16th New York Heavy Artillery

Item LTR-5658

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages written in period ink.

U.S. Christian Commission
Williamsburg, NC

March 3rd 1865

Dear Wife and Sons,

It is with pleasure I write these few lines to let you know that I am well at present. I should be contented you and the children was where I could see you. It is quite warm here in the garden where I now sit. The onion tops are about 4 to 6 inches. The peas are about the same. It is very sandy land where we are now. I don’t think we shall stay here long. We shall go to Fort Fisher or to Smith. Well they both lay on the Cape Fear River on each side of the River. Fort Fisher is bounded on one side by the sea and the other is the river. I will give you the particulars. I am still in my old place and intend to keep it as long as I stay. I have a horse to ride and that is better than going afoot in this sand. I have got the good will of the whole regiment. They will do all they can for me. My health is good. My legs don’t swell any yet. Enough of this for this time. I received two letters when I came to the regiment. One dated the 6th and the other the 18th of February. But I was sorry to hear that George was ugly and you had it so hard. I will try and get home as soon as possible. You wrote for me not to forget you. God knows that is all I want to live for is my family. Without them I would as soon die here as anywhere.

Smithville is back about four miles from the sea coast. Plenty of oysters and clams are here. But little about the forts. It is well fortified in front of Smith, well on the coast is Port Caswell. That fort mounts 72 large guns, Fort Fisher the same and Port Anderson lays still up the river. There is one gun there that was sent from England as a present to Jeff Davis. It is mounted on a mahogany casing. It is worth fifty thousand dollars. Our folks have taken all of these. They took three thousand prisoners and put them to the west branch of the Cap Fear River. That is about 4 miles from here where I found them. I stayed there two days and then came back here yesterday and probably we will move tomorrow I think. But I shall be careful of myself and get home as soon as possible. I shall send my money home as soon as I get paid. That will be this month. George, my dear boy, you have been my idol and I have made great reckoning on taking great deal of comfort with you when I come home. You have been first rate and you said you were going to write me a letter. How glad I shall be to get it. George be good to Ma and Penny and learn and I will get home as soon as possible. Penny be good and do what Ma says. You learn and you speak peace. How I would like to hear you. How I want to see you all.

I must close soon. The Johnnies have given up all of the prisoners they had of our men. That was 10,000. They come right by our camp. They look is the worst sight I ever saw.

My love to Smitt, Ophelia and Caroline. Tell Ophelia her man’s name is Alfred Tailor. My regards to Mr. Soloman. My love to my wife and children and all the kisses. Goodbye for this time. I will write some again.

Morgan Darby to Almira, George and Penny Darby