7th New Hampshire Infantry

Item LTR-8152

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 2 pages, written in period ink.


General Hospital, Ward C
Hilton Head, SC
August 31st 1863

Dear Wife & Children,

The mail leaves at 10 this A.M. I don’t know as I am much better. My Diarrhea stopped short and I had nothing pass for five days till last night, then from the effects of a dose of Physic. I am so as to be up part of the time and am comfortable feeble. So don’t worry about me.

I have not heard from you this two mails. I suppose they have neglected to send my letters from “Morris.” We don’t hear from there much oftener than you do at the North, as the orders are very strict about news. We are dependent for news on papers from the north for our news. Lieutenants Dow & Clark have got their discharge and going in this boat. I send this by Lieutenant Dow to Concord & enclose $50. I shall not be mustered this time, as this is muster day, so I shall be two months behind again next pay day.

I am hoping every day to get letters, for I am very anxious to hear from you. I presume you have written about the draft, If I ever get the letters. I have not heard a word of it in N.H. yet. I have a great curiosity to hear who are the lucky ones from E. and other places where I am acquainted. I wish you would get 4 handkerchiefs, a little larger and better than those you sent before and send by mail so that I can get them soon. Don’t wait to send by anybody, but go to the store, get them, get someone to help fix and do them up in a package, put them in the Post Office, then I can get them without waiting three months as I did for those other things, and direct to Lieutenant Calvin Shedd, General Hospital, Hilton Head, S.C., put on nothing else, except the postage stamps and if I am here I shall get it the next boat but one that arrives.

I have nothing interesting to write and do not feel like running around after news, so I will close with my love and best wishes for your health and happiness.

Yours,
C. Shedd