100th New York Infantry - Captured at Drewry's Bluff

Item LTR-7328

Description

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


Monday evening
February 22, 1864
Morris Island, SC

Dearly loved wife and children,

I am well as usual. And one day has passed, never to return to us on this earth. I have been thinking of you very much today for I have not had anything to do. I was out on picket last night. There was no shelling last night. All was quiet. Today there has been some going on but all is still tonight. Tomorrow night is my turn to go on picket again. Every other night. I feel so lonely tonight for I want to see you so badly and be with you. I suppose I ought not to complain for I believe all things is for the best. And God will bring us together again to enjoy each other’s company and to love and serve him. To prepare for the world to come which we are all hastening to sooner or later. Our time is short here. Let us Dear Libby try to live as we ought to before God and the world so that we can meet in that happy place where parting is no more and all tears are wiped away and troubles have an end of wars and tumultuous seas. There we can be happy, If not in this world. But I have faith in our heavenly father that we shall see many happy days together here on this earth my loved ones. Then try to cheer up and look on the bright side. Tell Ruby that the bright side is our own dear home as it would be to me if I was there. I am sure of that when I get home. They have been firing salutes today in the navy and in the forts. It is Washington’s birthday. It sounds like war to hear the monstrous cannon thundering all around the island. As it was I could see the Ironsides when she fired her salutes. It seemed as though it must shake her to the very center . The rebs hear more than any of the Monitor’s. She carries 16 guns I believe. But the fleet has not done anything since I have been here. The men in the regiment say it is not good for anything but I think it is impossible to take Charleston from this way. And I don’t think they will try it. For if one string of batteries as far as one can see they say they can see them in the city with a glass. As I was up to the front last night I had a good long talk with a drafted man that is in our regiment. He is a good man. He left a wife and one child. He could not help from shedding tears when he was talking about it. There are some fine men here among the conscripts. And they are about the only ones in the regiment, except a very few. The most of the rest are accommodating but coarse and vulgar. I have not had any mail since a week ago last Saturday but expect it every day. I hate to write so long for it but when I get them I forget all and hasten to read them. And once over is not enough for me. I read them over and over. I must stop writing for tonight dear one and fix my bed for it is getting near roll call. So good night dear one and lots of kisses to you. All my love from your faithful husband.

Samuel Huntington to his dear family.

Tuesday morning. February 23, 1864

Dear wife,

I just finished my washing and now I will try to write a few lines to you. I received one letter from you and two papers. I was glad to hear from you. I got the letter before breakfast. I let the breakfast go until I had read your kind letter. There were 20 postage stamps in it. I have some of them now so you need not send any more at present. For I shall not use them on any letters except yours. For I don’t write many letter except yours. I shall try to write a letter to our folks as soon as I can. I am going to hear the sad news Millard’s death for we hate to part with our friends.