5th New Hampshire Infantry - Wounded at Antietam

Item LTR-11341

Description

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

Camp Point Lookout, Maryland
 
November 15, 1863
 
My own beloved wife,
 
I take this opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and I hope these few lines will find you the same.  I received a letter from you today.  I was very glad to hear you were better.  You wrote that you should eat me out of the house and home.  I do not care how much you eat.  The more the better.  If I can get it for you and I guess I can if you can get along until I get paid once more, it cost me $1 per day for food while on Long Island and $1.50 for 8 days that we was on board the steamer.  And it costs us $1.12 here.  But we are going to get up a mess by ourselves and we can get along cheaper.  I think we can board ourselves for $3.00 per week.
 
I like this place very well.  But it is going to be a very cold place this winter.  We arrived here the night before last and landed yesterday morning.  All of the 2^nd boys are well and hearty.  Bob Miller has been appointed lieutenant but has not been mustered and cannot draw his pay until he is mustered.  He is afraid they will put him back in the ranks again.  But I think they will not.  I inquired for David Wentworth on the 12^th and they told me he was discharged.  We have about 9,000 rebels here.  They are bad fellows to manage.  There was one shot today trying to get away.  They would make bad work of it if they should arise against us.  
 
No more at present.  Give my love to grandmother and the children and keep a share yourself.  Tell little Mary to write to me and I will answer it.
 
George L. Hersum