8th Massachusetts Infantry

Item LTR-6760

Description

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


Relay House
Camp Essex

June 6th 1861

Dear Wife,

I received your letter of the 2nd this morning and you may rest assured that I was glad to hear from you. It had been nearly a week since I had received a letter from you and my anxiety for Fred and the intimation in Dodge’s letter of Mrs. Whipple’s being sick had made me so nervous that I could not sleep when I got a chance. For my thoughts would stray (in spite of all my endeavors to make myself believe that you were well and comfortable) to that home and loved ones that I might perhaps never see again. And I would imagine how hard it must be for you to be there sick with those two little ones and would wonder who there was that would take care of you. Oh Ri, I do so hope that you will not be sick while I am gone. For if you should be and have to suffer with no one to care for you, I shall never forgive myself while I live. But as you did not mention in your letter anything about being sick, I shall take it for granted that you are well (at least as well as usual). And my prayer is that you may be until my return. If God spares my life for that happy hour.

I am provoked to think that anyone should be so lost to all Principle of Right and so selfish in their motives as to dun you for debts contracted before I left when they know that your only support is hardly enough for the necessaries. To say nothing of the luxuries of life. The coal bill of Gayle’s I intended to have Werden pay but forgot to mention it to him. And since he has had the impudence to dun you for it, I am glad I did not and you need not pay that or any other debts. For I know that you will need all that you have or can get if you get such things as you need without running in debt anymore. You mentioned in your other letter that Joe said that I agreed to board him for $2.50 per week. He is very much mistaken. For there was no price set but it is no matter about that. I can arrange that when I get home. If Werden has not paid you anything and you need it, you had better ask him for $10.00 as he owes me that or more besides Joe’s board. You wanted to know if I had received any of the money that Dodge brought on with him. I have not. As it was not given to be distributed amongst the men but to be expended by the Commissary, Mr. Dodge, for food and necessaries to make us comfortable when our rations were not sufficient. Which I think is the best way that it could be used. As there are some of our men that would fool it away for rum if they had it. And I am willing to suffer a little myself for the sake of doing good to others.

Captain Briggs has not gotten very popular yet with the men. But many of the stories that get circulated are false. Still I shall not sustain him nor censure him until I get home. I received a letter from Sister Sarah this morning when I did yours. She wrote me an excellent letter. They are all well and have given us all an invitation to come home and make a visit on my return from the war. So I expect to be lionized a little when I get out of this, if I ever do. If you can only be comfortable and enjoy yourself, I shall not be sorry that I have come. For I think that I have done my duty. Besides, I have seen and learned a great deal that I could never have done in any other school.

Now dear “Ri,” do write me often. Write me a good confidential letter. For it would seem so good to have a chat with you, if it is only on paper. You can tell me all. How you get along and how you are there all alone. I wish I could write you a letter every day. But that would be impossible. But so long as we stay here, I shall try and write 3 times a week. My health is very good. It is a great wonder to me that I do not have the rheumatism. For we have had a great deal of wet weather for the last few days. And yesterday I was on guard in the rain all day, wet to the hide. I had a good nap this morning and am as good as new again. There afternoon there is quite a number of the boys in the hospital. William Clark and Wardwell with the rest. If I get there, I shall be home sick in good earnest. I have written to Alvin and Jane since I wrote you, I believe. Give my respects to all inquiring friends. Don’t forget to write often.

Your ever loving husband,

A. H. Whipple

Have you got the letter I sent by Kellogg?