1st Division, 3rd Army Corps - NEW

Item LTR-10862

Description

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


Headquarters, 1^st Division, 3^rd Corps
 
August 20^th 1863
 
Dear Uncle and Aunt,
 
Your letter of a late date has just been received by me.  I was right to hear from you once more.  I am very glad always to receive a letter from my friend, but especially so to receive one from relatives for whom I feel a deep regard.
 
I am glad that you have heard from Hubert again.  I think he ought to write me next.  I shall write him in a day or two if nothing transpires to prevent.  
 
I received 4 letters this p.m.  one from my mother, two from lady friends and yours.  I shall feel duty bound to answer all of these before writing to cousin Hubert.  I hear from home often now and write often. Mother thinks that I write too little now and I write one letter to each, Father, Mother, Lamony and Willie in a fortnight.
 
I suppose many of my letters are lost.  As Mother writes me that she has not heard from me for two weeks.  I certainly have written two or three times within that time.  I shall write again tomorrow, if nothing prevents.
 
I had anticipated a nice time visiting with you when I started for home last May.  But when I was once home, I spent so much time there that I could not possibly call.
 
I am expecting the war to close the coming Fall.  Then I can visit you.  Things look more cheering now than ever before.  The “War Bulletin” says, “Three holes in Fort Sumpter.”  I expect to hear in a few days that Charleston, the hot bed of rebellion, is ours.  Charleston taken, Savannah must soon follow in its track.
 
Those two cities in our possession, where is the Davis government, once so proud and haughty?
 
It will be among the things that will be something to be thought of only with disgust and disdain.
 
His government might be likened to some of the battle plans of our Generals.  Very good to look upon, but founded nearly upon suppositions.  That things would be so and so.  The papers of today talks as if trouble was forming between this government and France.  Relative to the invasion of Mexico and the war policy adopted by the French.  Whipping men and women seemed to be quite common with them.
 
I saw in the Washington Chronicle, an account of one woman who General Forey, ordered to receive two hundred lashes for refusing to receive into her house some French officers.  If things are going on in this way and the General also recognize the “Southern Confederacy” we ought to punish them, so I think.
 
The General commanding this division to which I am now attached is Major General David B. Birney of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He is a very fine officer and a gentleman withal.  I like him very much indeed.
 
General Daniel E. Sickles of New York, is our Corps commander, but is now home on leave of absence on account of wounds received at the Battle of Gettysburg, where he lost his right limb.
 
He expects to rejoin his Corps between this and next month.  General French is now in command of the Corps.  We shall all be very glad to welcome General Sickles back to his command.
 
General French is not liked too well as a Corps commander.  He takes more spirit than General Sickles and he take enough.
 
General Birney is quite temperate, he takes but spirit.  One great fault with the majority of our commanders is the using of too much intoxicating liquors.
 
This war has made many men drunkards and some it has reclaimed.  One young man that went from our place, Mother writes me, has come home a drunkard.  It is sad indeed.
 
 
I cannot write more now, as it is quite late and I have not yet been to supper.  So promptly have I answered your letter.
 
Accept this from,
 
Your affectionate Nephew,
 
Henry C. Allen
Headquarters, Birney’s Division
3^rd Corps of the Army
 
P.S.  Excuse any mistakes as I have written very hastily.
 
Henry