152nd New York Infantry - Two Deserters Shot - NEW

Item LTR-11924

Description

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


Friday, December 25th, (1863)
Camp near Stevensburg, Virginia
 
Christmas, Christmas
 
Dear wife and child,
 
I wish you a Merry, mMry Christmas, also, all our friends. Dear ones, I am happy to say that I am well and hearty, but the pleasantness of the day are not what they would be at home, were I  there. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed myself very well today. 
 
By the way, I will tell you what I had to eat today. For my breakfast, baked potatoes, beef steaks, soft bread, and coffee. For dinner, the same. As the sutler arrived, we had for supper coffee, baked potatoes, and butter, also cheese, also fruitcake, the sutler having brought some with him from the city. 
 
Tomorrow, we expect to get in our new log house as our sutler brought our stove with him, and now we shall be quite comfortable, as we have an oven to bake our bread in. We draw as rations dried apples, pickled cabbage, potatoes, onions, beans, and soft bread twice a week. So we live very well.
 
Our weather here is cold, and the ground is frozen hard. No snow, though I expect you have snow aplenty at home.
 
By the way, give my best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Fenner and tell them that, as I cannot be there New Year's to kill and eat the rooster and to think of me far, far away.
 
News here is not much of late. Two soldiers have been shot for desertion.
 
On Wednesday last, a soldier died in our regiment. We have a good many sick just now from the effects of hard marching and sleeping on the ground. But dearest, I am tough and stand it well. Silas is very well, and I see him every day that he is not on duty.
 
I think now that there is no mistake that we shall stay here all winter. Please let me know who is drafted if they draft in Newport and Fairfield.
 
Remember me to all our friends, also in your prayers. Dearest, I hope to see you this winter. Excuse a short letter as it is late and our mail is just going. 
 
Love and kisses with a number to you and our dear child. 
 
From your ever faithful and loving husband, 
Matthew McCann
 
To my wife, Eliza