They were written in brown ink, except for a very few written in pencil. The paper was in excellent condition. At first I felt guilty as if I were reading something personal, meant only for the eyes of others. Later as I got into the swing of transcribing, Private John W. Partridge seemed to be talking to me and through me to anyone interested in his story. The majority of his letters were written to his sisters, especially to Suzie. Only a very few were written to his parents. As I typed it seemed that I was in a novel that I couldn't put down. Transcribing into the early hours of the morning became the rule.

Civilian, John W. Partridge was, as a young man, living with his parents on a farm in Boylston. John decided to become a teacher and attended Westfield Normal School. When he entered the army he was assigned to the Co. D, 25th Regiment of the Mass. Infantry and the U.S. Signal Corps.

Because John was well educated, and a farmer, we get more than just the "I wish I were home" type letters. He comments on all he experiences and observes, from storms at sea while being transferred to a new post to a 26 page letter on the customs and treatment of the "black slave." He mentions how the fruit trees are "poorly" through neglect. How he stood guard over a Confederate spy's household furnishings that were to be destroyed. He asked an officer if he could have the books and this was granted. It turned his stomach to see the Southern ladies chewing snuff and spitting. The very young children smoking cigars disgusted him. John describes how it feels to be under "friendly fire" when the shells of a gunboat explode over head, short of the enemy.

Researching material for the book led us to town records. At one town meeting it was voted to give each volunteer "a Colt revolver and a Bowie knife." Also debated was the amount of bounty money to be given to volunteers. Most of which had to be borrowed from the state. These records are in the book.

Included in the book are letters from John's commanding officer to his father, Deacon Simeon Partridge, when John became missing in action.