42nd New York Infantry - Killed at Ball's Bluff, VA

Item LTR-6006

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 3 pages written in period ink.


Camp Lyon
Near Poolesville, MD

September 8th 1861

My Dear Mr. Bliss,

Your letter and money sent July 28th I received last night. I was very happy to hear from you once more. To learn of your good health and also to be assured that I am sometimes thought of at home. I have very often taken a look into the store, i.e. in my mind’s eye, and imagine I see you all moving about the same as when I was with you. You must not blame me for being a little homesick once in a while. And I know you will not when you remember that I have left a pleasant home and sacrificed every comfort for a life of hardship. For the sake of doing all in my power to sustain our government and again restore peace and harmony with all. I’m not sorry yet that I enlisted for the war, although everything is looking very dark on our side just at present. We are now looking for an attack every day. We had an alarm last night and moved our regiment about 5 miles. But returned again today. The alarm being a false one. Then a six or seven thousand rebel troops on the opposite side of the river near Leesburg. We had been in our present encampment about 4 weeks. The first two weeks I was detailed on picket duty and had quite an exciting time. My men over on this side of the river and the rebel pickets on the opposite shore, a distance of about 300 yards. Whenever one of my men exposed himself to view a bullet and sometimes 3 or 4 would come whistling by. And whenever one of them showed themselves I returned the compliment. Two weeks ago yesterday, one squad of my pickets were fired into by about 60 cavalry men. They kept up the firing for 10 or 15 minutes. I tell you what, the “hot lead” flew pretty thick. I got all my men behind trees so that none of them were wounded or hurt at all.

Mr. Bliss, you must excuse me from writing more now as I’m very tired and require sleep. Having been up all of last night marching, our regiment is fast improving in military discipline. And although they have a hard name in New York, there is no regiment on the Potomac more highly spoken of than the Tammany. Colonel Cogswell is just the man we needed, he having had a long experience in the regular army. The officers all like him very much.

Tell Mr. Brown I send my kindest regards to himself and family and I hope he won’t forget me while I’m here struggling along from day to day. It’s no boys’ play to be an officer in the army in tough times like these. There is a heavy responsibility set upon each of us.

Please do remember me to Mr. and Mrs. Kerr, Mr. and Mrs. Farnstock and all in the store and other inquiring friends.

With my most sincere regards to yourself and family.

I remain truly and sincerely your friend,

Henry H. Alden

P.S. I hope you will all try and write me often. I’m sure you would if you knew what a source of pleasure it is to receive a letter from home and home friends when you are tired and worn out after a day’s skirmishing and you come home to your tent with no one there to care for you. To receive a letter then is almost as pleasant as meeting it author’s face to face.

Again goodbye.

Your friend,

Captain Henry H. Alden
Care Tammany Regiment
Poolesville, MD

Direct as above.

I expect to see my pay soon. Probably this week and then will send you all you have advanced to me.