26th New York Infantry

Item LTR-389

Description

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

Camp near Brooks’ Station, VA
December 4th 1862

Dear Friend M.,

Your last missive of date Nov 16th was received the 25th together with one from Mother. With pleasure I read the small but closely filled pages then sighed to think there wasn’t more of them. I commenced a letter to you last Sunday but was not allowed to finish.
My promise to do better when I got in better quarters. I see you did not overlook. I am in better health as well as better quarters than when I wrote you last. I now have a good tent, with a fire place in one end. My tent mate A. L. Munson is still with me, also his cousin, Buell Munson, who is well acquainted with Josh Gorsline. We will have been on this camp 2 weeks next Sunday. Last night at 5 o’clock we had orders to be ready to march at daylight today, but it was countermanded about 10 p.m. When we will go now I don’t know but I think it will be before long. We have had but little stormy weather so far, but it is quite cold. Last night the ground froze harder than any time yet and was white with a heavy frost this morning. I suppose you are having good sleighing there now and no doubt enjoy it much. I think you are to blame if you do not. Perhaps you think that you might enjoy it better if I were there to drive the team.

Did you have a good time Thanksgiving and where did you have it? Did the chickens suffer as they did a year ago? You want my opinion about little Mac? I think that they had better change once more, then throw down their arms and go home. Perhaps you and your Mother think it all right. I see you was very careful not express your opinion either way but above you have mine but not mine alone. This war is a mockery making concern and those who carry it on think more of the yellow dust than they do of Liberty. When money takes preference of the two I am not surprised at seeing the poor private disheartened. The letter in which those unanswered questions are I have either destroyed or lost. So if you will be so kind as to ask them once more I will answer them with pleasure if it lays in my power. What am I going to do for a diary? When I get this one written through I calculate to get another of course and send this one to N.Y. What secrets of yours do you wish me to keep? If you have any that you can not manage, why, I and my tent mates will try to subdue them if you will be kind enough to enclose them in your next. If I have time I will write a few lines to Mother, which you will find enclosed. This is a very pleasant day “indeed”. Bass nor Bascom are not with the regiment yet. Remember me to all the friends and accept much love for you and yours. Please answer soon as convenient. With many wishes that you may soon recover as well as the other sick ones. I remain as ever.

W. S. Firman