97th New York Infantry

Item LTR-6491

Description

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


Near Petersburg, VA
Tuesday morning
July 5th 1864

Brother E. S. Hughes,

J. P. is not dead nor yet sleepth. But is up and dressed for the fray. You have possibly heard occasionally about us as we have endeavored to write about once a month or oftener during this little campaign to our family. Just by way of a reminder. Day before yesterday, I received a letter from Cornell. The first received from home since the date of May 5th. It looked somewhat old fashioned to see a letter from S. Trenton again. H. W. read a letter from your honor yesterday which was written to one of the Fairheads, 117th New York. H. visited that regiment in their works, says the Fairheads are both well and fleshy. Have at present a position where caution is necessary particularly so on account of the close proximity to the reb works and the S.S. therein placed. They everyday lose men by the shots from the enemy’s works and return the favor.

Said 117th are much nearer opposite the city than we are and some 3 miles from us. No reports that the rebs really fear the colored troops and so they sing out “retribution” and “remember Fort Pillow.” It means enough for the Johnny’s to tremble. The fourth passed off more quietly than has been my experience for years, indeed less cautious were fired about our locality than I have been accustomed to hear on ordinary Independence days. The troops on both sides seeming to enjoy it as a holiday. Not so however at other points on the line. Lewis Ford is said to be absent but why absent. Whether sick, wounded, a prisoner or a runaway. His company does not know. He has been away some three weeks and went when his regiment or what not were at Cold Harbor. By the way, what did Lew belong to? Fairheads had lately received a letter written by Captain Barrows relative to Lewis and as I understand, at Mr. Ford’s request. Could you see us now, you would find as some 3 or 4 miles about SSW of Petersburg in Prince George’s County. Very near the line of Dinwiddie County. The country is level soil, sandy as the greater part of Virginia that we have some sun, with some fine timber here. There is considerable low land which is an ordinary wet time would be marshy. But now is almost destitute of war. The streams having dried up but no great difficulty in obtaining enough for use. As pretty good water is obtained almost anywhere by sinking down a barrel or digging 3 feet.

In some places however, near us 15 to 20 feet has been necessary and the commonly an abundant supply is found. You may easily imagine that it is unusually dry for no rain has fallen for a month or sufficient to moisten the ground one fourth of an inch. In H.W.’s 4th of July visit he found also the 146th to ascertain what was known of Jimmy Garrett. The best that we can get is the rebs advanced on our boys and got behind as well as in front of them and he with others it is supposed were taken in the ditch. The weather was somewhat thick and was favorable for an attack.

Write again Ed and tell us something about “The Fortune.”

I shall now after presenting my respect and good wishes to yourself and to all who think favorably of us and the war for the union,

Respectfully sign my name as,

J. P. Garrett
Company e, etc.

Edward S. Hughes
South Trenton, New York