205th Pennsylvania Infantry - Wounded at Fort Stedman, VA

Item LTR-5414

Description

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

Camp near Hancock Station, VA

December 30th 1864

Dear Father,

It is with the greatest of pleasure that I seat myself down this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at the present time and I hope that thee few lines may find you and all the rest at home in good health at the present time and getting along as well. This is the first time that I have taken the opportunity of writing to you. I thought it was hardly necessary for me to write to you all when I send Mary one every week and also Jacob writes to you once in a while. So I also mention something about you all in every letter that I write too up there. My paper is not very plenty and also my stamps get very scarce so I can’t write to everyone that I would like to.

Well, I must let you know how the army is getting along. The army is in good health and in good spirits and hoping that the war will be over till spring. There is a pretty good appearance of it being so on account of so many rebels coming across to our liens. There is an average of one hundred per day. So I think that would weaken their army down very fast. I think that they will get tired of the business before long. They are cannonading very heavy in the direction of Richmond and they fire some heavy salutes at the forts opposite our camp but they have not thrown any into our camp. The rebel lines are not very far off of ours. They could throw shells into our camp from their forts but ours settle them.

There is a fort called Fort Helm but the most of them call it Fort Hell. They opened out on one of the Johnny’s forts and blown it all to pieces and it made them very angry so they commenced to shell one of our forts called Rice. But they did not do much by throwing shells. They could not accomplish anything so they had to quit the business and leave it along.

I received a letter from John Wilke on Wednesday and he stated in his letter that there were nine bushels and a half of wheat coming to him yet and he was at the mill after it. And Mr. Park told him that there were none for him there and that you had it all ground out. He wrote to me that he stood in need of it very bad and that you should replace it for him as soon as you can. I suppose that times are pretty hard with you and I want to know whether you got that Christmas note yet or whether he paid you yet. And I want you to get along as well as you can till I get back again and save up all the money that you can. And when we get back, we can try and buy a farm with our money. So that we will have a home of our own.

They are talking about selling the Hanley farm and I want mother to try and get it sold. She can get her share out of it and the sooner the better if it is this winter. So she can save it up for help to pay for the place. And I also want john to save his money too to help pay for it. For you all will reap some benefit of it.

Well father, I will bring my letter to a close for this time. For I have no particulars of any account to write to you. So I will close by sending you all my love and best wishes. And Jacob is well also and joins in sending to you all his love to all of you. So nothing more for the present. Write soon and let me know how times are.

Your sons,

Henry H. Otto
And
Jacob W. Otto