22nd Wisconsin Infantry

Item LTR-8667

Description

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


Danville, Kentucky
December 14, 1862

My Dear Wife,

Your letter of date December 11th is at hand and I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well. I made a little mistake up there but you can see that I made it all right. I don’t know as my health is any better now than it was when I last wrote to you before. I was down to see the doctor and he said that it was the liver complaint. I am a going to try and keep up good courage and do for the best if I can. I am enjoying myself very well at present and am glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself the same. The health of the regiment is not any better than it was when I wrote before. There is a good many a dying but I am in hopes that they wll get better before a great while.

I don’t feel well enough to think of anything to write and so I will let Charley fill up the letter to suite himself. I have not got any war news to write to you this time. Only that Burnside has been a having a hard battle at Vicksburg and I have not heard how the victory is yet as I have not heard. But I hope that he will whip them so that they will stay so far one while.

We had a nice march from Nicholasville to Danville, a distance of 22 miles. We are encamped at this place. But I don’t know how long we shall stay here. We may stay here all winter and we are liable to move any minute. This war business is rather uncertain for a man cannot tell how long he is a going to stay in one place. But I hope that we shall stay here for the winger, as it is a pleasant place. We have not had much cold weather yet and I hope that we shall not have.

You can tell Mr. McGregor that I have seen Devendorf, a brother to the ones that sells peanuts for him and Wood. Tell Mr. McGregor for Charley that he does not get a letter from them as often as he sends one to them. Tell them that Charley wants to get a letter as often as he can. For it does him a great deal of good to hear from them. Tell Charles McGregor that I would like to be there to eat honey with him. For that is something that a poor soldier does not get to live on. We live very well. Better a great deal than a good many folks over at the North. I am satisfied with it if I don’t get any worse and I don’t think that there is any danger of that yet awhile any way.

You must give my best respects to all of the folks. I should like to come home and eat New Year’s dinner with you. I think that it would do me good. But I don’t see any chance to come yet awhile.









From Charley

Tell Mr. McGregor’s folks that I should like to be there to eat New Year’s dinner with them. But I don’t see any prospect of coming. But then they can eat and think of Charley. For I may be there some day to join them in a good dinner. Give my love to all of the family. Direct your letter the same as before. This from your husband,

G. W. Wood

Written by Charles H. Menzie, yours truly. Writing for him. So goodbye.