8th New York Heavy Artillery

Item LTR-5929

Description

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

Fort Federal Hill
Baltimore, Md.
Nov. 8th/62
Friend Sarah

As I have not much to busy myself about I thought that I would answer your kind letter which I rec’d. yesterday and I tell it was highly appreciated by me for it does more good to hear from one that I know is my friend. I was glad to hear that you enjoyed good health and I am thankful to say I do the same. Sarah I have not much news to write this time as there is not much a going on. You said that there had been a heavy snow storm in York State while the dust blew like fun in the fort. The first flake of snow I have seen this year was yesterday morning when it commenced snowing and it snowed all day long very hard. The snow last evening was six inches deep but today it is a going off about as fast as it came. I like the climate very much for there is not much winter. The people in the city said it is unusual to have so much snow so early.

Sarah I am getting so fat and lazy that the less I have to do the less I want to do. We now have to drill on heavy artillery instead of infantry which is a considerable ease for me as we do not have to drill only three hours each day besides dress parade. When on infantry we had to drill eight hours each day and in the forenoon-three hours atone time without resting so you see that it is easier. I think now that if we are not already turned into artillery that we soon will be on it. I hope we shall for then we can stay where we are now and will not have to go on to the field for if we should it would come hard for us as we have hot, good quarter and enough to eat for those who are in the fort get the best fair. We have that witch is good and enough of it while other regiments that camp out has hard fair but I hope that it will not be long before that we can all return home again and I think it will before long if ever, if it is. Sarah you say that there is not but one young man in the neighborhood and that was George and I think if you work smart you can get him away from Naney for anything and she is trying as hard as she can to get him. I think that she has tried long enough don’t you and I think you have a good chance. Now George says it is very lonesome and I do not dispute him. I think that he would have felt as well if would have come with us. Marshall, Levi and C. Cook sends there best respects to you. Marshall said that he would write to you if he could. He says that he can not write good enough but I tell him he can and to write. Sarah I will send you my photograph if you will except it as a token of friendship from a friend. If not you can put it on the fire for it does not look very good. I shall have to close for this time. Give my regards to all you folks and keep a share for yourself so good mourning.
From Albert S. Reed
Write soon will you
Excuse bad spelling
And writing.
Sarah H. Wyman