5th Vermont Infantry - Wounded at Savage Station

Item LTR-214

Description

6 page original Civil War soldier's letter, war dated.

Camp Griffin
January 3rd 1862

My Dear Sister,

I sit down to write a few lines to let you know that I am well. I hope you all are. We have been very busy ever since we moved here. I have not had time to write before. I have had to work all the time or be on guard. Was on picket last Sunday and came back to camp Monday about eleven o’clock and had to go out and drill all the afternoon until after dark. We were mustered for pay the next day. Yesterday we were inspected by the Inspector General. I don’t think our new camp is pleasant as the old one. But is warmer, for the wind can’t blow in here but we have to go over to the old ground afternoons to drill. I shall have to go on picket tomorrow. Charley has not been on picket for a long time. He has been excused for the last times. I think we shall get our pay before long. Our boys are well. That box came Tuesday night. It was the best box that has been here. There were more than thirty boys eating out of it the night we opened it. The Orderly Sergeants and Lieutenant Almsbury and a lot of the boys have been in and eaten a number of times. The cake that Eva sent was the best cake I ever ate. I gave a piece of it and some cheese to the Captain and Lieutenant Forbes. They said it was the best they ever ate. The Captain has been down since to get something to eat every day. About every meal time our tent is full as it can hold about all of the boys from other tents. The chicken and sausage was first rate. The whiskey was nice. We sat up the night we received the box until one o’clock eating mince meat and cheese. We had a good time. Tell Eva that when I get home I will bring her a present to pay for that cake. It is very pleasant weather here but the wind blows rather cold. You wanted to have me write the names of the boys in our tent so I will: Nat Bucklin, James M. Gibson, Isaac Layfayette, Mike Courtney, Edward Brownlee, Edward Noyes, James Lillie, James Welch, Pat Whalin, Charley Shaw, Charley Coot and Volney Salles. There is not as many as there was. For you know that two boys died out of our tent. Elmer is sick in the hospital. He is at Alexandria now. I hope he will be back here before long. He owes me a dollar. I should like it for I had to borrow a dollar and a half. I should think he would write to me for he was getting better or was the last time I heard from him. We have got new caps and shoulder belts. I did not get any shoes nor won’t if I can help it. My boots are very good yet but will not last me through the winter. I think that I shall send and have the old square make me a pair when these are worn out. Charley says he will send for a pair too. We shall not send for them until these are worn out. We expect that there will be great battle here soon. All the officers say that there will be in less than ten days. For it was read on dress parade the order of General McClellan that all the troops must have four days rations so the Army could start at a moments notice. All the regiments have been inspected by the Inspector General to see that the guns and other equipments were in good order.




The knapsacks were too and to see if they had all their clothes and blankets. If they did not they had to buy them and pay for what they lost. I hope that there will be a fight. For the sooner the fighting commences the better. And know what we can do. I had a letter from George last night. He is well and getting fat as a hog. He says it is very pleasant weather there. He says he got a letter from you two days before and you were all well. I am going to write to him today. He wants to have me send him my miniature and he would send me his. I am going to do it. He says he wishes the damn war was ended for he wants to go home. I wish it was myself and so does all the boys but I am afraid it won’t end yet a while. Volney Salles is the biggest nasty cuss besides being a hog. He has not done enough to pay for his salt since being here. He can’t go a rod without falling down. Dunham Clark has not done hardly anything. Edward Brownlee had a box sent him from Benson from Aaron Pitts but was so long on the road the stuff all spoiled. But my box was not hurt a bit. All the boys say it was the best one that we ever had come into our tent. I know it was the boys helping themselves as much as if it belonged to them. I don’t mind for that. But some of them act like hogs, filling their haversacks. The same ones never bought a cents worth into the tent but it is alright. Nat Bucklin has got a box coming. He is one of the cleverest boys in the company. We will have a good time when it comes. I have not seen Morgan lately. He was better last time I saw him. Now I want to have you write all the news. I must write to George today. I have not had time to write more. There is not much to write about. I will again before long. Has Pitt Hyde drawn any more state pay for you? When he does, let me know. I will send some money as soon as we get our pay. I think we shall get it before long. Give my love to Mother and Eva. I would like to see them every night and worry about you all. Be careful and not get sick. Write soon as you can.

Give my love to all the folks.

Edward H. Smith