11th Maine Infantry - Wounded at Fair Oaks, VA

Item LTR-5189

Description

3 page original Civil War soldier's letter, written in period ink and war dated.

Camp Knox

December 15th 1861

Dear Sister,

I wrote to you a few days ago but its Sunday and I don’t have so good a chance any other days. I don’t have as much to write out here. We get franked envelopes for thirteen cents a package; paper about as cheap as in Maine. We get one sheet of paper and one envelope every week for nothing.

The weather is pleasant here yet. The two first days that we were here was the coldest we have seen and the people here tell us we shall not see much colder weather.

The stories which they tell about the southern country being muddy is all nonsense. Our parade ground of about twenty-five acres is quite hard and dry. It is the same all round here. I like the country around here. It is broken and cut up by deep gullies. The sides of which are covered thickly with small stones and generally well wooded. The high land is level free from stone and produces full crops. The fields are green and garden vegetables have not been gathered yet. The people have just done harvesting their corn – the principle crop here. The land the other side of the Potomac is very different. It is said that there is not a level piece of ground between Washington and Fairfax large enough to deploy a regiment on. We have had several visitors here from Maine6th, encamped several miles from Chain Bridge. They don’t think much of the sacred soil of Virginia. Luther Lawrence has been to visit the Maine 5th; he found them happy and contented, well fed and well provided for. Notwithstanding, the bad show they made at Bull Run, they are now the best regiment that has left the state. Their Brigadier General pronounces them the best regiment in his brigade.

Daniel bought a package of stationery the other day and there was a bosom pin with a portrait of McClellan in it. He is going to send it to you in a paper, so look out for it.

We were paid off the other day, but as we were paid only through the first of November and Daniel didn’t get any. I shall not be able to send any home this time. We shall be paid off again the 1st of January and then I shall send home twenty or twenty-five dollars. We are paid in treasury notes, gold or silver.

Write to me and tell us the news. I have written to Fred.

Your affectionate brother,

William

P.S. Enclosed, will find some postage stamps. Send me an advertiser once in a while. We get Tribunes enough.