26th Massachusetts Infantry - Captured at Newtown, VA

Item LTR-8407

Description

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


Fort St. Philips
May 20th 1862

Dear Parents,

We are still here at the Fort. But shall probably not be a great while longer. The band has already gone to New Orleans to answer a call from General Butler and I think we shall follow them soon. It is the General’s opinion that we shall leave for home in a few weeks. And I hope we shall for the more we move the worse we are off. When we were on the constitution, a great many wished themselves back at Camp Chase again. And when we arrived at Philip Island, then there was a good deal of cussing. They declared the Constitution was a paradise. And so it went.

They were extremely well pleased to think we were going to leave. And once more set on hard ground. And now we have got our wish. We are still worse off than we were at Island and I have found out that the life of a soldier is full of hardship. Although we have not seen them in their worse forms. It is now just six months since we left Lowell and if the country needs us, I am willing to stay my three years. And although I want to see the folks at home very much, you know this is my first employ away from home. And consequently, I cannot be so contented as those that have had more experience. But still, I am very well contented and have faith now that I shall be at home again before cold weather sets in.

There is at anchor, just below the fort and within range of its guns, a Spanish-Man-Of-War. And there is a French man at New Orleans and another down the River a little ways. There have been 2 men died and been buried since we have been here. Both from Company D, Captain Warren’s Company. One of them a Lowell man, but I don’t know his name. Since we have been here, I have not slept any of consequence until lately. I have got a mosquito net and now I can sleep without being disturbed by the mosquitos eating a fellow half up.

I wrote to Nellie a few days ago and she will tell you all the news. The day or two before the band went to New Orleans, they took a pleasure excursion down the river a few miles. And when coming back, saw a deplorable sight in the bushes. Entangled in the twigs was one of the Gunboat Mississippi’s victims all bloated up so what his thigh was as large as any common man’s body. And it was a sickening sight to look upon.

There is a rumor here at present the French authorities at home have given their Consul in New Orleans orders to wait upon the Confederate government and tell them that if they don’t come to our terms in three months, they will make them. They said that they are handsomely whipped and are causing their own people to suffer greatly. And they won’t see their own countrymen imposed upon any longer without interfering. I must close. Give my love to all inquiring and Nellie in particular. And take a good share to yourself.

Your dutiful son,

George