23rd New Jersey Infantry

Item LTR-7720

Description

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

Camp near White Oak Church
February 9th/63

Dear Mother,

I received Julia’s letter of the 5th today and as I had a little spare time, I thought I would write to you. I am very glad to hear that Eveline is and the baby is doing so well. I also received the letter of hers of January 27th with $5 enclosed for which I was very glad as everybody else in the Regiment had received their pay but some few of the new recruits besides myself. But at the prices you have to pay the Sutlers it soon makes a hole in a 5$ bill. I immediately bought a pound of tobacco for $2 and ½ doz Mackerel at 20cts a piece. They were about the size of a scotch herring but they mighty good. I can only afford to smell the smoke from the others who smoke as they cost from 5 to 10 cts per piece, only with 2 cts a piece at home. Small ginger bread about the size of yours is 25 cts. So you see that $5 can not go far. We have got our tent done at last for 5 of us. We have a chimney place that takes up ½ half the size of the tent and it is very comfortable. The whole 5 of us start out in the morning after breakfast and get a load a piece and that lasts all day. We are not allowed to keep a fire at night. I wish you would send me a box of about a 11/2 foot long with something good to eat in it. Two of my mates have received boxes from home full of all sorts of preserves. Sausages, pies, jellies,cakes and in fact almost everything that was good even to fresh homemade bread. I suppose one of the boxes contained something like $15 dollars worth. I should like if you would send me a box. You would send me a boiled ham or have it cut up and have it made into short cake sandwiches. For I have been bragging about your baking. Also any little knick nacks you might think was good for the wholesome. I also wish you could send some Jamaica ginger & lavender steeped in alcohol which would be much stronger and go further. My mates when they secure anything always share around and I suppose I should do the same with them. If you send the lavender, put it in a stone jar it would not be so apt to break in carrying. I am sorry that Mr Brooks and Lequesha cannot do anything for me as this camp life is a perfect bore. I saw Walt Forwin last week. He was very well and said that he had just received a letter from home and called to let me know about it. I am glad to hear that the Navy Yard is to be extended as I suppose D. Riggs & Co establishment will be benefited by in a pecuniary way as I suppose you still have the Navy Yard work. I think it very strange that I do not get all the papers you send me all the rest in the tent get letters and papers every day but me. I must be satisfied with one a week and be thankful. We have heard some talk about sending the Regt somewhere near to Washington but I cannot say as there is much talk in camp you do not know what to believe. I suppose as is generally the case, we will get about one hour notice to strike tents & pack nap sacks and march. Today, we just returned to camp from 3 days on pickett. We did not take our tents with us as we went away in a hurry and thereby suffered from the cold a little but we are getting use to it now.

The men are getting furloughs in our Regt but I shall stand no chance as there is too many ahead of me. I should like to see Philadelphia once more (but sour grapes). Tell Mr. Patton that I received his letter and was very glad to hear from him. Tell him to write soon again. Tell Dave T. I will write to him very soon but tell him that makes no difference as he has more time to write about as we are doing about the same old thing every day but I wish I could get more reading matter. Let me know if you will send a box. If you do, send some black thread & needles as you know that we have no tailor to run to. So I must close. Give my love to all my friends, so good bye at present.

I remain
Yours affectionately.
Edward Riggs