52nd Massachusetts Infantry

Item LTR-8199

Description

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


New Orleans
February 1, 1863

Dear Father and Mother,

We arrived at New Orleans last night. I enjoyed myself yesterday sailing up the Mississippi River. I see thousands of bushels of oranges growing. Most of them were ripe. They looked nice. We asked one man to throw us 2 or 3. He looked pretty ugly and said them oranges did not grow for the do-da Yankees. We expressed our opinion of him and gave three groans and kept on.

February 6th. I landed at Baton Rouge about noon day before yesterday. I found about 20 of Company K here. I tent with Lysander. They was glad to see me and I know I was them. The commissary is unwell but so he keeps around. I shall not go into the cook house for two or 3 days yet. Not till I get my land legs on. They have got the measles and the whooping cough, scarlet fever and queasy, etc.. So I wish you would write as soon as you get this and tell me what is good for those diseases. But I shall probably have some of them before I can get it, if I ever do. I hardly think I shall get any of them. I am well and hearty except a sore throat, which I have had more or less for 10 days. It seems to be on my pipes. The boys say I am as fleshy as I was when I was at Greenfields.

The 52nd was aboard the ship 19 days and I was aboard the ship I came on 38 days. To tell the truth I fared pretty hard. The fresh bread we had was dry and very sour. The rice was second or third quality and poorly cooked and sometimes nothing on it. Fresh beef stunk and our salt junk I could scrape off any amount of salt and dirt after it was cooked and the potatoes was froze or grew on top of ground. But enough of this. I do not care. I have been protected and landed safe. I did not know till we had been at the wharf two or three hours whether the 52nd Regiment was at shell roads or New Orleans or at the bottom of the sea.

You can imagine how I felt. I was very sorry to hear that father was sick. But was glad to hear that he is better. I hope he is better still now. I received your letter last night and was glad to hear from you. I value your letters higher than the soldier you spoke of if possible. I do hope you will not get sick Mother. It is pleasant here today. But it was cold here last night. The ground froze very hard. If the birds calculate to better themselves by coming south this winter, they are mistaken. There is any quantity of rebels waiting a few miles of us Mother. I will thank you again for the testament you gave me. I love to read it. I have read it most if not every day since I left home. When I got here I found 3 letters for me, wasn’t I glad. Though the boys got some sugar and molasses from the sugar houses round here. The houses have to come down for our conveniences. I should not wonder if we got a beef tonight we may just as well live pretty well while we can at the rebel’s expense. For we are amongst them now and no mistake.

Do write as soon as you get this for it will take 26 days for a letter to go and come. I should like a gazette if you could send me one. I had some fried pork and potatoes for breakfast and some griddles. It seems good to get something good to eat again.

Please give my respects to Mr. Williams folks. I was glad to receive a note from them and shall answer it soon. I have got my revolver safe through. You must hurry and get well Father, for my 9 months is pretty well started and I want to find you well when I come home. Most of the boys are down the river 15 miles. I must close for want of room.

With my love to you.

A. L. Strong