1st & 4th Massachusetts Cavalry

Item LTR-8201

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 2 pages, written in period ink.


Beaufort S. C.
July 29th 1863

Dear Ones in NC

I had the sincere pleasure of receiving you kind letter and was happy to hear that you were all in as good health as usual when it was penned to me and I am glad to be able to say that I am in excellent health. If it will keep on for three months more, I shall be all right for then the sickly season will be over. But it is remarkably healthy here now and there is a great many wounded in the hospitals. So many that we have had three or four new ones fixed up for the poor fellows that were wounded at Harris Island.

I am having nice times here I tell you, but little to do and plenty of good victuals to eat and any quantity of good friends among the civilians, especially among the ladies (not ladies of color hah, ha ha ha). And I take rides with them about every night not in a kelpie wagon but on the horse’s back hah ha ha. I suppose you will say (Uncle Sam) look out and not leave your horses near a mill pond. But I must tell you there is no mill ponds in this section of S.C. so there will be no danger of getting the horses into a bed of quicksand for the river here is hard beach.

I hope this war is almost getting rather sick of this kind of business anyway and want to get off this awful uniform and get a little different style dress and I think it will be the same with you if you happen to be one of the lucky ones and get drafted hah ha ha. Uncle Sam how would you like to carry a musket for Uncle Sam ha he. Uncle Sam I guess you would not like it much. Do you think it would pass to give $300 dollars to get out of it? Ha ha ha ha Uncle Sam.

I should like to answer your letters separately but I have not time for I have written two besides this and have got two more to write yet this morning.

Thank you, Susie for the ring.

Good bye all.

A. C. Belcher
1st Cavalry

PS. Probably you have all heard about what is going on up to Charleston. If you have not, you will soon.

Callie
In haste.