4th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery

Item LTR-8042

Description

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


North Fort Worth
March 21st 1865

Dear Wife,

I will write you a few lines this morning just to pass away time. We are having fine weather here now. The mud is about all dried up and the sun comes out pretty hot. It does not look much as it did a few weeks ago. The 19th I was pretty heavy writing. I wrote 5 letters and I did not get all written I wanted to. I sent one to John and one to James Jordan and one to Isaiah Frasier, one to William and Emma and one to Austin Hayward. Yesterday I was bush enough in drawing our rations. And have got to go down and get the rest today. Colonel Henry is promoted to Brigadier General as reports have it. And that we are going to have a flag presentation on next Thursday. But as to the truth of all these things, there is but little known until they transfer. There was a great rumor came into camp last night, which made quite a stir among some of the boys. One was that Captain McDavitt was promoted to Major! And that we were going to have another Captain appointed outside of the Company. And that we were going to the front in a week from today. This went through camp like wildfire. Governor Andrews and Colonel Fleming and Colonel Hart are the targets now to look at. Churchill was hurt as badly as any person I ever saw. He was going to die a great many deaths before he would go one inch to the front. Crossler kept him on a string for more than an hour. He was going to talk to Governor Andrews and Colonel Henry and company. He was so wrought up that he was really beside himself. I tried to console him the best I could. But he could not see the point. Thought I was foolish to take it so cool and he led off down there. I thought that Colter pretty well paid him for the string he got him on the other night. But I must look up on this as being altogether a camp rumor. I am beginning to make up my mind that we shall go into the field and this pretty soon. I am here and I am ready to go where I am ordered for the next five months. But I am free to confess that I did not expect to go to the front where I enlisted. But if this is the decision, I have not a word to say. You must look on the bright side and not be taken by surprise if we should be ordered. I do not know any more about it now that you do only what I read from certain in dictations. We shall learn something more soon. And I shall (as I ever have) write you things just as I understand them. I feel that all things will work our right. And that we shall meet again in this life. But for all this. God may will otherwise. I hope that I shall always feel ready and willing to say let his will be done. I shall not turn to the right or the left but shall stand to my part and do the duty assigned me. Somebody has got to go to the field and why not regiment, as well as any other. The best reason for this is that we were not enlisted for the front. And there would be such a dissatisfaction that there would be but little use to send them there. But we will let this all go as a camp rumor and wait for something else to turn up. The sun is shining bright and looks lovely all around here. The old courthouse has got around very quiet again.

Mr. White is bringing me news what he surmises about the cooks giving any meaning to certain persons in the company. He did not suppose that I knew anything about and thought he would tell me. He is very kind. I have not been to breakfast yet. I guess I will go and get my breakfast and then I will finish out this.

I have been to breakfast and will now finish this and then go for headquarters. We shall report to see Ben Browne tonight. I shall be glad to see him come back. It seems rather lonesome to have him gone. I don’t hear anything about the Depot question of late. I expect it is decided by this time. And I feel a little anxious to hear how the thing has turned. I am afraid that I shall be a little belated. If I do not start pretty soon. I suppose that you have got the 100 I sent by Bill McDavitt by this time. Captain will have to be on his toes pretty soon. Tell Marietta I shall write her again pretty soon. I think that I would be a good plan to have Marietta have a little more time taken with her about writing. She is old enough now to being to look after her hand. She is a little careless about writing as well as myself. Give my love to all the children.

From your husband,

J. W. Piper