5th & 7th New Jersey Infantry

Item LTR-8975

Description

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


Camp 7th New Jersey Volunteers

December 16th 1864

My Dear Wife,

I am getting slow about sending “copy” for you. The sergeant major is still away and I am at the regimental headquarters. Two years ago yesterday I was discharged from Company G, 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps. I expected a short lecture in your last letter. You had not heard of our great raid when that was written and I think you must have been without letters for several days then. Six of our men are still absent. They straggled on the march and we know nothing of their whereabouts.

Our Sutler says our Paymaster will not be here before the next muster. This will make it the 20th of January. I suppose you will be disappointed in not having the money to pay for your clothing. I am anxious it should be paid.

We do not know whether to build winter quarters here or not. We have no orders to do so. Some are at work as if they are determined to build. However, poor the prospect of staying here. We seem to think there is to be another raid soon. Or a move of some kind. We have four days rations in haversacks and four days been “on the hoof”. This was our allowance for the last march.

December 17th 1864

I stopped writing last evening because I could not get it finished in time for the mail. I have very little to write about anyway.

I do not know what to think about going home or when to try to get a furlough. I told you I shall not try this month. I want to see you. But there are so many reasons why am inclined to give up the idea of trying to get home this winter. I will tell you the reasons when I see you. Perhaps you can guess it.

The sergeant major’s furlough expires today. And we look for him by the 3 p.m. train. Tomorrow is Sunday and I will try to write a long letter. We are unsettled here. We camped among brush and stumps and the men are busy cleaning the ground.

I must close.

Your affectionate husband,

William H. Powers

Carrie D. Powers