48th New York Infantry - Wounded at Drewry's Bluff

Item LTR-6138

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 8 pages written in period ink.


Fort Pulaski, Ga.
January 10th 1863

My Dear Sister and Brother,

Yours of Christmas evening came to hand today. Was pleased to hear from you; also to hear that you was well. If it was not so long since Christmas, I would also wish you a merry one. But I suppose that I have done so in a former letter. I do not blame you for being inquisitive. It is, as you say, a family complaint. I know it is with me. I also feel inquisitive to know how things is at home. Some time ago, I wrote to Lansing Vansant and received an answer with a hope to keep up correspondence, which I hope I do. I also received word that Miss Mary Lib Blawveldt was well. It seems to me that I am the only one of my former acquaintance that came off to the war. Sarah, you speak of being pleasant to see me. It would be almost as great a blessing if I could enjoy to be once more at home with my friend and relatives. Sometimes, as I sit here in my bunk Sundays writing to friends north, my thoughts go back to our church where I used to sit Sunday after Sunday, listening to Mr. Quick’s pleasant voice. Also of my old Garret where I used to sit night after night and read some pleasant book or paper.

I do not like to hear that Mr. Peter D. W. Smith is at fathers, although Mrs. Smith is a fine lady or was when I was at home. Still, I like not to have Mr. Smith in so close a contact with father for fear that it will somewhat hurt feelings as he is living in the house with a person who has a son in the Union Army. If you go there you must not talk politics, else it will lead to hard feelings. I am afraid that some passages in some of my letters will be the same. I would liked to have been at your house or where you were to get my Christmas dinner. As here, we had only the usual fare.

I suppose that you are about this time reading my letter. I hope that Miss Lelilia Martine has not the same character as Sarah Martha. She was too meddlesome. I sometimes try to keep up correspondence with Mr. & Mrs. Burger, but with indifferent success. But with Uncle Jerry it is different. We often write to each other. I do not yet know Mr. Burger’s address, so only get word from him by way of Uncle Jerry. From Mother’s letter, I hear of a kind of separation between Uncle Christian and Aunt Kate. Please don’t speak of it to Mother but let me know the difficulty if there is any.

I sincerely wish the war would close. Yet it would cut me awfully if the army did not gain what we are fighting for. You see I belong to it. Should I come home, fellows on the opposite side of the question would say, “well you did not gain your point”. Consequently, you see if this war was ended without the army gaining its point, in New York alone there will be a large number of fights, if not murders. Although no fighting character on a small scale, I could hardy keep my hands still and hear a secesh glorying in the ill success of the Federal Army. I should like to have some of those fellows who glory in the reverses of Burnside or any of our generals here in Fort Pulaski. Could I get them here, I should set them in the center of the terreplein and say “boys, here is a man who glories in being a secesh sympathizer, he is a traitor.” They would soon make him a good union man. For to make men good union men after they have been secesh, it would be well to make them endure what we soldiers have to [do] here. We are only free in thought. We cannot even speak out what we think on some subjects.
I think that when I get home, should I be safe and sound, I shall take a turn of visiting. I shall [have] quite a number of visits to make, to go my rounds. From all accounts, I think that Emily Smith is married before this time, as I heard that she was to be married on Christmas Eve. Well so it is with those stay[ing] at home.

Is Mr. Decor’s health any better than it was when I left? He was quite sick or looked so. I saw him the Saturday night before I left, at a public meeting at Spring Valley. I then informed him of my intention to depart for the war. He said he was glad I was so patriotic, wished me good luck for a safe return, said was his health better, he also would be off. I wish you would send me his address as I think very highly of him.

I today received a box from home for which I thank my kind relatives. Also, I thought very much of a small package marked Kit’s wedding cake. I meditated [a] long time over that package, as also did my bunkmate & companion, Fred H. Bennett from Armenia Dutchess Co. N.Y. We have been fast friends since May last, when I came from the hospital. Everything was in an excellent state, nothing spoiled. Should you see Kit, tell her of what the wedding cake done for me.

Abe had a hearty laugh over his woman. He did not know what to think of it. He also received a box of things, but in a bad state as they were partly rotten.
I now occupy a second story bunk with Fred Bennett. I stow him nights under a side shelf. He is 20 yrs. old and about 5 ft. in height.

Give my respects to all friends. Tell Father my watch runs good.


From your Brother,


William F. Wood