  at one time 

i dont know how long ishal be ther for ther is about thre thousnd leaving 
evry day and iexpect my time wil come before long iwould be glad if it would 
come for we have got tocary the water about one half amile but Wen we gitit 
it is good and ther is Such aRogh set in camp near about half of them haint 
Sworen in yet 

ther was two compnys went to the tavern yesterday and got drunk and got to 
fighting and kild two and wounded fourteen and ther was five poisend to death
yesterday by Wiman Seling pies We got orders from head quarter that the
first thet fetched eny thing in camp they Should be drove out and if they
would git kild 

iwas Sworen in yesterday and about that bounty of 25 dolarsidont know how 
it is lieutenant brice was in Sunsbury day before yesterday and he Said 
that the courthouse Said that as Soon as we was Sworen in that they would 
come and pay the bounty So ithink that we Shall gitit this week and i igit 
it iwill Send it home as Soon as igitit 

ther was about thirty thousand in camp monday but they ar going out as fast 
as they got ther uniforms we got hour overcoats yesterday and ixpect we will 
git the rest agin to morow then we Shal leave to  isee wes rider and Les 
Shonaker and naniel Lewis and ahole lot of them boys every day  we have plenty 
to eat ther is more meat thrwd away in one day than what you use inayear  ilike it
Wery Well  imust now close for this time for iam giting tierdof wrighting
and iwant to write aleter home to Day yet

John Earnest
......................................................................................

End Note:

"Wiman seling pies..." was a reference to Confederate sympathisers 
who sold rat-poisoned pies at Camp Curtin, near Harrisburg, which 
was the largest of the Union depots for processing troops. The gals 
claimed a few victims until they were apprehended and jailed.