67th New York Infantry - Wounded at Wilderness

Item LTR-7027

Description

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


April 21st 1863

Camp near Falmouth, VA

Dear Friend,

I now take the opportunity of writing a few lines too. I have been going to write to you ever since I came back but have neglected to do so. But dodge getting a letter from you put me in mind of it. So while my memory is fresh, I will try what I can do. Well George, since I got back or at least since I left home, I have got along first rate but I had rather a rough journey on account of the storm. We did not get into Washington until ten o’clock on Sunday. Instead of six. So we had to stay in the city until Monday morning. I want you to tell Cinna that I delivered that package to Mr. Bell. He seems to be a very nice man. He invited me in to his office and I was in there for two or three hours. We had orders to move last Tuesday night. But it came in rain and that put a stop to it. It has rained considerable for the past week but so soon as the weather gets settled, I think we will move and have orders to keep eight days rations on hand. We have got to carry five days in our knapsacks and three in our haversacks, which will make a pretty heavy load. We will soon have plenty of work to do I guess. But I don’t care anything about it. I would about as leave a fight as not anything to finish this up. Gleason is well and told me to tell you that he would write to you soon. But he don’t like writing. There ain’t any news here so I will close these few lines expecting to hear from you soon. I close and remain as ever your old friend.

William C. Smith
1st Long Island Volunteers
Company H
1st Brigade
3rd Division
6th Army Corps