17th Connecticut Infantry - Wounded at Gettysburg

Item LTR-6783

Description

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


Office A. A. Provost Marshal Guard
Trenton

December 13th 1864

Dear Sister,

I will write you a few lines tonight to let you know where things are moving down in the little state of New Jersey. Well, we are having a little cold weather just now and have had a little snow. So it was very good sleighing. It has not quite all gone yet. Once and a while a sleigh passes by the office. It was pretty slippery. The other morning, I was going out of the door of our office and the steps were covered with ice and the first thing I knew, I was setting down on them. I caught my thumb somehow and sprained it. And today, it is swollen up as large as three thumbs ought to be. It is so I cannot write hardly any. But I guess it will be well in a few days. I guess I can manage to write so that you can read it. I suppose you are having good sleighing up in old Connecticut now. I would like to be up there if there is just so I could have one good ride. Warren is home now. What is he up to? I don’t know but he has got sick and gone and reenlisted again before this time. They are paying pretty high bounties now to those who reenlist in Hancock’s Corps. I have thought some times that I would go see for that for one year. But I guess the best place would be to keep out of it for a while longer and serve out my term before you commence another. I had a letter from Hubb the other day. He is well and still in Washington. He is in the VRC now, so he tells me. He said he had 9 months to serve from the 22nd of the month. I am a little ahead of him. I have only 8 from the 28th. I was expecting a letter from you today but have not seen it yet. I hope I will get it by the nine o’clock mail.

Well, I can’t write much more. My thumb aches like thunder. I will have to ask you to send me a little more money, 2 or 3.

Write soon.

Your Brother,

Sylvester Rounds
VRC
Trenton, New Jersey

To:
Martha Rounds
Birmingham, Connecticut