76th New York Infantry - Wounded at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg & Wilderness

Item LTR-507

Description

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

Fort Totten

March 3rd 1862

Dear Cousin Albert,

Your brief reply came to hand in due time and was welcomed heartily, though I would have been glad to have had it longer.

We soldiers, as a general thing, I believe, like long letters, at any rate I do. And I presume that others do for I observe that when a bundle of letters come for one company and the boys rally around to get theirs. They go away with lengthened faces if they get disappointed. I am sure you would be pleased to see how eager they are to get a letter home or from friends. You will see by the date that we have been changing places again. Well, our last march was short though a very disagreeable one.

We came from meridian Hill to this place on that windy Monday. A part of the way we were ankle deep in mud.

We did not follow the road. But came across the fields and through the woods. We climbed over two fences, and passed through three gates, in course of our two miles tramp. So you may judge how well the farms are fenced in these parts. We passed several camps on our way and I presume that the soldiers who occupied them might be able to tell what became of some of the fences near them. We are still north of the city and farther it than we were before. Our situation is a very pleasant one on many accounts. We (three companies) are guarding Fort Totten, which is situated on a hill and command an extensive view of the country lying around us, especially on the south, east and north. The most serious fault that is to be found with our position is that it is very much exposed to the wind, as Uncle Sam had his boys cut the woods down all around. And particularly on the outside of the line of fortifications which he had them build all around his “big house”, so that the skulking thieves of the south could not catch him asleep and steal his wig. It can hardly be unhealthy here, unless because the water is not very good and we have had better.

Our fare is good here, better than we had very lately, that is, before going into camp and cooking for ourselves.

You will likely find it less difficult to write “long sentimental letters, like Julia’s,” after some practice in letter writing. For letter writing like every other valuable acquirement is only to be obtained par excellence by laborious and persevering effort. By the way, I should like to see one of those letters of Julia’s to which you allude. I shall be pleased to hear from you again at your earliest convenience.

Love to all. I had almost forgotten to inquire how you prosper in Latin. Is Flint still at home? If so, please give him by respects.

Very Sincerely Yours,

Hubert Carpenter