112th New York Infantry

Item LTR-292

Description

4 page original Civil War soldier's letter, written in period ink and war dated.

Alexandria, VA
March 25th 1864

Friend Fred,

Your epistle of the 13th came to hand all safe and sound. It found me enjoying good health. There is very little news to communicate. I hardly know what to write to make out a respectable letter besides having a miserable pen. My reasoning faculties are rather dull. My head feels about the size of a potato basket caused no doubt of my taking a trip to Brandy Station last night. And as it was very cold, I did not get much sleep. But the great cause of it is a secret, which I do not wish to place before the public. You know a soldier would not take a drop unless it was actually urged upon him. I believe the great trouble is I took too many drops yesterday. I will tell you how it happened. Goodrich had drank every man in the Company drunk but me so we went off to try who could stand the most. We drunk whiskey all the forenoon and in the afternoon we drank Lager. I believe he was laid out first. But both was too tight for comfort. On the night of the 22nd we had the biggest snow storm of the winter it blowed and blustered. It reminded me of Old Cattaraugus. Today its rather changeable weather. There is snow, rain, wind and rain are all combined. Well Fred, times are rather dull now as there is not much money in the Regiment. We expect to be paid soon very likely next week. What do you think of old U.S. Grant? Do you think he will be a match for Robert E. Lee? I think all the advantage of putting him in command of the Army of the Potomac is that he will run the thing as he is a mind to. If he wants reinforcements, he can order them without consulting Old Stanton. They are playing the deuce with the Army now. They are breaking up the 3rd Corps and putting them in the 5th and consolidating the 1st, 2nd and 6th Corps into one. But the best of all Old Sykes has got to take command of his Regulars again. No doubt before this time you have seen T. B. Crocker, Company H, 44th New York Volunteers (or better known as Old Cornhustler). If you have not seen him look out for a swell about that time. I suppose all of these vets cut a considerable of a swell when they get home. They have so much money they don’t know scarcely how to contain themselves. Well Fred, with the blessing of divine providence, I shall be too home in five months. Then I will stay there until I get sick of it but don’t think I shall ever come in the Army again.

Write soon and oblige
J. H. Champlin

P.S. My compliment to all