3rd Maine Infantry - Captured at Gettysburg

Item LTR-8435

Description

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


Camp Howard
Fairfax County
Alexandria, Virginia

October 9th 1861

Dear Friend Samuel,

It is with much pleasure that I just received and read your letter. And I must say with pleasure that I hasten to answer it. It is indeed a pleasure that I have a correspondence that I have one out of the many that can appreciate my uninteresting letters. For they must be so to anyone that receives them.

You are somewhat mistaken in thinking that I did not answer your last letter. Or rather, the one previous to the one I received some twenty minutes ago. For I answered some six or seven days ago. And also, I received the Lynn Reporter which was very welcome and it reminded me of old times. In looking it over, it reminded me of the many pleasant Sunday mornings that we used to receive and read that paper over the fire. And I hope that the time is not far distant that we can talk over those old times together instead of trying to recall them to mind and putting them on paper. I think it would be much more interesting with Freddy and Sis on each knee, as they were, want to be in times past.

Now truly, I do dislike to write you letters from the seat of war with no news in them. For I know you expect news from this quarter of the globe. But indeed, I know of none but what you are familiar with. For all the news there is afloat is in Western Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri. And all the news we have is second handed. The source being the Baltimore Clipper and the same news you get in the Journal or Herald the day after.

All the fighting has been done in the states that I have mentioned. And I believe that most of the fighting will be in that quarters. For since the taking of Munson’s Hill, the Rebels have been making a backward movement towards Richmond. Finding that Washington was too strongly fortified for them to try to take. They very wisely evacuated the ground that was becoming too hot for them. And I think that our next mode of attack will be by a naval force to attack some of the more southern states and the forces in Virginia seeing that they are likely to be invaded by our troops. They will instantly wish to go to the scene of action for most of the troops in Virginia are made up of men composing those of the states likely to be attacked. And it is natural for a man to protect his home and fireside before any other place. And they, acting on that principle, will leave and we follow them up and surround them. I do not know as this will be the Bill of Fare. For everything is kept from us here. The upmost secrecy prevails in regard to the forward movement of the troops. But this is the talk in the camp.

This afternoon, there was a review by the Brigadier General and he complimented us very highly. Saying we were the best regiment in the Brigade. And that is saying a good deal for him. For he is a New Yorker and there are two New York regiments in the brigade and one of them the Mozart. Has always had a very best of name. So much for Maine.

I am sorry that Ambrose Graves showed the white feather and so soon too. But it is all you could expect from such a person as he is. But it is nothing to his credit, I assure you. And I hope he will never hear the last of it. For if a young man will leave the service of his country at this trying time. For he had enlisted the day before you say when he had nothing to bind him at home. But the ties of affection. He being single and I guess he always will be after this. For it will not be forgotten by the ladies. For they are as patriotic as the men. Although they do not show it in the same manner. But still they show it in a good many ways and I say again, it is nothing to his credit.

The weather here is very changeable for one day. It will be as warm as July and the next cold enough for an overcoat. And today on review, we had on overcoats and tonight it is very cold and our thin tents are but poor protection against the cold and rain. And last night it rained and blew hard. And quite a number of the tents came down, by the rain leaving the inmates out in the open air. And the rain coming down on them at a great rate. And it is a poor prospect for the cold winter that we have before us. For we cannot keep warm now nights. But get up and build fires to warm ourselves and then back to bed again.

We cannot carry enough on our back to keep us warm beside our clothing. And so we have to go cold. For we have to carry everything we have, clothing, bedding, dishes, ammunition and arms. In fact, we make horses of ourselves. But I do not complain, but always in the best of spirits. But I sometimes think that a soldier’s lot is cast in hard places. Is Mr. Bradley, the man I used to work for, in Lynn? And how is he getting along if he is there?

In the letter previous to this, I sent my photograph. Have you received it? Give my respects to Kitty and all your Father’s family, July not excepted. Also, to Edward and Olivia Waldren. Of course, your wife has them.

Write soon and, if convenient, a paper now and then would be welcome.

From your friend,

H. A. Johnson