34th New York Infantry

Item LTR-10960

Description

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


Camp McClellan
Near Poolesville [Maryland]
 
December 9^th 1861
 
Dear Grandma,
 
Through kind providence, I seat myself down once more to reply to your very welcome letter which came at hand in due seasons.  And was read with the greatest pleasure and the advice which was in it was duly accepted.  And I hope that I always shall abide by it – at least I shall try hard.  I do not know how I ever shall repay you and Uncle North for the good advice that you have been so kind, both of you, in offering.  It all has come very acceptable and I think that I have taken all advice with a good cheer and profit by it.
 
My health is improving quite fast.  I am getting so fat that you would hardly recognize me if you should see me.  I have had quite a hard cold for a week or two and cannot speak above a whisper.  But that’s nothing. For about half of the regiment have had colds.  That’s nothing – no more or less than what we have at home.  Two more members of our company deserted a night or two ago. I would not give much for the peace that a few miserable deserters will get. It is poor business.  If ever so well followed.  Let the consequences be what they might.  I should never make an attempt to forsake my country’s flag and let it be trampled beneath the feet of the enemy.  Let us do our duty and remember what we left our peaceful home and friends for.  I can go home any time that I take a notion to.  and I have been advised to do so by members of the company.  Even our Captain advised me to go home.  But as long as I am able to get around, I would much rather be here, trying to render my beloved country some good, than to be laying around Addison.  But if I commence to come down any this winter, I shall go home.  I think some of obtaining a furlough of a month and go home.  I should like to see my folks very much.  I’ll want you to know that I think as much of my friends as anyone else does of their friends.  But as for being real homesick and faint-hearted, that does not bother me any. I think I’m going to know what soldiering is.
 
It has been cold, wet, muddy and disagreeable weather here until within the past week. Which has been beautiful and appears like our Indian Summers at the North.  I tell you what it is, these little tents of ours, are cold and uncomfortable these cold frosty nights.  I tell you, it makes a person get in all kinds of shapes to stand on guard these cold nights.
 
We are having a brigade drill this afternoon.  It is one of the grandest sights that I ever saw.  It comes off every Monday afternoon and every Wednesday afternoon.  We have brigade inspection and have our shoes blacked up and our brass scoured up.  The brigade has their new uniforms which are very nice and you better believe that it is a beautiful sight to see the whole brigade out consisting of four regiments—some four thousand men, dressed all up alike parading around.  And the officers look nice, all mounted on their charges.  It would pay anyone that never saw such a sight to go a hundred miles to see it.  I have often wished that you and Uncle might pop in some time and see what a nice little house I have.  It is said that I have got the nicest tent in the lot and the best arranged one – neatest and cleanest.  There is four of us in it and my tent mates are all fine fellows and we live high for soldiers.  We spare no pains nor money, but we have roast turkeys, oysters, chickens, cakes, pies, and other luxuries too numerous to mention.  It cost Uncle Sam but little for what we eat.  But cost us a good deal.
 
Grandma, I am going to write Mr. North or I would write more to you.
 
Accept my best wishes, etc.,
 
T. H. Guinnip