47th New York Infantry

Item LTR-10338

Description

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

Petersburg, Virginia

June 27, 1864

George,

I thought I would let you know that I am alive and am well at present. But can’t tell what hour I may lose my life as we are in a very hot place. We are one mile from Petersburg and we keep hammering with big guns and small arms day and night. We have got in a hot place but we shall take it at last. We have been in a number of hard fights here in Virginia under General Butler – at Drewry’s Bluff and other places –- but we are now in Grant’s army.

George, you will learn more from the newspapers than I can write as we have to keep close under the breastworks when we write. The shot and shell fly all of the time, day and night.

I wrote a letter to you from Yorktown about Tompson but got no answer from you since that time. When I went to see him in his regiment, the 48th, he had gone home.

George, I have four months wages due on the first of July and twenty-five dollars bounty from the State of New York that has not been paid. I give this to you in case of my death. But I hope to see you again all safe and sound. Now George, I want you to write to me and let me know what regiment or battery John Booth and James Booth are in. As there are a good many Connecticut men here.

Charles Davis

Birdsey Curtis

George, Direct your letter to Charles Davis, Company E, 47th Regiment, New York Volunteer, Fort Monroe or elsewhere, 10th Army Corps.

Hurry up that pudding and milk.