33rd & 54th Pennsylvania Infantry

Item LTR-7154

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 3 pages written in period ink.


December 17, 1863
Camp Near Alexandria, VA

Dear Mother
This is with pleasure I take my pen in hand to let thee know that I am well and I received thy last letter and should have answered before this but never got time. Well we are getting along old fashioned. Poor and saucy, David has his Wife and two boys here with him at present. I tell thee she is a rouser weighing 185 pounds. They appear to get along right well together. I have no news to send thee. I guess thee knows that Walker Hoopes has enlisted. I had the pleasure of having a long talk to him not long ago. I saw him in Camp Convalescent. Since then he had gone to Fort Lincoln and so George will have company. John Pinkerton is in the Invalid Corpse and they are stationed at New York at present. Well mom I tell thee I want thee to send that box right away as soon as thee can get it ready after this reaches thee. It don’t make any difference what it costs. I want thee to send me a good big one. I tell thee what I want: in one roast turkey weighing not less than ten pounds, one pair of roast chickens and some good mince pies and 4 pounds of good fresh butter and whatever thee chooses to send and tell Minshal I think he might send me a half gallon of the best he has to drink on Christmas. I want thee to be sure and direct the box to David. This leaves us all well. Give my love to Sallie and Minshal. So I close with my love to thee. Good night from thy affectionate son James L. Green.
Here is the directions: David R. Green Company B, 4th Regt PRVC Convalescent Camp, Virginia. Be sure and get ready and send on sight. I want it by Christmas if possible and send the receipt in thy letter. That’s all, Good Bye. Send 3 or 4 lemons. I am on Guard to night, so excuse me.