2nd Massachusetts Infantry

Item LTR-11552

Description

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


Cantonment Hicks
Near Frederick, Maryland
 
January the 30^th 1862
 
Dear Father,
 
I take this opportunity to drop you a few lines.  Hoping they will find you enjoying a fair degree of health and prosperity.  The Wheel of Fortune has again turned and left me twenty-six dollars.  And as I have been fortunate, thus far, I think I shall risk the mails again and will enclose a ten-dollar treasury note.  Thus far, I have been so fortunate to get cashiered.  I have ever strived to do my duty, as a soldier and if I continue in the same way, I hope to escape all trouble.  
 
I have but little to write in the inactivity of our regiment.  There is little of interest to write about.  We are to our knees in mud.  It rains and then snows and then rains again.  There may be romance enough in standing guard around this camp in such weather.  But it is not the pleasing kind.  It might look well in print, but in experience it is not so fine.  But we don’t have to work very hard and are pretty tough at present.  Our troops are doing something around the edges.  But the war goes as slowly and it will be some time yet before we can move unless it should turn cold and freeze up.  
 
I expect you folks at home are getting very impatient to have this war closed up.  But the rebellion must be put down.  If it takes all the money in the United States.  But I think it will take a number of months yet to settle the thing up.  We do see a big thing in Kentucky.  I suppose you read all the news.  
 
I hope you will write soon and let me know what is going on.  I can think of little to write today.  I shall keep a considerable part of pay.  As I may need it before pay day comes again.  I may have to buy another pair of boots.  The government does not furnish these indispensable articles.  I bought a pair second hand that have done me good service.
 
But I must close by sending compliments to all.
 
This from your son,
 
M. G. Kittridge
 
To Joshua Kittridge