116th Pennsylvania Infantry - Irish Brigade

Item LTR-87

Description

3 page period ink letter from Private William A Smith of the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry:

Camp near Stevensburg
Dec 29, 1863

Dear Father and Mother and Sisters,

I take pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that I received your kind letter this morning and was glad to hear from you all that you are well at present. Well I am getting a good bit better than I was. I had a very hard time of it for a while. I was in bed for 5 days but I am out of it again and over to my Regiment again. I got sent to my Regiment again for I was so sick that I could not tend to my horse so they got another man to do it and then I had to go to my Regiment again. S I am at my company and very near ready to try again. Well there is not much news here now but the furloughs are stopped without reenlisting and then they get one for 35 days. But I can’t see the point of reenlisting for a furlough. So that puts a stop to me coming home this winter, for I won’t reenlist for another 3 years. They got me once and if they get me in the trap again it will be my fault, without I can’t help myself any other way. Well the boys had a very good Christmas of it for being out here, nothing to get. But I was sick in bed all day. But I am pretty well again now. Well I must stop writing for it is so dark that I can’t see. So give my love to all of my friends. So my love to you all and write soon.

From your Son
William A. Smith

Direct your letters to me at the Regiment

William A. Smith
Co A, 116th Regiment
2nd Brigade, 1st Division
Washington, D.C.
Army of the Potomac