12th New Jersey Infantry

Item LTR-11545

Description

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


Camp Near Falmouth
 January the 13^th 1863
 
To my Cousin,
 
It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and in good health.  Hoping these few lines will find you the same.  Well Cousin, I do not know hardly now what to write to you.  But I will let you know how I like it.  I can’t complain a bit, only the food and that we are getting more of it and better.  Our brigade quartermaster, he sold our potatoes and them is a thing that I began to like -- where I wouldn’t eat at home.  More fat pork and you would be surprised to see me eat it.  Now you wouldn’t know me now, if I would set down to your table.  Although, I have been sick for two days and you used to think I was a hearty of a boy.  If I should ever get home, you wouldn’t know what to do with me.  But I expect you would soon get me to be a good boy for you now.  I would do just as you say if was to go and see the girls and how I would like to be at home with some of the Bunker Hill girls.  You know I would hug them.  I often think of the happy times I have had up there and could have--that was where the laugh comes in.  This is what beats me.  Stuart left long ago and let her go clear board.  Why I should of thought they would of got married this fall.  But instead of that, he is going to see my girl.  I don’t like that much.  But the way they go in with their nonsense, till I go home, and they just stand back.  Therefore, I have been at Bethel before now myself and hope to soon be again.  But if it is God’s will that I should never get home, all is perfectly right.  But I would dearly love to see you and to have one sweet kiss if you wish.  We have seen some splendid times together and some sad ones too.  But it was a wonder you didn’t get mad at me and not speak to me and if I hadn’t before, I wouldn’t have been here.  But I am not sorry for that--I tell you when I want to get home.  I can easily do that. 
 
It is one of our fellows that got a cane and went limping around and got sent home and that is the way I will do it too.  Now Lizzie, I can tell you this infantry is the hardest of any kind of a soldier life.  Cavalry is greater than any and if I should ever enlist again, it will be on board ship.  That is the way I will go then.
 
The boys send their best respects to you.  Give my love to Uncle Jesse and to Auntie, to Willie and Jesse and to Jack and all the rest of family.  My love to you and a sweet kiss, somewhere in this letter for you Lizzie.  I want you to send me some paper for I can’t get any here and the  postage you sent me, they are all gone.  I lost them.
 
Edward Brick
 
To L. Brick