5th New Jersey Infantry

Item LTR-10657

Description

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


Camp Baker
Lower Potomac

February 5, 1862

Dear Wife,

I take this time and opportunity to write a few lines to you to inform you that I am well and hope that you and the children are all well at home. I have not had a letter from home this week. The last one that I got was last Saturday and that was the one that William wrote and I have been looking for one all this week. I hope that you all will continue in good health at home. Kiss the children for me and tell them to be good children till Pa comes home.

I have been out making roads these last two days and I find it pretty hard work. And we have to go about two miles to our place of work. We are all at it. I suppose there is about thirty-five hundred men at it. So, we will soon be done with it.

I have not got my boots yet. But I expect them every day now as the Sutler has gone up to Washington on Sunday and he has not come back yet. But as soon as he comes back, I will get them.

Give my love to all the folks there and tell them I am well and hope they are all the same.

The rebels across the river keep firing at every boat that they see. But, they don’t do any damage to them as yet. The health of our regiment keeps very good owing to the weather.

That money I send home I wish you would get gold for it and you can keep it better. As there is not discount on gold but there may be soon on these treasury notes. And if you can get gold without any trouble, why do so. I will write soon again and a longer letter, as there is no fire in the Captain’s tent where I am writing this. And it is cold here. So good night.

And may God bless you and the children and me and all the rest of us.

Is the prayer of your affectionate husband,

Sergeant J. K. Simon