1st New York Light Artillery - Wounded at Winchester

Item LTR-8544

Description

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


Camp of the 1st NY Battery
April 21st, 1864

Dear Sister Alvira,

Yours of the 15th came to hand in due time and as usual was pleased to hear from you and father. It is some time since I last wrote to you individually but when I write home I write for the whole family and they must clue you when the campaign commences. I intended to write home as often as once a week when I can and you must not worry if it is longer than that sometimes. The report is that when the army starts there will be no male sent out of the army in 40 days but that is all hoax. There are no more signs of moving than there was two weeks ago. We are expecting orders every day. Every day the Army is getting stronger. Our army is in fine condition and in good spirits.

I am well at present and that is more than I can say of five days ago. I was very sick for three or four days but that is nothing. It was the first time that I have been unwell in some months.

Tonight I am so tired for we have been drilling hard today and then got on a horse and rode 6 or 7 miles for fun bear back at that. I can hardly sit still. The moon is shining brightly and 100 of the boys are within two rods of my tent. Some of them singing and some dancing and some hollering and one violin a going. How can anyone keep still let alone trying to write. That is more than I can stand.

Father said in his that he thought Andrew and Willard rather despised you in not calling on you. I don’t think that I would get poor thinking about it. I don’t believe that I should speak to Andrew if I should see him. That is the way that I feel towards him.

I had a letter from Daniel dated two days later than the one you spoke of. He was still enjoying good health hoping these few lines will find you all well. I will close for this time. I remain as ever your affectionate brother,

C. H. Shapley

P.S. Let me know if the little boys are going to school this summer as if they have been this winter.