14th New York Heavy Artillery

Item LTR-7106

Description

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

Camp in the field
January 7th 1865

Dear Sir,

I have just received your kind and affectionate letter and glad was I to hear from you all at home. I am well and enjoying good health. This is a new year. I hope that I will see some good times this year. Last year I fought 21 battles and 13 of them was general engagements. So you see that I have fought for my country and I got wounded in three different places. It is hard to see some men torn to pieces with the cannon balls and see them drop on each side of me. If Frank is married tell Frank that I wish him much joy and hope that they will live happy together. Does she make good housekeeper?

It rains here today very hard. I have written a letter to Uncle Edward. John has bought a span of coats. Tell not to enlist for he is well off where he is for a soldier is in danger of his life. I have little over one year to fight the rebels. I would like to see you all at home but I don’t like to come home for the folks will look down on me. Gertie raised hell with me up there the last time. What does the folks say about me. Let me know in your next letter. You need not send no provisions to me for I will not get it. It takes too long time for them to come here. I want you to send me some postage stamps in your next letter. Tell Frank to write to me and I will to him. I wish you all much joy this year. Tell Father McDuffee that I send him my best respects to him and family.

Well Mother, I would like to come home and see you but it would be hard to part with you and so I will stay until my time is out.

So goodbye for this time.

William Roberts
Company E, 14th Regiment New York Volunteers Heavy Artillery
9th Army Corps
Washington, DC