22nd New Jersey Infantry

Item LTR-6365

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages written in period ink.

Seminary Hospital, Georgetown, DC
May 23, 1863

Dear Wife and ever respected Mother,

It is with much pleasure that I again take my pen to talk a little with you this morning for that at present is yet the only way that we have of conversing together. Yet I trust with a little more patience and good courage (of which I possess considerable more than I did at one time) be able to make known to each other our pleasures and sorrows in a manner more agreeable and in each other’s presence.

I had yesterday quite a treat again in the way of letters and I can assure you that I appreciate such treats for they are a solace to me. I received one from you dated May 20th and was much pleased to find the heading all right which is that you are still in good health and may it be your blessed privilege to continue so. I also received two letters from Jasper yesterday dated May 20th and 21st which headings I also found to be right for he informed me that he still continued able to take his rations regular and in good earnest. He also informed me that he was still employed in the capacity of nurse and expected to be until his time was out. Let that be when it would, yet he don’t appear to believe much in the idea of staying until the 22nd. But at the same time rejoices to think that it is only a little longer and by a little good courage will be able to get through 22 days more.

And I also received one yesterday from Lieutenant Ramsey dated May 19th giving me some information from the regiment which I was very inquisitive about and he informed that Company D was getting along finely with the exception of Sergeant I. D. Bojert who had been complaining some but was improving and would soon be around again. And he also informed that it was highly necessary to be in good health to stand it on account of the heat and especially at nights in the small shelter (or rather dog coop) tents. He stated in his letter to me that there was nothing decisive known in the regiment yet when our time would be out, but the general opinion was that we would be kept until the 22nd.

He also stated that Quartermaster General Perrine from Trenton had been down to Washington to find out from the War Department and had been told by them that 9 months after our time of mustering into the united service, we know that to provided we had been mustered loyally he had understood to some of the Hackensackers had been down to the Governor to see if he could not call us home on the first of June, but knew nothing more about it. I am still improving slowly.

Yours as ever,
John C. Westervelt