17th Vermont Infantry

Item LTR-6504

Description

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


Camped in Fort Davis near Petersburg, Va.
January 31st 1865

Dear Father,

I will improve these few leisure moments to let you know I am well and enjoying good health, hoping these few lines will find you and the rest of the folks the same. I received you kind letter of the 25th this morning. I am glad to hear from you so often and hear you are all well.

Well there a’nt much news to write this time. They say they are talking pretty strong about Peace in Congress. I hope they will have good success and settle the thing up.

We have to keep pretty busy now-a-days. We go on Battalion Drill every day and on picket about twice or three times a week. So you see that, and the rest of our work, keeps us pretty busy. But that is no matter. I h’ant got only two years longer to drill and perhaps not so long. One year has slipped off pretty quick.

You still say you and O.H. are after that officer. I want you should put him through on the thing. Colonel Randall was talking with Tip yesterday about our scrape. He told Tip he admired us much for our spunk. He said we done well. He says he has got a roll or paper a yard long about us. He knows all about it as well as you do. I don’t think there will be any pay stopped.

It is pretty cold here now. We don’t have any snow here, nor but very little rain as yet. We have a high living out here, plenty of hardtack and pork.

I don’t think of any more the time, so I must close by wishing you all good health and prosperity. Please accept this from your son,

Gustavus Gould

Please write often and I will do the same. You may drop in a 50 ct. scrip if you please. My tobacco is getting short.