20th Indiana Light Artillery

Item LTR-8245

Description

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


November 6th 1862

Dear Cousin,

I seat myself to pen you a few lines in reply to your kind letter. Which I received some time ago and was glad to hear from you. All the reason that I did not write sooner. The next day after I got your letter, I started to march to Madison. We got there Thursday evening after all day ride. We. Stayed in the country until Monday morning. We went up the river 12 miles and stayed there until Tuesday morning. Then we started back to Indianapolis. We landed here Wednesday morning at 4 o’clock sleepy and tired. We had a good while we were gone. We were gone one week. We was in ¬¬¬¬Louisville KY one night and I was on guard that night. We were at Carlington, it is at the mouth of the Louisville KY River. I would like to stayed there some time. I don’t know how long we will stay here. Perhaps some time. I wish we would leave. There is some talk that we will go to Missouri. For my part, I don’t know where we will go to. I would like to see all of you. I could tell you more than I can write in a month.

I think that we have the best officers that there is around Indianapolis. We have no guard around as I am determined to stand fast to my resolutions. The boys try hard to get me to break them. But they can’t get me to break them. Our Captain won’t allow us to get tight but the boys don’t care. For that they get to go to the guard house. I have not been there nor I don’t intend to if I can help it.

I have good times. I have been in good health ever since I have been in camp. I am well and hope these few lines will find you all in good health. I hope that I am still remembered by you all. When my time is out, I shall return home to my friends and acquaintances. I want to go back to my home as humble as I left and I will do my best to live as respectable as I would at home.

I have first rate mess mates. They were all strange to me when I came here. I knew but one man. I have to write on my knapsack. You must excuse bad writing and all mistakes. Please write soon. Tell Maggie that I am waiting with patience for her letter.

Direct to M. H. Leiter, 20th Indiana Battery in care of Captain F. A. Rose, Indianapolis, Indiana.