13th New Hampshire Infantry - NEW

Item LTR-11915

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages, written in period ink.


Portsmouth, [Virginia]
March 1st, 1864
 
Absent Father,
 
I now sit down to write a few lines to you to let you know that I am well, and hope that these few lines will find you the same. I have not much to write, but it's fine weather here now. The sand flies as bad, as bad, as bad as you ever see the snow.
 
The boys are all well that went from our place. The old boys are thinking of going home to March meeting, but I think that they will go.
 
I should like to come home to see how things are going on, but I don't think that I shall come home until this war is settled. I think that we shall give the rebels hell this summer, and it will be an end to a great many lives before that it is settled.
 
The rebels are coming in every day. I've seen one of them, prisoners that got away from Richmond, and he said that the rebels had got almost discouraged and a good many of the officers.
 
We took a rebel spy the other night. He had the plans of the campground and the forts and everything, and we just took over the young gent and put him in Norfolk jail. He will be apt to stay there until this war is over.
 
I don't think of much more to write. I am troubled with the shakes, malaria some, but not so bad as I was when I first came out here. David Moody and James Bacon were some homesick when they first came out, but they are getting over it some. The rest of the boys enjoy themselves very well.
 
A soldier's life is the easiest life that the man can live, for they have more to eat than they want, and they have somebody to look after them. And when they were at home, they had to take care of themselves. So I think that the soldier stands a better chance than any other man.
 
But I think that the war will be closed this summer so that we all can come home and tend to them meetings. I think that when the soldiers go home, they will take religion in abundance. I understand that some of the converts have backslidden, Silas especially.
 
I don't think I have much more to write this time. Tell Mary and Jules that I send my best respects to them, and I would like to have them write to me, and I will do the same.
 
I must close now. Write as soon as you get this. 
 
Yours respectfully, 
 
Arthur R. Aldrich
 
To Wells Wright
 
Direct your letters to:
Washington DC
Company H, 13th New Hampshire Volunteers
My pen is poor and my ink is pale. If you can't read it, throw it away.