37th Massachusetts Infantry - Wounded at Winchester & Sailor's Creek

Item LTR-8533

Description

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


Army of the Potomac
Camp near Falmouth, Virginia

May the 16th 1863

Dear Father and Mother,

I received your kind letter last night and was glad to hear from you. I was sorry to hear Annie was sick but I guess she will get better in a few days. For she has got someone to take good care of her. And I haven’t but I always get well in a few days. I don’t know what it is that helps me when I am sick. I wasn’t very well when we started for the battle. And we had a hard time, I tell you. There was four nights that we did not get hardly any sleep and it rained. But I stood it and I am as tough as nuts now. But I haven’t hardly no fat as I was awhile ago. But I feel tip top. In fact, we felt well when we was in the battle. We weren’t half so afraid of the balls hitting us as you was and they went by my head whirling and singing like bees. But they didn’t hurt me at all. I stood to my post and that is the place I want to see a man and anyone that is a man will stand too his post.

Monday afternoon. Before we retreated we was put out in front of all, closest to some woods by a house. The rebs was within a stone’s throw of us. Any quantity of them, they came out two or three times. But they went back again. I stood right between a house and a little shop. There was a house behind me and the door was open. And there was a n****r set in the door right behind me. There was a ball went by my head and went in at the door. And scared the poor old darkey most to death. What a pity. I am sorry for her. But I can’t cry and I would not if I could. I don’t think much of n*****s myself. But let the n*****s go. They are of no consequence. We didn’t think they were that night when we retreated. We had our hands full to take care of ourselves. For we were the last and we had to run I tell you. For the rebs was at our heals. But you know that I am good for running. So I wasn’t afraid of them. For that wouldn’t pay but we was glad to get back where we could get some rest. We are now in our old camp, where we started from. But we are good for another try. Yet we gave them all they wanted before and we will give them more the next time. And I don’t think we shall come back the next time. We shall go towards Richmond. Be we have to fight Old Jackson they say and that is worth a big fight I tell you. But I will let the fighting go and talk about something else. Did you get any money in the last letter? There was seven dollars in it. And has Charley paid you what he owed me yet and how much did you put in the bank. And how much is they in the hole. Please write in the next. For I don’t know anything about it and if you can get a good chance to let that money out, do so. And let it earn something more.

Something else, Mother wrote for my picture. And so I got it taken. It isn’t a very good one, for it is too rougher. For I have sent it. I tell you so this is for Mother and you unless you want to give it to some pretty girl like Julie or someone you want me to have, as I have got no one to speak of. Julie I think she is too good one for me and smart gal. but I have lost her hand. Sorry but I guess I can’t find your two letters. But guess the picture and this letter will pay you. And I haven’t got any more to write to Annie and so I am going to send her a picture then! You will think it is worth seeing I guess and if she will write to me will answer it and tell her she must wait any ways for you know that I don’t get so many letter. I did once. But you know that I am losing friends and that is bad. You know for a young soldier but there is a good time coming where longer and longer. And then we will see how it goes.

I saw Otis Cummings grave Tuesday. And that was what I never expected to see. All was on picket near there and we got told to go and see it that war is worth a lot for us.

But I must close for it is almost ten o’clock and we have to drill at half past ten. So please excuse this.

From your son

Joseph M. Foster

Write soon and all of the news and give my love to all.