20th Maine Infantry & Veteran Reserve Corps - NEW

Item LTR-11047

Description

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



Lovell U.S.A. Hospital Ward 22
December 16^th 1863
 
Friend Hiram,
 
I seat myself to pen you a few lines in answer to yours of December 2^nd, which I received in due season.  I was glad to hear that you are well and I wish that I could say the same of myself.  But my health is very poor and is likely to remain so for all I know I have not any news of importance to write to you today.  More than that I expect to be in Maine sometime in the course of two weeks.  I have not any miniature here to send as you wanted.  But if you have a mind to give me directions where to stop when I come and how to find you, I will call on you as if I know long enough beforehand.  I will let you know what day I will be along.  But I do not know yet when I shall go.  I shall not have long to stop but I will call if I can.
 
Henry A. Rickey is here and so is John H. Small, you know him.  He says he is from the Falls and belongs to the 8^thMaine.  I believe he expects to start for his regiment soon.  Also, Asa A. Barrows of our company is here now and expects his discharge soon.  He is on crutches.  One man died in Ward 21 today.  I have not heard from Henderson for some time.  My cousin, Wesley Chase, a drafted man, is dead.
 
We have it quite cold here now.  But it has been very rainy of late.  There are some ones at the Invalid to be discharged they say.  I guess that my time will come by and by.  At any rate, I hope so.
 
I have not had any letters from Pattern for some time.  So, I do not know of any news from there.
 
We do not get as good food here now as we did when you were here.  There are 170 down for their regiments but they will not leave here until there is an order from Washington for them.
 
There has been a number court martialed here of late.  And as for war news, you hear them as soon as I do.  So, I will not attempt to give any details.  Well, I will close now hoping you are well.
 
As ever, your humble friend,
 
J. E. Chase