2nd Connecticut Light Artillery - NEW
Item LTR-10813Description
Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages, written in period ink.
Wolfe Run Church, Virginia
March 7th 1863
Frank Sherwood, Esquire
Dear Sir,
Your letter of the 3rd received this day and read with much pleasure. I assume you and I now hasten to answer it. I had been expecting a letter from you for some days, as Ian said in his letter that you are going to write to me. We remain in the same place as when I last wrote you and expect to stay here for the present. We are getting so that we have an alarm almost every night. Had one last night. The scouts came in and reported the Rebel cavalry advancing on the other side of the river. So, we had orders from headquarters to be on the alert. So, we did. But no Rebels made their appearance. I setup in my tent till about one o’clock. It was about eight o’clock when we got the order. Captain called me in his tent and I went and notified the sergeants and then went back to the Captain, and had some nice oysters and some hot whiskey punch. And we ate and drank our whisky and smoked our Havana’s till about ten o’clock when Captain said, if I would set up a while and he would turn in. and having a good book to read and some good tobacco to smoke that I found in his desk. I made myself very comfortable indeed till about one when I turned in also and slept soundly till morning. No Rebs appearing to disturb my slumber.
You have probably heard of White’s Cavalry. They are the ones that are running the devil around these parts. There is about five hundred of them. They will be farmers in the daytime and butternuts at night. Damn them! They are more than the devil himself, some of them. I suppose our men are grinding thin while the dame cusses are playing the old one with us. It is pitch dark tonight. So, I hope they will keep away. For I would rather have them make their appearance when it is daylight. But I suppose they will send themselves and not us.
Talking about Fred. He has a fit every once in a while. But it doesn’t last long. For he knows that I don’t care one darn whether he gets mad or not. That wife of his fills him full and what she doesn’t fill, that nice brother of his attends to and between them both, they will make a perfect fool of him. His beloved is going to send him another box. So, he says. She seems to provide very well for him.
I am glad to hear Ray is getting along as well. I should like to see him very much. Give him my regards when you write him and also Worden. Ask them if they won’t go to Buck’s and shake for the bun or changed ‘round the horn. Worden was wise when he left the hospital. That is if he wanted to live. For they would certainly kill him if he stayed there. That is my opinion of the hospitals. I hope and pray that I shall never be compelled to stay in one. I expect the 17th lives considerably better now that they have got rid of their black sheep.
What do the folks at home say about him. I have not heard anything about General Sigel resigning before. I hope it is not so. For we can’t afford to lose him. The mud is drying up fast. But there is a pile of it to dry up yet. And as it has rained pretty hard today, it will put it back some.
Ben Lockwood drew up some resolution today and tonight they were put to a vote and they voted unanimously in favor of them. You will see them in the paper very soon likely. We have some Copperheads with us as well, as at home and the resolution didn’t help them much and they are having quite a debate over it. I can hear Bill Gould’s voice. He used to live in Black Rock. He is a great talker. Honorable White, P. P. White’s son is a regular Copperhead. You ought to hear him talk. He doesn’t say much before me for I would put my fist in his mouth. He is a miserable cuss. Anyhow, he shirks duty every chance he can.
As my paper is scant tonight, I shall have to stop and next time will be better provided and early answer will much oblige.
Yours,
Frank H. Whiting
Give my love to all the folks. Tell Cogswell you want to see that picture of the Battery I sent him.