25th Maine Infantry

Item LTR-7331

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 6 pages, written in period ink.


Camp Tom Casey
December 15th 1862

My Dear Nellie,

Your letter came to hand Saturday night with 3 others. One from Alice, one from Ed and one from Mrs. Skillin. But she didn’t do as she agreed to, viz to tell me all about you but I didn’t care so long as you told me all about yourself. The watch guard was all right but I had forgotten all about it for I lent Sergeant Sherman my watch to give Corporal Kendall his medicine by. For he has been very sick and is at a private house. And the sergeant takes care of him but it will come first rate when he gets done with it.

My old one was very rotten as soon as it got wet with sweat. It was not worth 2 cents. Those pictures were put in my shirt pocket. (I always keep it there). And Lieutenant Buchman keeps my extra stuff. I thought they were gone to pot but one day they turned up all right and there was my mourning turned into joy.

But I would like one of La for all that now. I wish I had Nell Mason’s here. You may send it if you have a chance and are a mind to. I galled my foot one day last week so I can’t wear my boot and so I have nothing to do but write. This forenoon I washed three shirts, 1 pair of drawers, 3 pair stockings and six towels. I thought of you in the old porch with your sleeves rolled up to your shoulders. I don’t think I shall take up washing for a living until I get home. Yesterday, I mended Nat’s stockings. He can’t mend like I can, with all his education. So you see some folks know more than other and some don’t. You wanted to know all about the church and meetings of the church. I have heard nothing about for two weeks and the meetings we don’t have. It was said Saturday night there was to be one of them in K barracks at ½ past 7, as it is next door. We went round and found the inhabitants there playing Euchre, which is a game of cards and as I never play. I left.

Our chapel tent is filled with sick and we have no chance to have any meetings. You asked if the Chaplain wrote sermons. He has not preached any since we left Camp Lincoln and those were extemporaneous. How many he may have written I couldn’t say. One night when it snowed, the guard had the Chapel tent and he came in and had a prayer meeting and one other time I heard him pray. Which two prayers are all I have heard since I left home the last time. In our tent we used to have a chapter in the testament read every night. And now we have on in this crib after the same fashion. We used to have a fine for swearing in our tent. The boys thought it would take all my wages to buy tobacco (the fine was paid in tobacco) but if we had lived in tents all winter I should have had plenty to sell for they were all a long way ahead of me. It made some of them look rather mean for I used to plague them all the time and then they would swear some more. I never was in so good spirits in my life as I have been since I came here. I carry on from one week’s end to another. My jolly days come every day.

We are at work on our houses now. Have got them most done. I have been at work on the guard houses today under Captain Greeley. (He is the man—I love him). I was plastering the cracks with Virginia mud. It is just like mortar. He said I was just such a man as he liked to have around. Cause why? I worked. I am quite a mason. Should like to see Nell Mason and another Nell I know too. I am glad you wrote me about Ma and Lizzy. If that is the game they are playing, I am good for it. Forewarned is forearmed you know. I have had but one from Lizzy---written 2. Had none from Mrs. Hall yet. Who was that married lady who expected a letter from me? I wrote Mrs. Skillin but have had no answer. I wrote Dan Creed and intended to write Mrs. Blackstone. I don’t know whether Lee will write or not. It is now time to close. God bless you Nellie and keep you from harm is the wish of

C. S. S.