20th Maine Infantry & Veteran Reserve Corps

Item LTR-381

Description

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

Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washington, D.C. Nov. 1. 63

Dear Wife,

I received a letter from you last Wednesday and was glad to hear that you and the children were as well as common, but was sorry to hear that Uncle Aca’s health was so poor and that he was so discouraged about himself. Tell him to try and keep up good courage, for courage is a great thing in sickness. If anyone gives up to their feelings, and is cast down, it generally goes pretty hard with them. I see that proved by a number of cases in Stanton Hospital that was wounded. There was one fellow that had his leg taken off at the thigh. And, he would laugh and carry on, as much as any of us, and did not seem to mind it but a little, although he had considerable pain to encounter with. And, his leg heeled very fast. And, there was another fellow that was wounded in the thigh, only a flesh wound, and he give right up to it, and was all discouraged, and cried at times like a baby. And, it was a great while before his leg began to heel. I think it depends a good deal how that state of anybody’s mind is in order for them to get along well in sickness. I hope he will soon get better.

I received a letter from Louise with your letter and was glad to hear from her, and to hear that her health had improved ‘til she is restored to good health again, and get married to a good man & live in peace and happiness. I think she has had her part of sickness. It has been some time since she enjoyed health, and its blessings. She spoke of the children growing very fast, and she thought I should not know Lewis, he has growed so much since I came away. I don’t know as I should if I should see him where I did not expect to. But, I think I should. She wanted me to write her a letter, but I guess if you will show her this letter she will consider it an answer to her letter. Tell her I should like to write to her personally, and a good many more, but I can’t for want of time & means to get writing material. I calculate to write her my best wishes every time I write you a letter, and she may think my relations toward her are friendly. And, also tell Harriett she must not think hard, because I don’t write, and answer her letter, for I can’t answer them near as I can in the letters that I write to you, so they may know that I have just as much respect for them as though I wrote to them.

I was sorry to hear that Uncle Aca’s cancer has broke out and bled. I fear if that is the case, he will be growing worse instead of growing better. I expect they are very troublesome things for any one to have. Eliza said that Lucy Keen was troubled a good deal with a cancer. I pity anyone that has them for they must suffer a good deal of pain.

You wrote that Uncle Aca had gathered the apples and that he had five bushels of Baldwins. That is something new for our orchard. We have not as you said, but a few before. I hope you will enjoy yourself next winter eating them.

I wish I could have the privilege of helping you eat them, and also you spoke of making a barrel of cider. I wish I could get a drink of it, when it is new, but I expect it will be pretty hard before I get any of it. I think the potatoes done well if we had seventy bushels for our part. Do they rot much? If we did not get but thirty-five bushels of ears of corn, I think you will be rather short before the year is up, don’t you? But, we can’t have more than a cat in her skin. We must be thankful for what we git. That is the way to git more.

I think that piece of Rozilla’s dress is pretty and she will have a pretty dress when it is made up, trimmed with braid, and she will feel proud.

Since I commenced this letter I received a letter from Rachel. They were as well as common, except the baby. It has got the whooping cough. They were getting along well. Enoch had as much trade as he can tend to. She said she was agoing to write to you and send that letter that letter [sic] I wrote them some time ago.

She said you was rather slim, and that she never saw you so poor before in her life. You never told me of that. You have always wrote that you was as well as common except a tooth ache once in a while, as you tell me you had not ought to keep your complaints from me, I fear you are worrying yourself too much about me, as near as I can learn.

Mr. Herrich called and see me last night, the one you spoke of coming to see me. And, he spoke of you being in feeble health. But, it it [sic] done no good his coming by my getting my discharge just as quick as he saw me. He said you are a good deal better. I told him yes, if I had been as well as I am now, when I come in this Corps I should not been here, but I might been in the First Battalion. I can get along very well with the light duty I have to do now. If I don’t have to do anything harder than I do now.

P.W., Jr.