23rd New York Infantry

Item LTR-8853

Description

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


Munson Hill, VA
January 2, 1862

Dear Sister,

Received your letters of the 23rd in good time and was glad to hear from you once more. I am well at present and hope that these few lines will find you the same. John and Art are well as common. I should have wrote sooner but my time has been taken up since I read your letters.

It is fine pleasant weather down here now. There is no snow but it freezes nights and thaws days. I have not heard from home in some time. The last I heard from William he was down to Old Point and expected to go on and I see by the papers that the 45th P. V. were in 35 miles of Charleston. So I suppose that is the reason that I do not hear from him oftener than I do.

It has been pretty sickly here this winter. There have been 18 deaths in the last six weeks in our regiment. But we have not lost any of our company. But two have gone home about as good as dead, for one was deaf and the other was crazy.

Yesterday was New Years day and a pleasant day it was as far as the weather was concerned. We had an inspection of the quarters in the forenoon and in the afternoon I went to a funeral. The first one that I have attended since I have been a soldier. Three volleys of musketry were fired over the grave.

Our brigade and another brigade went out last week after forage. There was 100 wagons along and they all came back loaded with hay, oats and corn. We went in sight of Fairfax Court House and saw none of the enemy.

There was a battle at Dranesville on the 20th, some eight or 10 miles up the river from here. The Pennsylvania Reserves under General McCall were victorious. A large number of the Rebels were killed and six or eight of our men.

A good many accidents happen around here by the accidental discharge of guns. Quite a number of men have had their fingers shot off. Some think they are done on purpose so they can get discharged. I like it to well to shoot mine off.

But I must stop now for it is getting night and will soon be dress parade.

Write when you can and give my love to all inquiring friends.

Daniel Chase

Mary Kennedy