4th & 32rd Massachusetts Infantry - Killed at Shady Grove Church Road, VA

Item LTR-235

Description

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

In Camp near Beverly Ford, VA
August 12th 1863

Friend William,

I have just received your letter of the 10th. The contents of which interested me very much indeed. I am glad to know that your business is so good and that you are doing so well.

You mentioned in your letter that we should have to wait a good while for those conscripts to join us. There has been an order passed for them to report on the 15th of this month. There has a great many arrived this past week. I was in hopes that some of those South Wingham boys would have come out here and especially that young Joshua Jacob. I can tell a story about him. He was in my company once. He left us between two days. The Army of the Potomac is settled down for a few weeks for the men to rest their weary limbs and get recruitment up for another battle with Lee. I think the next battle will be near Culpepper. Not a great ways from where we are encamped. I don’t care how soon it comes off if we only will whip the rebs and that we have great confidence in how. Do you think you would feel to get ready to march up and face the enemy where the bullets are flying like hail stones and cannon balls and shells flying over your head. I should like to see some of those conscripts go in the battle once. I guess there would be some (example the spelling of this word) Schieceddburg. If ever I get home alive, I shall have some horrid stays to relate of what I have seen during this horrid war.

There is one thing in particular that I want to inquire about and that is how long has Andrew C. Cushing been at home. The first indication I had of his being at home was in your letter. How has he done since he has been gone?

Our old friend John Hutter came to see me yesterday. He looks first rate. It is the first time that I have seen him since I have been out here. He is in the 12th Massachusetts Regiment. He would like to get back to the old mill again. For my part I am not sick enough to come home and go to work in that dust again. I thought what a fool I have been to give away so much of my time there and not get anything for it. I can’t blame nobody but myself.

The 37th Regiment is encamped very near us. The boys came over about every day to see us. I have seen Frank Torry and Burt Hersey this week. They are enjoying good health. Frank is sick enough of soldiering. It is something that he is not used to.

Those that were wounded at Gettysburg that belong to Wingham are getting along as well as can be expected. Sergeant James H. Haskill is doing well. He is a cripple for life. If it was me I should want to have my revenge on those devil of rebels. I can say that I have faced the devil and fought them and I hope I shall until this rebellion is over.

I don’t think we shall have anymore fighting for two or three weeks to come. The weather will continue to be very hot.

Please write as often as you can and tell me all that is going on in the south part of the town.

When I write again, I will give you more of the details of what we are going and where we have been and how we live and what the soldiers have to live on.

Remember me to all inquiring friends, especially your wife and your friends.

Yours forever,

Lieutenant George W. Bibby
Company D, 32nd Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers