126th Pennsylvania Infantry - Killed at Chancellorsville

Item LTR-8338

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 5 pages, written in period ink.


Old Camp
January 29th [1863]

My Dear Ma,

Your very kind letter of 21st was received day before yesterday. I was so rejoiced to hear from you once more. I concluded not to answer you letter immediately as I had just written to you the day before I got your letter. We are both very well. I will not have time to write you a long letter. As the mail will soon leave.

I will try and answer some of your questions, in relation to the box. I received the box on Sunday, 4th January and found everything in prime order. I got the knife and fork and spoon. Also, the tallow and gave my new boots a good greasing with it. The apples were not frozen. And I got everything you spoke of and a little more. They hay I did not throughout. But put it on the ground for a bed. There was nothing that I did not get and I still feel thankful for such a nice box. Some of my mess mates have boxes on the way and are expecting them daily. Jacob, as I wrote you before, is at the rail road with Dr. Lain of C. He has a squad of 30 men to guard and carry water for the hospitals. I see him very often. He is looking very well and I am getting very fat. I weigh more than I ever did in my life.

I weigh 161 pounds. I suppose you have quite a deep snow at home. As we have some 3 or 4 inches here. But the sun is taking it away very fast. I would like to be home to take a sleigh ride but that can’t be. We have not moved our camp yet. But expect to as soon as the weather gets good. We move about a mile where the wood and water is plentier. I will write to Aunt Nixon very soon. I have not had a letter from Will for a long time.

Dear Ma, you must not believe the tails that the old soldiers tell you as they go by. I don’t doubt in them but that they were deserters and should be treated as such. Many are deserting now from what I hear. If you have no figs yet, you had better get two from Old Austin and I will settle it with him when I get home. How did the potatoes turn out that I had planted at Jones’? Did Leon Braham get the gun? We are now under command of General Hooker and don’t think we will get into a fight for a month at least and perhaps not then. For from the appearance of the weather now, we will not be able to move for some time to come.

You must give my respects to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly and the balance of the folks. Although, we have some snow here, we are just as comfortable in our little houses as we would be at home. We have a little stone that we paid five dollars for. I have plenty money to do me, I think. I will write Cousin a little note below. As I believe I forgot to thank her for her kindness in sending me the papers and tobacco.

Write soon.

Your affectionate son,

N. C. Trout

My Dear Cousin,

I hope you will at this late hour accept my sincere thanks for your kindness in sending me the one thing needful with soldiers. Tobacco! And also, those nice papers. I perused a great many of them and then did as you directed. Handed them over to my comrades. You will again, please accept my many thanks for your kindnesses. Hope if I will not be able to repay you on this earth, that the rewards of all good, will recompense you.

I am yours, ever affectionate,

N. C. Trout