83rd New York Infantry - Wounded at Antietam

Item LTR-7707

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 5 pages, written in period ink.


Warrenton, Virginia
July 13th 1862

Friend Charley,

Yours of the 5th came duly to hand and I was very glad to hear from you. We expected to have a first rate time in our camp on the fourth.

The night before the fourth, our Captain bought four kegs of Lagar for our company. But shortly after reveille on the morning of the fourth, the First Sergeant’s call was beat and soon came the order to strike tents and get ready to march. Well, there was a quantity of growling done by the boys when the order was read to us. But it had to be obliged. But we got away with the Lagar before we started, so we had some satisfaction in having our Lagar. We got started about 9 o’clock and was marched to the Rail Road Station, put our knapsacks in the car and started for Gainesville where we camped that night. Next morning, we started with knapsacks on our backs for this place reaching here about four o’clock p.m. and pitched our tents.

It has been very warm here for the last week. On our second days march some of the boys in our regiment were sun struck. Among them was Wash Montauge. But he is better now. The night before last, our company was out on picket but had not been there long before some of General Bank’s Division came up and camped about ½ a mile from where our men where on picket. They no sooner stopped than some of the Pennsylvania troops got over to a house and began to cutting the heads off the chickens. The woman that lived there sang out for the guard and some of our men had a chase for the men. But they caught them and made them bring back the chickens. Shortly after we heard five or six shots fired and two of our men went to see what was the matter. They found some of Blenker’s men shooting at a calf they having already shot one. We made them bring the dead one to the owner’s house and leave it there.

Blenker’s men and some of the Pennsylvania troops are the biggest thieves in the Army. There is one Pennsylvania Regiment in our Brigade they go around to houses and threaten to shoot the women if they don’t give them something to eat and if they are asked what Regiment they belong to they say the New York Ninth and then a complaint would be sent to the general about us but the General caught four of them in a house the other day. They told him they belonged to the New York Ninth but the Captain of their company came along and asked them what they were doing out of Camp without a pass. The General asked him if they belonged to his regiment. The Captain told him they did so the General ordered them under arrest to be court martialed. I think it will go pretty hard with them.

There is a quantity of our regiment deserting. Our Colonel had got a Cavalry Company out after them. One of Company B, who was on guard left his post the other night and deserted. He stands a good chance for a bullet if he is brought back.



The boys here are all well and send their regards. Give my regards to all the boys and write soon to

Yours ever,

Ed Murphy