22nd New York Infantry - Killed at South Mountain

Item LTR-8906

Description

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


Camp Augur
Upton’s Hill, Virginia
February 13, 1862

Dear and affectionate Sister,

I received yours of the 9th last evening which I received and read with pleasure. I am well at present and I hope that the reception of these few lines will find you the same. I am sorry that Tilda had so much trouble about her numbers. I hope that she won’t have quite so much next time.

Elisa, I must tell you a little story about our skirmishing. Last week our company went out skirmishing between the Rebels and our picket lines. We started in the afternoon and we got to the Rebel’s pickets about dark. There we had a little firing on both sides but there was not any killed on either side, nor wounded either. Well about 7 o’clock, the captain told me to go in a certain house and watch and I obeyed the order. So I walked in one of the back rooms and I sat down by a window and watched. About half past eight o’clock, I was not paying any attention to what was [happening] in the house and all at once I felt something tapping me on my shoulders, and by looking around who should I see stand by me but an old nigger wench. So I raised up and I was a going to hit her a rap with the butt of my gun when she begged me not to hit her. So I asked her what she wanted. She said that her mistress wished to see me. Says I, “all right.”

So I just walked in the other room and the table was set all ready for supper and the mistress of the house asked me if I had been to supper. I told her that I had not so she asked me to take supper with her, which I told her I would with great pleasure. So we seated ourselves down and we had a bully good supper. There was a handsome gal that was seated by me and I had no more than half done eating when the old woman hops up and goes in the other room and leaves the gal and I all alone. And I, thinking that I was too far from the gal, I just hitched up close by her side and you needn’t doubt but what I enjoyed myself tip top. I was up all night with her and I had a gay old time, I tell you.

The next morning about half past five, I thought I would go back and find the rest of my company, so before leaving the house, I asked the gal if she would allow me to take a kiss from her sweet lips. She then asked me what kind of a soldier I was – whether I was a Secesh or a Union soldier. So I up and told her that I was a Union soldier to the backbone. So she said to me, “Go away from me. I would not kiss you any quicker than I would kiss the Devil.” “Go away from me!” she said again. And as she said that the second time, I heard some noise out of doors and all to once I heard, “Boom, boom!” on the doorsteps, and by looking around, who should I see standing in the doorway but Captain Clendon and our company. So they up and took me prisoner and the boys said that it would go hard with me but I told them that I could not see – says I, I can see it. I can see the point. The boys then asked me where I live – if I lived right smart ways from here. I told them no that I did not. But I live right smart distance from here. Well, I guess I won’t write anymore of my nonsense for I guess you got enough now. If you can read all that I have written, you can do better than I can because I cannot read more than one half.

Elisa, you can believe what I have written to you or not believe as you think it best and I guess you get it right.

Dear sister, you said that there was lots of young folks to Mr. Farner’s party that inquired about me. Well was they anybody that I am acquainted with? If they are, I wish you would mention their names so I know whether I accept of their respects or not. If they are any person I know, I will not accept their respects until I hear their names because there is lots of people that I know in the balls that I would not accept a word from them and then there is some that I would be very pleased to accept of every words. And if any person that sends their respects to me that I don’t know, be sure and give them mine in return.

Tell Matilda that I shall write to her soon and maybe I shall write to her this afternoon. Elisa, you must not forget to give my best respects to Mr. Marsel’s family and also to Mr. Hill’s folks and to all your friends. I believe this is all I have to say at present so I will close by asking you to write soon and often and give you my love. Goodbye.

This is from your affectionate brother. Adieu,
F. Aubin

P.S. Well, Elisa, I shall have to tell you once more that I can read more than one half what I written so if you can not read it, send it back and I will try to do better next time.