86th New York Infantry - Wounded at Wilderness

Item LTR-8638

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 3 pages, written in period ink.


Camp White Poplar Grove, Virginia

January the 5th 1865

Respected Friend,

The day is pretty chill with me. I have just been relieved from duty and will endeavor to write a few lines to let you know that I am well at present and as this leave me it may find you in the best of health. The weather is pretty cool here. We had a little fall of snow last eve, about three inches. I have been thinking about visiting some time but never could find time. But you must excuse me for my duties keep me from a good many things that I would like to do. One has to be on duty about every third day and soon as we are off duty, we have to drill. The picket duty is the hardest at present. But tis nothing to what we have done.

I am in hopes that we shant have to stay here longer thank till the first of next August. For the soldiers all think that this war will cease by that time and I think so myself. For we whip them at every point and defeat them each attempt they make and if we get the men that are now called upon by the first of May, one can march to the south wherever we attempt.

General Sherman is marching down to Charleston and if Thomas can whip hard, Sherman can take Charleston and march in the rear of General Lee and we will make the attack in front of Petersburg. And Richmond will be ours sure as fate. I suppose you have heard of General Sherman’s capture of Savannah and the prisoners, at least eleven thousand and three thousand bales of cotton and sixteen locomotives and five steamboats. That will hurt the worse than when he took Atlanta.

Well I can’t think of much more that will interest you much. You must excuse this short letter and miserable writing and I will endeavor to do better the next.

I remain your friend,

Luther L. Duell

Very respectfully yours.

Mr. Edmond Cook