15th Connecticut Infantry

Item LTR-6969

Description

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


Camp near Portsmouth
August 17th 1863

Dear Cousin Charlie

I know it is some time since I wrote you but I am not sure but that you owe me a letter. However it matters not. I’ll drive the quill a little while and you can have the privilege of seeing the result. We have had if I remember rightly since I wrote you quite a tramp into Virginia. You doubtless learned of it at the time. I never endured so much in one week before as I did the week after we marched from White House, VA towards Hanover Junction, which is about half way between Richmond and Fredericksburg. My fee were so sore on that march that some of the time I would step about six or eight inches and instead of water running out of the blisters, it would be a matts. But such things are all over now. I am quite well and enjoying better health than I have for three months. I was sick for a week or two since we came back and weighed about ten pounds less than I do now. Our regiment is now engaged in doing picket and fatigue duty. We have to be on duty almost every day at least the privates do but the noncommissioned officers have it easier. The only days that privates have to themselves are Sundays and the days after coming off guard. I go on duty about once in three days and then it is only to be boss. I have been acting as sergeant for over two month but when the promotion is made I may not be then. I think likely I shall know in two or three weeks. For in all probability the date will be the 1st of September. I have for some time lately taken out a squad of men about half past five or six to chop about a mile from here. I take them into the woods and tell them where to work and then I let them chop or sit still (I never tell them to go to work unless a commissioned officer comes along and then all are industrious of course) until four hours are up then I march them back and one days’ work is done. You ought to see the chopping. We cut the trees down when we can swing in the handiest and the stumps on anywhere from one to six feet high. There is some neat timber down here. I have seen many a tree which was not over ten inches through at the butt run up fifty feet and not limbs enough to make a tea kettle boil scarcely. There is one detail for chopping every day and one for digging as we are at work on a fort near camp. Other regiments have to work just as we do. There is only a small force here now to hold the places or cities of Portsmouth and Norfolk. There is a good prospect of our staying here, for if we are sent away other troops will have to take our place. We are all coming home one of these days. I have set the time again at Christmas or New Years. Captain Stevens has resigned and gone home today. So we will probably have some new officers someday. The weather for the past ten days has been very warm. Then there have been some of the time over a hundred. I think it was warm enough but it is cooler now. We can bathe in sale water here. For the water that comes up the river to this place is somewhat salty.

Though not quite like Long Island Sound. Henry Hoadley is in the hospital at Portsmouth sick. But is gaining now. Charlie Brandsley is acting 1st Sergeant. All of the Naugatuck boys are well. You must write soon and often as convenient. I should like to have you come down and see us. It can be done very easily now and will not cost any serious amount for an unmarried man like yourself.

Very truly,

Harry

Address:

H. D. Lewis
Company H, 15th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers
Portsmouth, VA