2nd Massachusetts Infantry - Twice Wounded

Item LTR-8602

Description

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


Muddy Branch near the Potomac
November 12th [1862]

Dear Sister,

As you have wrote to me, I will sit down this afternoon and pen you a few lines. I have not received your letter yet but it may be up to headquarters for our Captain says that there is a good many back letters for our regiment up there and yours may be there too. We changed our encampment yesterday and we are not encamped on good grass ground. It is about a half a mile from our old campground. It is just as much for us to move one mile as it is for to go twenty miles. We did not get through until night and then we were as tired as one should have been if we had marched twenty miles. I like our encampment much better than our old one. For we shall not have to work so hard to keep it clear and we have a fine view of the river and Virginia shore for a number of miles. But no rebels make their appearance at this point. I went down to the river this forenoon and I should like to have you seen the picket on the toe path of the canal. It reaches from Harpers Ferry to Washington, distance 70 miles and it is the longest picket guard ever was known in the world. The word all is well has to be passed along form one sentry to another until it reaches Washington. So it is impossible for the enemy on the other side to make any movements without us a knowing it. Our cooks have just received orders to cook up three days rations so we expect to be on the move soon. Although we may not leave until we go into winter quarters. I must close now for our company has to go on picket.

The mail has just arrived and brought me five letters. One from Calvin, Otis and Frank and two from Monserrat. Tell the boys I will answer them as possible.

I write all the spare time I can get. I wrote to Mother the 11th.

I have wrote these few lines in a hurry, so you must excuse poor writing. If Mother sends me a box, have it marked plain.

Yours in haste,

Amos P. Burnham

I expect to hear from you soon. Give my love to all and tell Bill I should like to hear from him. You must enclose lots of letter in the box if Mother sends it.