161st New York Infantry

Item LTR-10488

Description

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


Near New Iberia, Louisiana

Tuesday
December 25, 1863

Dear Parents,

It is with pleasure that I endeavor to answer your kind letter of December 6th. I was glad to find by its contents that you were all well, excepting Maria and she is about the same. I am in hopes she is better before this time. I am well as usual and enjoying myself first rate. David C. is the same.

You will see by this, that we are still in our old camp ground but I do not think we will remain here all winter. For they are drawing the force from here day after day. All there is here at present is two Divisions of the 19th Army Corps. It will not number 4,000. It is a small force. I think, to leave here where there is so much danger of being attacked any day at any moment.

You say there will be a plenty of youngsters left for to meet my return, if such is my lot. I do not doubt it. But if not, I will be contented. I used to think when I was about 14 years of age, what a nice thing, would be to get married. Do I think so now? No. it is something does not trouble me any. I may get one in time. But I feel it will be a good long time ere such a thing transpires in my behalf. At any rate, it will not do as a young man of R. Center did a short time ago to try to get married before I get the consent of the lady, a pretty pass in this day and age of the world. Pretty hard up for a wife, what do you say?

I got a letter from Pheona today. I will write to her in a day or two.

I am glad to think that some of our ladies have someone to wait on them. It makes me glad to hear of it. I do love to hear of their enjoying themselves for it is not a very easy matter to enjoy themselves when their comrades and friends are in the army serving their country. They should be willing to be deprived of some of it in the opinion of some. I say enjoy themselves as best they can. In one of my letters of today, I found that Wallace Alderman of Tyrone, died not long ago –a member of the 141st. He was a comrade of mine. He first enlisted in Company B of the 161st. he took a notion to go in that regiment and so he went. Where is he now? Is he with his God? I fear not for he was careless and reckless of future happiness. It is so with thousands of other. It makes me sad indeed and it has been a happy Christmas too [for] I and DC – not in the way it is with a good many officers by getting drunk. To think of the poor sinner.

In the letter you wrote to me about the note on the estate of the Perry’s. I wrote in answer to that for you to pay up the Doctor Maring bill and if any remained, to put it in G. Clark’s hands if not wanted by yourselves. We have had our pay again today for two months. I had over run my clothing bill by $5.25, leaving me $20.75. Also, my last allotment check of $40.00. I have broken up my check arrangement for they do not send it through in as long a time. I intend to send the check to George Clark in this letter. The rest of the money, I will send as I see fit. If you want any money at any time, send to me and I will try and supply your wants in my poor way.

I am a thousand times obliged to you for the writing paper you have sent me from time to time. I would now tell you that you need not send any more at present. You need not send me any more stamps for a spell. For I have a pretty good supply. I have got to close my letter. Tell Maria to keep good courage and she will soon revive.

So, goodbye.

From your son,

J. F. Philip

P. S. Please give my love to all. Please tell me in your next letter how much money you have received from me in different times and see if you have got all I have sent you. I do not recollect how many different times I have sent to you is $30.00 to Clark, concluding this allotment of $40.00. $100, it is as much as anyone has done in the same place in all $130.00 and $22.00 in pocket.