13th Vermont Infantry

Item LTR-407

Description

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

I am in Campbell Hospital, Ward 3, Washington, DC

Campbell Hospital of Washington DC

March 29th 1863

Dear Folks at Home,

It is with great pleasure that I take this present opportunity to write to you again. I have not had any word from you for about a fortnight and I believe that I have written two or three since I got any word from you.

I have got into a first rate place where I do not have anything to do and live high and feel about as well as I ever have since I came down here. All that ails me now is a pain across the small of my back the most of the time. I am not lonesome at all. There are eight boys that belong to our regiment here and four of them belong to my company. One is Orlando Billings, the one that they started to go home with. When they got as far as here with him, they would not let him go any farther. They say they are going to Olean and the Hospital this week. I do not know what they will do with us. Probably they will send us back to our regiment and the convalescent camp. That is where they send the boys that are getting better. But we do not care much they cannot keep us long anywhere.

The reason for this clearing and the hospital is they are expecting a big fight and have got to have it to put the wounded in. Colonel Randall says we shall go home by the 10th of May but we do not expect it before the 25th of May.

We have not been paid off yet. I have not gotten but 25 cents and that I borrowed. I wish I had a dollar.

I received those pills and wish I had a half dozen boxes more. When you write to me direct just as you always have and Derrick Stoddard will send them to me where ever I am.

Mother, don’t worry about me. For I have not laid in a bed three hours in the daytime since I have been here. I am all around. I suppose Father has had a good lot of sugar before this time. I hear sugar is worth 15 cents a pound there. You must make a lot of butter this spring for some of the boy’s folks write to them that butter is selling for 25 cents a pound.

They think that I wrote to you that I sent a box by Hartwell. You will not get it for he has not gone home. I suppose little Jennie will have a good time eating sugar a little. Dear Bird, I wish I was at home to see her and all of the rest of you.

But never mind, I 7 weeks more and then we will have a good time. Brother Ulysses, I should come again if I get safely at home. Are they doing anything there about the draft? Write all about it. Nell, I would not go over the mountain to work for you. Can work for Miss Ed. Just as well and then you will be near at home when I come. I can see you without going 20 miles. Nell, why don’t you write more often to me? Where is Elisha going? Brother Derrick says he has sold out his farm. What is Marion doing this winter? Tell Thomas and Betty to write to me now. Be sure I would write to them but I am short for paper and stamps and no money. I have hardly enough to last me a week until I come home. It is warm and nice here now. The grass looks so green here now as it will in May at home.

Four o’clock Sunday afternoon. I have not gotten any letters yet and so I will finish my letter. I have been waiting all day and thought I would not send my letter until I heard from you. But I know you will want to hear from me and so I will not wait. I have not heard from anyone yet and had since I wrote to you. The last I heard they were well and were about to move. They told me to direct my next letter to Barrie Pass.

Tell Father if he has gotten any lumber to keep it. For I want it to build a shop when at home. Tell him not to work too hard, for he can get Rufe to help him gather sap and I have gotten money enough to pay him. But I must close by wishing you goodbye for the present. And asking you to write soon. Direct to Dan Grandy, Company B, 13th Regiment Vermont Volunteers, Washington, DC.