150th Pennsylvania Infantry - Bucktail Wounded at Spotsylvania

Item LTR-10166

Description

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


Camp of the 150th Pennsylvania
Near Kelley’s Ford, Virginia

December 13th 1863

My Dear Wife,

I sit down to write these few lines to you. Hoping that they will find you well as they leave me at present. And I was glad to hear that you are well and that the children are well and that your folks and mine was well. And I hope and pray that the Lord will still bless you all with a continuation of the good health which you now enjoy. Mary, you said in your letter that you hoped that we would not have so long a march as the rest had. Well the march we had was about twenty miles and we was a day and a half on the way. So you may know that we did not march very hard. The place where we are now encamped was a thick pine woods and we cleared it off pretty well. For it is most all cut down to build up our log houses. Mary, the tent which I am in is not quite finished yet. For the next day, but one after we got to our camp ground we had to go on picket and was out two days. And that is the reason we have not got our house done. The reason I say, our house, is because there is three others besides myself in the tent together. And the best of all is that we are all trying to serve our Lord and Master. Which makes it more agreeable bonus. All for we have no swearing to put up with. For we hear so much of it while we are in the army. For there is so many men who neither cares for God or man. Mary, I wish there was more men in the army who had the love of God in their heart. Mary, you though I ought to have sent you more money than I did. Well, I would of sent you more money than I did but it has cost me so much for tobacco. For it is so high down here and I will try and send you more the next time. So do not be discouraged for I don’t like to keep so much from you. For I know that it is hard for you to get along with all the money you can get. My Dear, you wanted to know what I was a going to send you for a Christmas present. Well, that is what I can’t tell. For to buy anything down here, it would cost so much more than it would at home. But I will see what I can get to send to you for a present. And if I can get anything nice, I will send it to you. Mary, I would like to have something nice for Christmas. Can’t you send me a nice box for Christmas. For I think I can get it now. For some of the boys got some boxes today which was sent to them. And you may use your own pleasure about sending one to me. For I know how you are situated and if you send one to me you had better tell my father and mother know about it. For it might be that they would want to send me something in it.

My dear wife, you must give my love to all of your father’s family and to my father and his family and to all who may ask after me and receive my warmest love for yourself and the children. So no more at present from your affectionate and ever loving husband.

George A. Dixon

And may God bless you and the children and keep you from all harm.

Please send me some postage stamps for I am out of them.