1st Massachusetts Cavalry - NEW

Item LTR-12124

Description

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


Headquarters, 1^st Massachusetts Cavalry
Company A
Camp Harris
 
January 23, 1862
 
Dear Brother Frank,
 
I have just finished perusing yours and Lizzie's letters, and I feel jubilant to an astonishing degree to know that I am not forgotten in my old age by my kindred.
 
I did numerate sadly, "Out of sight, out of mind" was not altogether a played-out saying, and all because some lazy or muskily lout connected with the post offices did not do his duty. My good spirits are much dampened to know that a faithful and capable young man like you should be discharged from a situation you have so long filled, and at a time when employment is so hard to get. Just because you asked for what should have been granted long ago. That man will lose by the operation before long, or the miserable stars which rule the Richardson destiny will go back on themselves.
 
No man who wrongs one of us will make by it in the end, as I have always noticed. It is our luck to be kicked about, but the kick hurts the given as much as us. Oora!!. Some satisfaction to be got out of the O.S. you see.
 
I take it that L.P.F stands for "low pecuniary finances," which goes to show a dearth of cash or long-picked fingers, denoting an empty ice chest or any other place where grub is usually kept. (come call its candor).
 
I am not particularly apt at solving enigmas or nebuses. So just spell out L-P-F in your next edition. I sincerely hope that neither of my foregoing solutions will be applicable to you and the family this winter. I should suppose that Pinter would send home a treasury note to father once in a while, and I presume he does. I would do so myself now, but I sent home to Sarah all that I had to spare and told her to purchase some clothes, which she said she would be in need of.
 
And by the way, she wouldn't be modest if she stood long without any on, failing to buy clothes to negotiate for a church of some kind where she might pray for all sorts of calamities to fall upon the heads of the Rebels, and that the war might end quickly. Celia, I would advise you to shoulder a musket and march to the wars, but there are enough men in the business now. Two out of a family of three is enough to contribute out of one house. Besides, you will devolve the care of father and mother, for I think my right to come home is rather small. We are going where favor or Ward will send a good portion of us to glory or the nuisance, and I have a presentment that I shall get in the way of some stray bullet or something hard and penetrating, which I shouldn't relish.
 
Our men are grinding their sabers prior to going into a fight, somewhere in the vicinity of Charleston, South Carolina, when we expect to be, sometime or other.
 
Give my love to the family all around and tell them I often think of the old-fashioned sings that were so full of melody, the like of which I never heard outside of our own house. I hope that God will so order it that the whole family can come together again before long in the flesh and unite in a song of thanksgiving. Hoping that I should soon hear from you again.
 
I remain your affectionate brother,
 
Joseph W. Richardson
 
 
To F. F. E. Richardson
 
Why in the name of General Jackson don't the fellows shoot out write his knight and stand there until everything is lost? Bring down the hammer and sickle amid Vincent. Tell Franzic by Beauchamp.
 
Note: Everything is barred until a new song nationale. Fiddler, fiddle, faddle, fiddle, de, do, dum!!!
 
Who is Uncle Sam? A thieves and robbers represent him in the main.