9th New York Cavalry

Item LTR-332

Description

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

Carver Hospital
June 13th 1863

Dear Wife,

You will expect an excuse for the long silence I have permitted to pass. But the only one I can muster is that I was every day looking for a letter from you for the lost three or four days. I have waited to answer and then I get so tired sitting all day and writing in the office, I hardly feel like setting up when I come in.

Since I wrote to you last, I have not received any further intelligence from the matters of the Regiment. I believe I wrote you that Sackett is Colonel and Major Nichols, Lieutenant Colonel and Anderson Major. The Company promotions had not been made at the last I heard. The position given to me in the office keeps me too busily occupied to allow for any time to get the blues. I seldom get a chance to leave the office until about 9 o’clock PM. I shall try to get out this afternoon and go over to the Lincoln Hospital and see the boys of the 9th who were wounded at Beverly Ford the other day. By all accounts that was a pretty sharp fight. And was certainly most opportune in checking of the operations of the rebels in their intended raid. Quite a number of the ninth boys were wounded and Major Martin of Busti, as you will see by the list in the paper, I sent you the other day. My health gradually improves and I hope soon to feel strong again. The bowel difficulty does not let up on me yet otherwise I feel quite well. The pain and soreness on my side are very much better than they have been though still somewhat troublesome. The weather for the past week has been delightfully cool and pleasant, save the dust a constant breeze fills the air with. I forgot in my last to say George Francis stopped here on his way to Aquia Creek to look after Brad Wood. I have not since heard from him but fears are entertained that Brad will not recover from the effects of his wounds.

I shall look for a letter from you today and if I do not get one shall think you went to Leon was the reason I have not heard. There is nothing new stirring here. Everything moves along in the same course day after day. They sent 30 New York men to a hospital at or near New York from here yesterday and each morning a lot leave for duty. The numbers have been reduced from 1250 men to about 750 by this means since the middle of last month.

Tell Eddie he must eat strawberries for Pa this year as I can’t get them.
Affectionately your own,
Eben [Buel]