13th New York Infantry & VRC - Wounded at 2nd Manassas

Item LTR-571

Description

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


7th Street Barracks
Washington, DC

April 17, 1864

Dear Sister,

I just received your letter dated the 11th. I was very much please to hear from you and home. I had almost made up my mind that you had forgot us but I guess that was a mistake. It is Sunday afternoon. I am in my quarters and Josie is down home as I call it. I must go and see her soon although I left her this morning. The weather for quite a number of days has been dark and gloomy with some rain. Today the sun will shine for a while then it will rain a little. It is perfect spring weather but not cold. It is a good time for sickness but I guess that if we take care of oneself we will not get sick. At present I feel quite well except a hard headache. Josie don’t feel the best, I tell her she has got the spring fever that is laziness. Las Friday evening we went to Speaker Colfax Levee. It was splendid talk about dress and camisoles in the hair. There is no use of my trying to describe it let it go until I see you. We stayed until almost 12:00 o’clock. Then went home quick time. I tell you I wish that you could have been with us. Next Tuesday evening we go to the President’s, then they show how foolish they are at this time. I don’t think that this is a time for people to dress well try and make so much of a show. They better think of the country and the coming campaigns. I think after a little while I will have Josie come home. It costs too much to live down here. I can’t save one bit of my salary but she is good about the spending money foolishly. She says that she is disgusted with so much dress that is a good deal for her to say. You spoke of the tea party that you had at our house a short time since and that you would like to have us with you if we could come down so humble – O’ Dem I assure you that I would prize that little evening’s entertainment, above all the giver’s of reflections that they have in the city and if you could hear Josie say quite often “If I only had some of mother’s good roast she would give almost anything. The living here is very different than it is north, she says that everything tastes miserably and the water is very foul. When she gets home again she will execute a good meal. I tell you I would like myself to get something to eat from home once in a while, but I am a soldier and I guess I can stand it. It has been about 2 hours since I commenced this letter and I don’t know that I can finish it now so many coming in and out of the office. At 6 o’clock, we have dress parade. Will you come and look at us? I must go to church this evening. We attend a splendid church here and a smart man preaches. It is Dr. Sunderland. Dem, you must not work so hard in that office. It will kill you. Now will you mind? And tell father that I say he must be careful about getting sick. Tell him that I saw and had quite a chat with Senator Doolittle the other day. And that evening at Colfax Levee, I introduced Josie to him. I like him very much. He wished to be remembered to all my folks. Give my love to all the folks. Tell Annie Parker that I have not forgot her and I will tell Josie to write to her. Tell little Mollie that I will write soon. She must be a good girl. Tell mother that I want some of her good vittles. Ace and Annie have got a child to take care of and I guess that they would not know it if I should send my love to them.

Yours,
M. J. Bunnell

P. S. Direct your letters to Captain M. J. Bunnell, Company A, 24th Regiment VRC, 7th Street Barracks, Washington, DC