2nd Vermont Infantry - Two Brothers both Wounded at Wilderness

Item LTR-6813

Description

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


Camp Griffin, Virginia
February 18, 1862

Dear Brother,

We don’t get a letter from you very often-none for over a week. If you had as many letters to write as we do, we would excuse you but as you do not, we think you a candidate for the guard house & a court martial.

The news from Burnside and from Kentucky are good. Could not have been better. Old Floyd stole away [and] saved his neck for this time. It is reported that Savannah is taken. Hope it is so. The boys gave some hearty cheers when the news came in to camp. The inactivity of the army that has caused the North to feel so bad is proving itself in every action. The Rebels are getting more than they expected and it will be followed up till its backbone is broke.

The mud is as deep as ever. Yesterday was very rainy. The boys are well as usual. Mark Green is not expected to live long. He has been sick a long time. The half way sick ones have gone to Washington so as to be out of the way when we move. [Adelbert H.] Page and [George W.] Darrel etc.

We have not received our state pay yet for drilling at Tunbridge. Don’t know when we shall. Our butter, honey and cheese is not all gone yet. Our colonel has gone home again. The old fellow is very good natured. The boys like him first rate. The most we do aside from guard duty is at target shooting. We have exchanged our Enfield Rifle for the Minnie. We make very good shots distance 500 yards. Our company is about equal to the best. Write often. Love at all.

Your truly, Edson Emery


Dear Brother,

I thought I would write some and fill out the sheet. My health is tip top. Today it is cloudy and not much going on. There is some snow but much mud. How is Hunt now and the rest of the folks? I will send my medal which I will give to Mother. I have one left that I will keep for me. We have not heard from Isaac since December. We hear from Briggs and Lyman quite often. I want Mother to overhaul my clothes and see that they are all right. I guess she don’t have so much work to do as she used to have. I suppose Anne [will] soon jump the broomstick. She will have a good home. I had a letter from Milo Emery. He wrote considerable news.

Our division was reinforced the other day by a new battery of rifled cannon – 6 pieces. There are now 26 pieces of artillery in this division.

I suppose your new neighbors will soon move in. Where is W. F. Smith? I think the rebellion will be crushed this Spring. O hope so. My watch I have sent to Washington to have cleaned. It will cost me $1.50. I don’t think of much to write for you have heard all the news.

Philo Emery
Write soon.