12th Connecticut Infantry - Wounded at Port Hudson

Item LTR-5932

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 5 pages written in period ink. (Also included is a 8 page letter written by Fletcher's wife to him and dated January 5, 1864).

Camp Parapet, LA

September 18th 1862

My Dear Wife,

I received a good long letter from you last Monday evening dated August 1st and am glad you were relieved of your anxiety about me. It was too bad that you were kept in so much anxiety. Next time I am sick will tell you sooner. I did tell our boys not to write home about it on purpose so that you would not be worried. But see I was wrong. I don’t think it would be quite right for you not to tell me if any of you are sick. But I know you will. I have received just sixteen (16) letters from you since I left Hartford. I don’t think it possible that can be all you have written, no do I believe you have received all of mine, for some of mine I am sure you have not answered. How many have you received from me? I did not mean to say I would come home just now if I had enough to start on. But perhaps I did mean it when I wrote it. For then I felt as though I should never be good for anything to the army on account of my health. But now I have health, strength and spirits and feel that I can do some service for my country. Should not want to leave the army even if I had more than my idea of enough to start with. I want to do all I can to help put down this cursed rebellion. You would like to know how much I want. Well if I can get home (after the reels are whipped) with five hundred dollars, I think I could make a good start, and I intend to have as much as that at least when I do make another start. I believe you are right and am very glad it is so that I should do well in my practice if I were there now. But the people must wait a while, a little while I hope, for me. I do want to see you and our dear children very, very much and long much for the comforts and enjoyment of home. But to us here everything looks dark. Our latest accounts from the North are of the rebels moving on toward Washington, getting into Maryland and Pennsylvania, but we hope McClellan’s army will be enough for them. Perhaps that would show its silver lining. We have had no disturbance here lately and think if we are attacked will be able to beat them. There is not such word as fail in Butler’s Division.

Houston was perhaps somewhat excusable in getting married so soon under the circumstances. But I don’t think I should have done it and if you should die I know I should not marry within two months. Mother is mistaken. I have not made any acquaintances among these people. They have nothing to do with us nor we with them. It is some different with those stationed in the city. They make a great many, if they choose, and I suppose I might here if I wanted too. But I don’t. henry Botsford has been sick. But I did not write to his wife, he did himself and told her he was in good hands as I was attending him. He has entirely recovered and is now one of our nurses. L. G. Laber has certainly come down some. I must write him. How does Ruth take it? And how is she? Enclosed I send you another ten dollar bounty check. Which use same as before. I hope we shall be paid off soon. Then I will send you some money. How do you get along in money matters? Do you have enough to get along comfortably with? Tell me all about it. Kiss all the children for me. Tell Lillie she is a good unselfish girl for wanting Papa to keep all his money. It is so awful hot today that I can hardly write. But will soon again and will oftener. Remember me to all the folks and that I am ever your own loving husband.

H. J. Fletcher