14th & 17th Vermont Infantry - Wounded at Gettysburg

Item LTR-8671

Description

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


Camp Near Petersburg
October the 11, 1864

Dear Friend Parmeter,

As I was at leisure and hadn’t wrote only 3 letters, I thought that I would write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and all right. I tell you friend, I am a darn good fighting man when everything is quiet. I like it so well that I am gain to enlist for 3 years in the Navy…

We had a hard fight here a week ago last Friday and I tell you, there was some old howling here.
We lay right in front of the Rebel’s lines and we expect a fight every day. They are fighting on the right today. The old cannons are howling pretty smart. I can set in my tent and hear them.

I wish that you could be here for a little while. I would like to see you. I came off from picket last night. The Rebs are very quiet. We change papers with them and they had better be fair. If they don’t, we will give then Hell.

We have got a fort and a line of breastworks and about 40 cannons planted on them and some 10 acres of slash fell, so they can’t charge our works and if they show their heads in a line of battle, we will cut them down as fast as they can come.

You must write to me soon and tell me how you get along and how Anna Lizzy is.

There is in our company 13 men and Company K is detailed to fort Haven on duty and our regiment is very small and I think that we shall be sent home to recruit this winter.

Now for this time I will tell you how to direct your letters. The 17th Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, Company A, Washington, DC.

This is from your friend,
J. C. Thomas

Good by