United States Army - Chief of Artillery - 3rd Corps - Fredericksburg

Item LTR-7153

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages written in period ink.
Livingston served as :
Chief of Artillery - Stoneman's Division
Chief of Artillery - 3rd Army Corps at Fredericksburg
Chief of Artillery - Sheridan's Cavalry Corps

Near Falmouth, VA
January 19th 1863

My Dear Uncle,

Your letter of the 15th is just received. I am greatly flattered at the prompt answer my letter received at the expense of Mays and others. But hereafter your letters from home must take precedence of mine. First know that Aunt Lucy is sometimes much worried and low spirited at not hearing from you. She misses you very much. You have never been away from her before for any length of time. The children do all they can for her but they cannot relieve her anxiety for you.

I have not received any of late letters from Father and have had no letter from my wife for two days. I hardly know what to make of it and sometimes think that our letters are delayed on the eve of any movements of the Army. If so of course it is for a purpose. Though I cannot see what purpose it serves. We have been hanging by the eyelids for several days in a state of readiness for immediate movement. But the move is postponed from day to day and now the time fixed on is 1 p.m. tomorrow. The movement may be in connection with some movements further south. We may be able to keep a tolerably large force of rebels in front of us. But I have no idea that we can fight a decisive battle here or any where between here and Richmond. It is too long a line to be able to keep open our communications and we have too many rivers to cross on this route. I still inclined to the opinion that a considerable force from here will be sent to the peninsula again. That being our only line practicable route to Richmond is by the James River. We are too comfortably fixed here and when we move, if it be in winter, we will suffer very much. It is real winter weather here now. The ground is hard frozen and we only need snow to make the season complete. Do you not have a great deal of sickness in your regiment? In the new regiment with us here is a great deal and generally forms of a malignant kind. The older regiments escape it mostly, on account of a partial acclimation. I recollect when I passed you at Riley House, throwing out some newspapers to your men, but I could not see any that I recognized of your company. Who is the officer you speak of as commanding your regiment now (Kuse)? Is he a young man from Kuseville? I do not imagine you the mastering of the ladies or drills any more difficult than do the other officers. Let me assure you that a Captain’s position is harder to fill than any other in the regiment. A well-instructed Captain is equal to any other command, whether in a regiment or Brigade. Any officer who can discipline, equip, feed and drill one hundred men can do the same with one thousand and with less labor for himself. I hope if there are any vacancies in your field officers you will get promoted or put in for it at any rate. I should be delighted to see you and hope to do it before long. It may be soon.

I shall not neglect any opportunity that offers to do so. I am greatly disgusted in a general way, want of unity in our military affairs and consequent want of success. I am a little sore sometimes too from not getting any promotion. I am sure enough to believe that I would make a better brigadier general than many who are appointed and it is rather hard to be commanded by men whose military qualities you cannot respect. However I suppose all have some grievances to complain of. There is something terribly rotten somewhere. We will all pray for a speedy termination of this horrid war. We are under orders to move at 1 p.m. tomorrow, probably for the purpose of crossing the river here but I have no definite information on the subject. They will kill us with suspense after a while.

I am glad you appreciate the letters that father sent you. I can speak personally as to their qualities and wish I might discuss them with you now. We keep a supply on hand at Fort Hamilton made there from father’s receipt. You speak of not being able to ascertain when I was engaged in any battles previous to Fredericksburg. I was only in one general engagement on the Peninsula (Malvern Hill). Then I was recommended for a brevet at the time of second Bull Run (Popes operations). I was sick in Alexandria and during operations at Antietam was home sick. At Fredericksburg I was on the left with General Franklin’s forces. I was commanding the Batteries of the 3rd Corps, but was with my own Battery during all of its fighting. It took five men and ten horses. I received a note from Robert Livingston lately and sent it to Father. I forgot the name of the hospital he was at. He said he was getting on very well. I hope you have seen him before this time. Do let me hear from you often and fully. Remember me kindly to Case Kellogg and give my love to Aunt Lucy and the girls when you write home. Goodbye, accept the assurances of my affection and high regard for yourself.

Your affectionate nephew,

Larry

L. L. Livingston
January 23, 1863