3rd Maine Infantry

Item LTR-471

Description

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

Camp Howard

March 3rd 1862

Dear Brother and Sister,

I received yours of the 25th. Next morning we start on a march of 12 miles. On picket we have just gotten in to camp. So I sit down to answer yours. I am well and tough as a tiger. Eben is not very well. He has a cold. The rest are all smart. When I read the first of your letter, I thought I was a going to have a good time eating. But I was knocked in the head before I got through. I guess I shouldn’t hurt myself this time but perhaps it is just as well as it costs so much and it is growing warm here. I can eat enough to make up if ever I come home and I think I shall. There is talk that we are going to move forward in a few days towards the enemy. If we do I shall send something in a box to you. Chase will send some with me. So you may look for a box. Some of the boys have sent some already. We had a heavy wind here the 24th which blew nearly half our tents down and blew up trees by the roots. It made quite a stampede around us. We had a good time on picket this time. We found succession pigs a plenty and they found our bullets plenty. We found some potatoes as before and boiled them. So fired pig and boiled potatoes went to the spot we found a plenty of unthrashed wheat. So we made ourselves a pretty good nest to camp and I went to a house and bought some pone cake and milk and egg. The first I have tasted since I left Augusta. No more of importance this time. You have heard of all the matters as near as I have heard. Some great victories and the boys think of some more soon. But if they get home next fall they will do well. I had a letter from my brother some time ago. Lt. Chase and Charles Roberson have packed up the things we can’t march with into a box and shall send them tomorrow. The box will be directed to William Smith. Each which is marked separately so you can tell mine from the rest. I have a pair of pants, a coat, a pair of mittens and I want you to take care of them till I come home. I cannot tell what way we shall march or where we shall go. I do not know when we shall be paid off again so you may look out for a letter every day. I shall send some money if I get all that’s due me. I want you to write as soon as you get a letter from me with money in it. I do not know as I want to sell my house and shop. Yet unless someone wants to give two hundred and fifty dollars cash down and not then unless David has paid up the mortgage of forty dollars on it. Tell him he must pay that up when before I pay him that note. I will give five dollars if he will square that up. I do not know what your children need by sending them some like those I sent. Elmira, I do not remember sending any but I will send them something sometime. Tell them to be good boys until then and when I come home I shall bring some things they never saw before. I must close. Write soon.

From your Brother,

C. H. Eldridge
Alexandria, VA
3rd Maine Regiment Company H

Give love to all friends.