61st Ohio Infantry

Item LTR-10014

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 3 pages, written in period ink.


Camp Near Aquia Creek

January 5th 1863

Dear Mary,

I received your ever welcome letter last Friday and of course was glad to hear from you. I wish you could see us in our new tent. It is splendid. It is about ten feet by ten and is the shape of a house. And is as white as snow. I am now writing on a table that we have erected in here. And writing a letter to the old gal goes much nicer now than it has heretofore. When I wanted to commence writing to you this evening, Lieutenant Kirk was occupying it and I told him when he got through that he should waken me. That I was going to lay down on our bed and take a sleep. I say bed because it comes nearer a bed than anything I have laid on since I left home. If you will have a little patience, I will tell you how it is constructed. First we drove four forks in to the ground. Then laid a piece of wood across each two forks and then we laid length wise some pine saplings. And on it we put some pine brush. Then a part of a tent, then two blankets to lay on and three to cover with. I and Lieutenant Kirk sleep fine. But from what I heard tonight, we are not to remain here but a few days. I understood tonight that there is a lot of heavy siege guns on the road to Fredericksburg. And if true, you can look for a battle before many days. Some say that we are going between Centreville and Alexandria or to Warrenton or Aquia Station, which is between here and Fredericksburg. We are very ignorant in regard to movements. We do not know what tomorrow may bring forth. It might be peace. At least I hope so. But I think my hopes are in vain. You were saying in your letter that you was over to your Uncle’s and some of them did not hardly know you. Now I would like for you to explain. As you go a long because I am somewhat interested. I would like to know whether it was your bad looks or you good looks that changed you so much that they did not recognize you immediately at first sight. Kirkwood and Bending received their box with their delicacies day before yesterday while I was on picket. They opened the box and went on ahead foremost and had a good time. I got some of the good things too, but I did not get any of the fruit cake. Bending spoke to me about it. They invited some of their friends and picked in to the cake and peaches. And Bending told Kirk to save some for me. And when Bending came back into the tent, he found that all of the cake was gone. He said he was so mad he hardly knew what to do. And mentioned something about it at the time. He told me this yesterday. But I did not know that they had any fruit cake until Bending told me. I told Bending that it made no difference to me. But he said it did to him. I can just tell you he is a trump. I mean Captain H. C Bending. I and him have a good lot of fun. Whatever I have I share with him and whatever he has he shares with me. He is a man that has done much for me. And I know it. That is what is the matter. There is another feller that has done much for them. And he is not feller either. He is that Lieutenant you wrote to me about in your last letter. That (Mrs. Lieutenant J. F. Mader).

I am well hoping these few lines may find you also in good health. I will now bring any ill gotten up letter to a close by sending you a piece of the old-fashioned kisses from your soldier boy. Good night my duck. I must go to bed. My feet are getting cold.

Lieutenant J. F. Mader Jr.