148th New York Infantry

Item LTR-465

Description

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

Camp Suffolk, VA

November 26th 1862

Dear Father and Mother,

I thought I would pen you a few lines. I was setting in my hut and thinking about home. It popped in my mind to write. That is only the way that I can pass away my time is a writing to my folks. I get very lonesome sometimes. Then I go to writing. I am very fond of writing and reading. I received that paper you sent me. It seemed like home to get a Jersey paper to read. I am glad to think the democrats won the election. The woolly heads can sit right now in their sorrow. We had a small election in the Regiment. The Colonel gave us a chance. We were drawn up in line. They told us that he would see how we voted. For Wadsworth for governor to raise up their hands and then those Seymour men to do the same. There were two Seymour men. I was one of them. It made the Lieutenant look. He said he didn’t expect that he had a Seymour man in his company. I told him that I was and was not ashamed to own it. I told the boys that I would bet a dollar that Seymour would be elected Governor of New York State. I got a bet and won it. This Regiment is mostly all girly men, Black Republicans. There is a few democrats, not many. I think the woolly heads is getting played out. I think it is time that they should. I am very much obliged to you for that paper. I wrote a letter to Perry today. I have not answered Uncle Bill’s letter yet. I will tomorrow. I send a good many letters. I am on picket tomorrow. I was detailed on duty today. It rained so hard that we did not work. It is now bedtime. The drums are bidding to fall out for roll call. Next will be to put out the lights and go to bed. We have got a really good fire tonight in our fireplace. We got a good lot of wood today to be ready for cold weather. I have no news to tell you. I will bring my short letter to a close and turn in and think about home. Excuse the poor writing and bad spelling. I laid down on the bed and scratched these few lines. Good night and good luck to you all. Answer soon.

From your obedient Son,

William B. Davis

Little blunder. I am going to bring you home a dog when I come home. A good muskrat dog. Tell me how many you have caught this fall and how many rabbits.