157th New York Infantry - Wounded at Gettysburg

Item LTR-7332

Description

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


Market Street Hospital
Newark, New Jersey
August 31, 1863

Dear Sister,

I have seated myself again this morning for the purpose of devoting a few to you in reply to yours of the 25th which reached me a few days ago and it found me well and doing well. I was truly glad to receive another letter from you stating that you were all in your usual good health. Hoping this letter may find you all in the same spirits yet. This morning finds me alright rather more so than I expected last evening for one of the other boys and myself took a walk out in the country yesterday to see the girls and get some peaches which was rather a long walk for me and when we came back to the Hospital I was pretty well bushed but I came out alright this morning after having a good night’s rest and will probably live through it, if nothing else sets in. Well I was also glad to hear that Charles was enjoying such good health. I haven’t had a letter from him since I have been here. But have written him too. I received a letter from Aunty Lucy Ann and one from Cousin Sarah Johnson the same time I did yours. They wrote that they were enjoying usual good health and the rest of the folks about there. Well about matters and things here. There was a steamboat load left here this morning for Bedloe’s Island where they will stay until they get their pay and then they will be sent on to their Regiments and what is left here is going to be mustered for pay today and we will probably get our pay before many days and then I am going to try and come home for a few days. But I do not know whether they will let me come or not. The weather is very calm here now days. It is not very hot or very cold but is just about right to take comfort. Well other news I have none of importance so I guess that I will have to bring this to a close hoping to hear from you again soon. No more this time so good bye with love. This from your boring brother,

Daniel N. Shapley

To Alvira (A. Shapley)

P. S. Give my love and best wishes to all and write soon and often and excuse all mistakes and bad writing.

When this you see
Remember me
For I love you
And you love me
Yes I know you and goodbye and pleasant dreams