SFACSAS Letter Exchange 2009

Drygoods · #1 03-04-2009, 10:51

Good Day All,

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to get our letter writing groups started. To Troy, Don, Sean, or whoever in Arizona is in charge of your unit, please drop me a note and tell me who all is participating this year. You fellas are the best, I often get calls from people asking how your unit is doing, and questions about your lives, so you must be living right if everyone wants to know you. I've already got a list of civilians who wish to send you letters.

A change this year, we now have a group of Confederates in Virginia who have requested letters from civilians. I'm not sure which mess they belong to, as they seem to have five progressive groups on their web site, but they heard of us on the AC forum.

So now you may either write Federal or Confederate letters by your own choice, or you may write to both! You choose your own penpal correspondent. Volunteer today!

This year, I'm changing a bit and will have a new cancellation stamp made for the SF Alta. This has been a project that I've wanted for three years, but now with the number of letters, feel that it is finally warranted. But wait, there's more!

If you, either civilian or military, would like to participate with this letter writing project, simply send me a PM. I'll provide you with period stamps which you may print at home, and at events will also give you letter paper and envelopes. The only requirement is that you write a letter about every month, or every other month (roughly four or five a year, or as many as you're able). You may be a relative, business man, fellow soldier, neighbor, lawyer, or tax collector.....you think of it in a period context, you can be anybody! It's a good deal of fun, and no one reads your letters but you and your correspondent. Period letters make good friends, and nothing is more fun and exciting than reading a period letter within a historical context. Everyone is welcome, and this means YOU.

Join today. It's Free.
<SFACSAS was the San Francisco Alta California Soldier's Aide Society>

Drygoods · #2 03-14-2009, 12:59

Good Day All, here is a letter that I sent out to our club blog, and newsletter. The invitation is open to all the members of this forum as well. If you're interested in doing a period letter writing project, the people who have been past correspondants are great folks, so if you're interested, please send me a PM

With the new event season underway, it's time to turn our thoughts towards better period interpretation. One of the best ways to do this, is through period letter writing. For the past few years, I've been working with a group of volunteers that are looking for other period correspondents so that at each event, we have a historic letter exchange. It doesn't cost anything to participate, and I will provide you with the stamps and paper, even a pencil, but the writing is your contribution. I will cover the cost of the postage for you, so all you have to provide is some spare time.

This year, we have both a Federal unit in Arizona, and now a new Confederate unit in Virginia. All letters are exchanged within a period context so that while at events, you have mail to use within your interpretation. You can be anyone, such as; a school friend, neighbor, relative, tradesman, farmer, fellow soldier in another unit, or just a lady who has volunteered to write letters from home to soldier's far away.

Here is a listing of our Federal Soldiers wishing for penpals: Sgt. Donald Smith, Pvt. Sean Martin Aksentowitz, Pvt. Dan Munson, Pvt. Michael Bogert. Address envelope with Soldier's name then -- Company F, 1st. California Volunteer Infantry Regt., Fort Craig, New Mexico Territory.

And for our list of Confederate Soldiers wishing for penpals: Cpl. Ryan Halsey, Cpl. Shawn Sturgill, Pvt. Wesley Verbal, Pvt. Travis Caldwell, Pvt. Luke Gilly, and Principal Musician Zacah Whiles. Address envelope with soldier's name then -- Wampuss Cats Mess, 51st. Virginia Infantry, Company I, Bristol Virginia.

If you are thinking that this might be too difficult or take too much research, you're wrong. All you need do is write about your current life as though in a period context. It's much easier than you think, and very rewarding too. Plus if you are worried about writing to strangers, I can provide the soldier's ages and interests so that you both will have something of interest and common to write/read.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at CWdrygoods@aol.com This is a great project, and one that everyone seems to enjoy and the best part of all, it's like getting real civil war news at our events, and takes a minimum of effort, so at best 4 letters a year, although you may wish to write more than that. Choose one soldier, choose all, but please volunteer to keep this project going. Please, won't YOU join us, and really have fun hearing news from far away during the civil war.

Since I am the postmistress, you can either deliver your letters in person to my Drygoods baker tent at events, or contact me at my shop email.
Judith Peebles
San Francisco Alta California Soldiers Aide Society.