12th New Hampshire Infantry - NEW

Item LTR-12076

Description

Original Civil War letter. 4 pages written in period ink.


12^th New Hampshire Regiment
Camp Near Falmouth, Virginia
March 3^rd 1863
 
Dear Old Friend Frank,
 
Hope you will forgive me for not writing before. I was heedless, or I should have done it. Charles Leavitt had a letter from you night before last, and he told me you said you wanted me to write you. You had written me two letters, but I have received only one from you. I don't want you to be so heedless as I have been, but write as often as you can, and I will write oftener.
 
My health is not as good as it was last summer when I worked at Mr. Morgan's. I am lame in both ankles and my stomach is out of order. What I eat does no good, and I have some cough.
 
I should like to call on you some morning this winter, Frank, and talk over old times and eat an apple with you. I think it would go good, and I think a little popped corn would not go bad. And Frank, I could tell you a long story of what I have seen. It would take me some time, I tell you.
 
There is not much of importance to write at the present time. Everything seems to be still and quiet hereabouts. They are building forts here in the direction of the creek, and they are calculated to be pretty large and formidable.
 
There is a report here this morning that Vicksburg has been taken. I hope it is so, but fear it may not be. 
 
There is another that Napoleon has ordered the Rebels to lay down their arms in 30 days, but this is a camp story, not much to be relied on.
 
We are having rather a wet time here, for it rains most of the, actually, all the time, which makes it very muddy and bad getting along. You have no idea of what Virginia mud is. I would like to have you, for the fun of it, get stuck in where it is a foot deep. You would then see for yourself what it is.
 
Frank, I have no stamps, so I hope you will excuse me for sending this without any. It is impossible to get any here. You have to pay everything for what you buy here.
 
Apples are five cents a piece, cheese 40 cents a pound, butter 60 cents a pound, tobacco $1.50 a pound, writing paper two cents a sheet, and other things in proportion. So you see, if we bought all we wanted, we should have to have a good deal of money. 
 
Amos Chattel put his arm out of joint the other day while wrestling with another boy, and he is likely to have a hard time of it before it gets better.
 
I suppose you have got any quantity of snow there now. We have had some here, as much as a foot at a time, but it doesn't stay long now. 
 
I must close right soon as you get this. 
 
From your friend, 
 
John N. Dockum