19th Massachusetts Infantry - Wounded at Fredericksburg

Item LTR-544

Description

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

Camp near Muddy Branch, MD
February 20th 1862

Dear Mother,

I now take a few leisure moments to answer your letter which I received in due time. I received my second box last night. I now stand in need of nothing and if I did I now have no room to put anything more. My knapsack is full and there are some things which I cannot get into it. But these boots are pretty large and I think I can manage to put some of my things in them. They are good boots. I could have sold them for six dollars but I thought it would pay me better to keep them if they are large as the mud is from four inches to a foot deep and I have to stand guard about every other day. We have had glorious news here for the last ten days. Our Army has moved and wiped out “Bull’s Run” and “Bull’s Bluff.” While this mud and water regiment that I belong to remains the same as it always did, stuck fast in this Maryland mud. No fighting to do and I don’t believe it ever will here. But however, I am satisfied if I stay here until the war is over. If I continue to gain in health as much as I have this winter. I think it was the best think I ever did for my health was to come out here. I have gained 41 pounds and I don’t think my clothes will fit me after I get home. Another thing, when I go home I can live on hard crackers and “Salt House”, sleep on a fence rail and get up before breakfast. There is nothing like going soldiering once in a while, but then it won’t do to keep growling all the time as some of them do out here. Because I never should fatten up if I did. I can laugh at them all because I can stand the tough work as well as any of them. The officers are getting frightened for fear they will have to go home this spring. Some of them had better go home and go to school. It would benefit them some I think. We have good officers in our company and the best of it is they are independent. Our lieutenant colonel is a small sized tyrant and if we should get into battle, it would be a wise proceeding on his part to keep in the rear of the “line of battle.” The boys all hate him so. Colonel Hinks is a good man, but he has not had so much to do with the regiment lately as Devereux has. That first box was sent to Washington and then it went from there to Frederick, MD and was there three or four weeks. The news has just come into camp that Norfolk, VA is all on fire. I don’t know better if it is true or not. But I can believe almost anything now. As the news has been so good for the past ten days. You tell Aunt Esther that I will write to her soon, perhaps Sunday. I don’t want you to send another box until I write for it. If we have to stop here this summer, I will need some shirts but not before. Ma write often as you can and do not wait for a letter from me as I do not have the chance to write that I would have if it were dry weather. No more at present.

From your affectionate son,

Charles McDavitt
Company K, 19 Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers

Sunday, February 23rd 1862

Since writing the above, our company have left camp and are now at the fort and canal. I am at the canal. We have to go three miles every night on the canal. The mud being knee deep and dark as Egypt. But I have got good eyesight and am sure footed, so I don’t have any fears of falling so far in the mud but I can get out again. Twenty five canal boats come down yesterday and there is one hundred more coming. They are going to Washington to bring troops and provisions up this way. I think that the union army will cross over into Virginia somewhere in the vicinity of “Ball’s Bluff,” but it will be done in a different manner from what it was before. Our regiment will be kept here to do the guard duty for the canals and river. You tell Aunt Esther that I will write soon. Tell Jim that I have never received any papers from him yet. I would like a paper once a week. It is so much company. Write soon.

Charles McDavitt