1st New Jersey Light Artillery - Battery B & D

Item LTR-509

Description

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

Camp in front of Richmond, Virginia

Tuesday, November 1st 1864

Dear Wife,

Your letter dated October 17th came duly to hand and I was glad to hear that you was a making out well, you and the children both. I am well at present and I hope these few lines will find you and the children all well.

They are all quiet at present along the line. I think that we will soon leave to hunt for winter quarters. We was out on a raid last week and was gone for two days and one night and it rained all night very hard. We was towards Fair Oaks but we had to retreat back again. The whole corps did, for the rebs was too strong for us. On that hitch we lost considerable that trip. We got paid but I did not get nothing, only my monthly wages and none of the rest did either. The next pay day I am to have the bounty then. I will send you $20.00 dollars this time and if that comes safe, I will send you more the next time. Charles Fuller is in the battery with us. If Lindles folks has not heard from Mike yet, for the last time that I heard from him he was at the hospital. And then [heard] was dead but I do not know how true it is. But I hope not how things is and how they are all a getting along around there. Tell John Garrison to write to me about how much nomination Little Mack got in Jersey. For I am very anxious to hear from him. Them fellows all around Double Pond are all drafted. Tell Mary Jane I will not forget her and when I come home, I will bring her something nice.

As I am on guard today, I have not much time to write. So I will have to close by sending my respect to you and the children and take good care of the children and yourself. So no more. Write as soon as you receive this for I want to hear whether you got the money or not. So no more. This from your husband.

Henry Smith