6th Vermont Infantry

Item LTR-296

Description

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


Camp Griffin
February 26th 1862

My Dear Wife,

I received your hand letter today and was glad to hear from you. Tell me not to feel bad about you being sick, I can’t help it. I was afraid you would get sick now. If you have any running to do, get someone to do it for you. What you now hear from me won’t you do it, for if you should get sick I should be crazy. I have always told you those long jaunts did hurt you. Do be careful won’t you. I don’t want that to worry me for I haven’t things to comfort me. Here my health is good as ever and the war news is good. I don’t give it up yet, but hope the war will be over by the first of April. I shall expect to be home about then if I live. I know I am not certain of my life some times. I think we shall not move from where we are but now I think we shall. I rather guess we shall have to drive the rebels out of Virginia and if we do, it will be done soon. I heard that the Vermont 7th was disbanded and the Vermont Cavalry. But don’t know the truth of it yet. If they aren’t I guess they will be. You tell me that they have let women in the 7th Regiment. We have now such here. Now being nearer to Washington, some of our soldiers have been down there and caught the pox or some other bad disease. But for myself I haven’t spoke to any women since I spoke to you. You and Aribria were the last I ever spoke to and I haven’t any desire to speak to any other. I mean to have you the next one that I speak to. Now Jane, keep up good courage be careful. Don’t do anything to save money that will make you sick. For health is worth more than money. That is what I try to do to save my health. My health is good and so is all the rest of the boys. I have never seen Albert when he looked healthier. We are all feeling well in every sense of the word. For we expect to get through here before long. Tell Nettie I was pleased to get a letter from her. Tell her I shall expect to get right along. I would like to hold correspondence with her right along for I think she is a nice young lady. She should write the state of her health and whether she learns or not and whether she helps her Mother do up the dishes or not. I would like that she should give me the particulars in one of her letters. You wanted I should send home my old stocking legs. I don’t think it would pay. It would cost almost as much as new ones. Perhaps I will fetch them home. Don’t let anyone out of the house see your letters. For they say I write homesick letters. So don’t let them see any. If they ask anything about me, you can tell them but don’t tell that I am homesick. Well I can’t think of anything more now. Give my love to Mother and the rest and accept a share for yourself and so goodbye for this time.

This is from your husband,

Samuel S. Kirby