18th New York Light Artillery

Item LTR-11029

Description

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


November 24, 1862
 
East New York
Long Island
 
Dear Parents and Sisters,
 
I now take my pen in hand to give you a little history of a soldier’s life.  I suppose you have been uneasy about me but you will excuse me because a Soldier does not have as much time to write as a person would think they would.
 
We started out of Rochester the 17^th of this month at 10:00 and arrived in New York the next morning at 6:00.  We had a good reception at Rochester.  When we came away, there were over a thousand people at the depot to see us off.  There were hundreds of people crying that day.  I did not see Ed and his wife at the depot.  Arrived in New York.  We marched from the cars to Park Barracks on Broadway and stayed there until Thursday and marched from there to Long Island 10 miles.  There is from 25 to 30 thousand soldiers and we expect marching orders every day.  I expect to go to Texas.  For we are attached to General Banks’ Texas expedition.  Whether we go there or not is more than I can tell.  I think we will go to Fortress Monroe for winter quarters. 
 
We are an Independent Company and have the name of being the best-looking Company in the field.  
 
You must excuse me from writing any more today.  For it is so cold here that I cannot hold my pen and I am writing on my knapsack.  You need not write to me until you hear from me again.  Goodbye.
 
From your ever affectionate son,
 
A. H. Bryant
 
Give my love to all my inquiring friends.
 
Farewell.
 
Excuse bad writing for I am almost frozen.
 
Alfred