2nd Massachusetts Infantry

Item LTR-10271

Description

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


Headquarters, U.S. Forces Department Virginia

West Point

May 23rd 1863

My Dear Parson,

Here I am you see and in one of the quietest most peaceful places I have seen in Virginia. West Point is a plain, situated at the junction of the Pamunkey and Mattaponi Rivers. It was nearby the rebels to be a great place; the rail road from Richmond terminated here. The water front is good. The place healthy and all laid out in building lots. We hold it with the General’s Division of two fair sized but excellent brigades and with the help of ten-gun boats. We have thrown up a very strong line of breastworks from river to river, about a mile out and the gun boats with their 100 pound Parrots protect our flanks. We have also 3 companies of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry here. But they are very green and poorly mounted. Our position is strong and all we want is to have our erring brethren come on. Our troops are all green having never been in a fight. But they are so good looking, I would readily trust them. In fact, as far as soldierly bearing is concerned, care in saluting, respect to officers and many other little points, they are the best division, taken as a whole, I have ever seen. The 40th Massachusetts would give the 2nd even a hard pull. We have a delightful time running over into the surrounding country after cattle and grain and horses. And the country is very rich. The rivers are full of shad and fish and little lambs frisk about on the hill sides. The Captain of the Cavalry sent us a whole lamb today. We have a mail steamer that runs up and down every day and a tug for a messenger. Today as the mail boat was coming up, the rebels bought 3 six pounders down to the beach and fired 40 shots hitting this great boat once. But the Morse immediately went down and gave her some 100 pounders and the General sent 5 boats, crews ashore, who burned 3 houses and 7 barns full of corn and bacon. To my mind, this proceeding was wrong. The shore not being in our lines and no precedent or law of nations that I ever heard of allowing retaliation in such a case. But everyone applauds it and so I am forced to keep quiet. Everyone here has a private cow and some have good coffee. The sailors of the gunboats are the funniest belligerent I ever saw. Scattering everywhere. Great on plunder. They want to go down the river every night and burn some houses. Remember me to all the officers of the 2nd and all my friends.

The General has written a strong letter for Wheaton and General Peck said he thought we could get him. We want him very much. Tell him to bring that sword he gave me when he comes.

Very truly your friend,

H. B. Scott