4th Massachusetts Cavalry

Item LTR-6202

Description

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


Camp Meigs
March 23rd 1864

Dear Sister Abbie,

I have finally got ready to write you again. How do you get along? I had two long letters from home last night. Father said that he had a letter from all three of us who are away. I did not write home for about a week and they thought that I was sick. Mother wrote me and asked me why if I was sick that I did not let them know somehow. I guess they will find that I am all right for I have written every day this week and shall continue throughout the week. Then I shall begin and write regularly twice a week so that they will be posted. I suppose Grandfather gets up in the morning and goes to Boston as regular as a clock. I don’t see how he puts it through so.

Company A of our regiment went away yesterday. B, C, and D were going this morning but the stormy weather prevented. Maxey went home last night and came back at 5 o’clock this morning. I don’t see what satisfaction it could be to him. It is probably because I don’t know. We shall not go before the last of next week. We were to go (our Battalion) this, but things did not happen so that we could. We may not go next week. Perhaps I shall not have a chance to get home again. If I don’t, why so be it. Father is coming out here next Sunday. This weather is rather tough for guard duty. We here don’t know anything about war. I don’t care how soon we got out there. I did not enlist to lay around in camp. It takes so about long to get a fellow broke in.

Father is getting along with his work first rate. I hope he will get a chance where it will be easy for him. I had a letter from Lawrence the other day. I suppose you knew he was at home on a furlough. He has been gone over a week. Lewis Rand and H. Hubback are at home on a franck. It think it smart in that after all the furloughs they have had and other privileges. If it wasn’t for these mean sneaks who skedaddle home, we all should have a chance to go home. A person who hasn’t got spunk enough to stay here and do this duty with out sneaking home ain’t much account. Lewis corresponding with Emma Peed, Jim Baldaire is getting along first rate. He is quite desperate in his regards to Martha E Pratt. Don’t say anything about it. He wrote to her and is waiting for an answer. How do you suppose he will come out?

That stuff you sent was first rate. The pie was excellent. Give my thanks to grandmother for it. How is Aunt Maria? When is she going to write to me? Uncle Wallace is all right I suppose. How is Uncle Edward? Have you visited your Aunt yet? I wish it had happened so that I would have been in Roxbury that Sunday. It is just as well I suppose. The sons have moved into the lower hall. I should like to go there to one more meeting. I don’t know as it would pay. I have got to a place in the letter where it comes tough to get along. Mr. Williams takes going off pretty considerately. How sea sick I shall be. Oh dear! Perhaps I shant be though. You had ought to see one of the Sergeants in my company. He is six feet one-inch-high, weighs 213 pounds and is not fat at all. He is only 25 years old. He is as strong as a giant. When are you going home? I hope not till you are strong. It will be planting pretty soon. It doesn’t look much like it now. I shall write to Grandfather soon. He has written me quite a number and I guess it is my turn to write him. Tell Wallace to write to me. Uncle Elisha you say is coming home in the spring. I hope it will happen so that I can see him. Moses is inspecting the Brigade so Father writes. He is a smart boy. Write as often as you can Abbie and give me the news.

Your loving Brother,

William B. Arnold