61st Massachusetts Infantry - Soldier's Art

Item LTR-8669

Description

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


February 3rd 1864
City Point, Virginia

Dear Mother,

I received a letter from you today. I have been waiting for one. I was out of postage stamps. I have just come from picket and I will now write. That fight was 2 miles from here and at the same time the rebs attacked our pickets at Bermuda Hundred. We could not make out what it was for 3 or 4 days. I think it would be for the credit of the town if some more of them were put out of the way.

That was very rough for Mrs. Kendall. She has a very hard time I think. How is Charles Slopes and Joel Lincoln. Tell him to write. I hope you had a good time at your sleigh ride. But I think it is not right for the children to go where they are so careless, those that are too small to help themselves.

I want the boys to be careful about going on the pond. It is very warm here some days, but muddy. I have got one box with my watch. It was alright. I am very much obliged for it has done me service to quick. You ask me if I am not sleepy. I am sometimes. But there is no danger of my going to sleep. For when sleepy, I walk quite fast and I soon wake up. Our Captain has gone home. He is sick.

They are firing very heavy up to the front today. The rebs are deserting very fast today. There was 150 down to the Point. They are hard looking easterners. Some boys not more than 14, slim at that. Send me some reading matter since we have got to do picket duty. It is lonesome out in the woods. But time passes quickly.

Write all. Good bye,

Milton

We have got a meeting house here built of logs with a canvas covering. Tonight they are a going to have a dance. A pretty way to dedicate a church, I should think. Our team went down to the point today to get the boxes. But there was none there on account of the freezing up of the river. I shall get my boots by the first of next week.

Milton E. Smith