14th New Hampshire Infantry - KIA at Opequan, VA

Item LTR-228

Description

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

Office of Central Guard House
Washington City, D. C.
July 23d 1863

Brother Seth

Dear Sir, I received your letter a few days and since was very glad to learn you were well and prospering. You said you had not received my allotment of $20 of last payment. Perhaps you have by this time but if not, please inform me immediately for it is due and if you have not received it, I will write to Sanborn of Concord and have it looked up. Please write by return mail in regards to it.

I am in a very good situation at present. I have the whole charge of the Prison & Prisoners. We had yesterday morning in all, 325 prisoners but soon released nearly a hundred of them and gave them passes to leave the City to report to their Regts. This prison is a catch all for Soldiers, Citizens and Rebels and everything you can think of. There is all kinds of charges preferred against them. Some for murder, theft, vagrancy, selling liquor to soldiers, disloyalty, drunkenness, soldiers without passes, and forging passes, desertion, both civil & military prisoners. About 9 o’clock a.m., the judge advocate comes and investigates the military cases and Judge Furgerson comes and tries the civil cases. We also have women in here every day. The other day we had a woman come here and there was concealed about her person, 9 canteens of whiskey -- somewhere about 4 gals of it – attempting to smuggle it across the river to soldiers in camp. The judge fined her $20 dollars & costs, and let her go. Of course, the liquor was confiscated. We had yesterday, a colonel arrested and sent here for confinement and we have several cases of captains & lieutenants. It would amuse you to hear the cases tried – some of them.

Please write me by return mail. I am getting now $80.00 per month and if I stay, I can lay up a little something on that. Keep cool and let your hair grow. How does your patent machine progress?
This from your Brother,

H. S. Paul
Prison Sergt
Central Guard House
Washington, D.C.

Give love to all