14th New York Infantry

Item LTR-10697

Description

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


Arlington Heights, Virginia
August 3, 1861

Dear Friend John,

I received your answer to mine and was very sorry to hear that you had been unwell, but that sorrow all vanished when I found out that you had recovered. I am well and living well, only it makes the grass run some, to tramp around under this Southern Sun. I have just got through building a new table in front of my tent. It is a pretty nice one too. It is made of two inch plank with two flour barrels for legs. It is not planed, I preferred it rough, because it looked so much more like velvet. I have built a new bench today too, made of the same material. I have got half of a dry goods box for a cupboard and half my tent is floored, the other half is for my sleeping room, but it is minus a partition. My couch is made of black ash which I cut in the woods. There is four stakes drove in the ground with a crutch on the upper end of each two poles laid from head to foot on those and sticks laid cross ways and some corn stalks which I helped myself to. Most of the boys are jealous because I have got such a good bed.

I tell you John I have my tent furnished up to the handle. My library is not very extensive, it consists of two volumes of patent right books and a New York ledger. I lent one of my books to someone of the boys and he never brought it back. I have made up my mind not to lend any more books, for I can’t afford it. I have got settled down again but I can’t tell how soon I will have to move again. General Scott makes us move just when he is a mind to just as if we did not count anything. But it’s all right, but he knows what is what. I’ll bet a goose I have given you the best description of my property that I can for the time I have to do it in. My time is about up now. Give my love to Sarah, if you see her. I hope you are all well by the time this reaches you. Give my respects to your wife. Give my respects to Bill Whitehead.


Your Friend,
Hugh Duffy

Answer this Joh and let me know the news. Give my respects to Mrs. Lervey and Mr. Lervey and Babs and Sarah.

Write soon for I don’t know how soon we shall leave here. That’s what’s the matter with the hoss.