5th New Hampshire Infantry

Item LTR-535

Description

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

Camp Cross
Point Lookout, Maryland

February 29th 1864

Brother Clark,

Yours of the 25th is just at hand advising me of the startling and lamented news of Scott’s death. I would come home immediately if it were a possible thing to do so. I wrote you last night how I was situated. And Dr. Bucknam’s leave came this afternoon approved for twenty days. Leave at nine o’clock this evening, on the boat for Baltimore from there by rail. So I am left all alone. Dr. C., still detached from the regiment. Therefore, it is no use to think about going home at present. Yet I want to go bad and would start tonight if I could.

As long a diphtheria rages there so fearfully, I want you to write me every day, that I may know if any or not of the rest are taken sick with it. Hope you will write again before this reaches you, if it is not more than six words. Shall not rest very quiet in mind until I hear again from all at home. Who treated Scott? I suppose it was one of those malignant cases in which medicine is of no avail. Write me more particularly about the case. I hope you and Sarah and the little ones may escape the disease, but it being in your very midst and on every side of you as it were, I fear you will yet have a trial of it. Still you may not. Hope not at least and on that hope must be content until hearing again from you.

You write Captain Smith is in Concord and will be at home at election. Good, good. Should be most happy to see him. Give him my best regards and tell him to come and see us when he returns. Where is his regiment located now? I notice tonight’s paper speaks of our boys arriving in Boston all safe night before last. Reports was carried here this forenoon that the boat they went on was sunk. How such a report started, do not know. But it happily seems to be false.

March 1st 1864

March has set in with a very rainy day, dark and foggy. You are probably having a thaw. I have got my monthly report completed and sent in and the extra business for the month of February all done up and now have a few leisure moments. It keeps one pretty busy to attend to all the business alone. But this morn I have the letters to drive dull cares away. Am well, etc. Dr. C. is singing and howling about happy as a clam in high water. Good everyday company.

Love to all. Write.
C. M. Trask