1st New York Dragoons - Gettysburg Campaign

Item LTR-7337

Description

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


Frederick City, Maryland
July 15, 1863

Dear Wife,

I now take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and to let you know where we are. We came from Yorktown to Washington and from there here. We expect to move forward tomorrow. We are about one day’s march from the Rebel army in Pennsylvania. We expect to see some fighting in a few days. The 136th Regiment is only twelve miles from us. The 104th has been badly cut to pieces. They are not far from us. We will probably see some of them in a few days.

The weather is not as warm here as it was in Suffolk. We are encamped in a wheat field. The boys take the wheat today.

Mary, you may think hard of my writing with a pencil but I am in a hurry and ink is scarce here. Besides, it is unhandy to carry so far. As I am writing these few lines, I can hear the distant cannons’ roar towards the scene of action. We passed a train filled with Rebel prisoners yesterday when we was coming down here. It has rained for the past week most of the time.

Mary, I am in hopes that the next letter that I write I will have some ink. I suppose you are very lonesome this summer but I am in hopes that the Lord may spare my life so that I may see you once more. Mary, I cannot think of much more to write this time but I will write soon and do better next time so give my respects to all and my love to you from your ever true and affectionate husband,

Robert H. Greenfield

And may the stars and stripes forever wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Please excuse my poor writing.