3rd Massachusetts Cavalry & 29th Massachusetts Infantry

Item LTR-5248

Description

5 pages, original Civil War Union letter written in period ink and war dated.

Camp Remount
Pleasant Valley, MD

January 27th 1865

Dear Father,

Having just received your letter, I now hasten to return you an answer. I was very sorry to hear you had got the Erysipelas in your arms again but in hopes when this reaches you, it will find you well and all the rest. My health is as good as ever it was in my life. We don’t have much duty to do now. Drill one hour in the forenoon and one in the afternoon and camp guard. That is all we have to do now but suppose we will have enough to do as soon as we get our horses. We have got our carbines and sabers. Waiting now for our horses. I think we will stay here all winter but don’t know.

It is very cold here now. Snow on the ground and has been ever since I joined the regiment from Baltimore. All the wood we burn we have to drag it ourselves. That is not much work for we go to the mountain and get a big log started and it will come down the mountain like lightning. We have to go about one mile in the mountain. Just about half way to the top and it is steeper than that hill back of Charles Sampson’s house.

I don’t get no war news here so I cannot write any to you.

I want you to write to me and let me know how many dresses my wife has and if she has got other clothes enough to last her for some time. So then when we get paid off, I shall know whether to send her any money or not. She says she is not going to have any more money out of the bank and I don’t want any more taken out than is necessary for although I did not blame you for I sent the order. I thought she needed it or I should not send it. I want her to have clothes enough to be decent and the children no matter if they haven’t’ been very nice. You need not let her know I wrote to you about it. You can write and let me know and that will be the end of it. I cannot tell when she needs money when I am out here. I told her when I left home she should have clothes enough to make herself comfortable for she had nothing when I went away. I suppose she would like to dress as well as she can but there is no need of spending all the money in dressing. So, therefore, I wish you would let me know for I want to be as saving of my money as I can so as to have something when I get home. So if you let me know if she has got clothes enough for awhile, I can tell her myself. I think she has money enough to last her awhile and then she won’t grumble to you. I don’t care myself what she says to me about money if she has got enough.

She wrote to me in her last letter that Lydia Loner was going to have a child and wanted her to take care of her and wanted to know if I was willing for her to go. I told her I was not. She has got enough to do to take care of the children. Does she visit to Thresher’s much? Or other places much? Let me know just as it is and how she gets along. Let me know all of the news you think of.

I must now close hoping this will find you well and all the rest. Tell Sue I have not had a letter from her for a long while. Ell my wife I will write to her in a day or two. Give my best respect to mother. With much love to you all. I now close hoping to hear from you soon.

From you ever loving son,

Silas Townsend

Company A, 3rd MA Cavalry
Camp Remount
Pleasant Valley, Maryland