144th New York Infantry

Item LTR-8978

Description

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


Upon Hill Camp Bliss

November the 23rd 1862

Dear Sir,

I take my pen to write you a few lines to let you know that I and the rest of the boys are all well and I hope when this reaches you and your folks it will find you the same. I suppose Tom has wrote to you and has explained things to you how we are situated. We are encamped on a hill where it is as cold as blazes. While I am writing this, I am sitting on a knapsack warming my feet, while my hands are getting cold. We have had a very rainy week. Our tents leaked some and our alley got very muddy and our tent very nasty. I did not like the style much but I could not help it. We come pretty near being burnt out. Our tent got a fire the other night after we got to bed. A while after I got to sleep, the boys discovered it and I suppose there was an awful hurling amongst the boys. I never found it till morning. Then I saw the big hole in the tent.

I suppose you know that Tom is our cobbler. I guess he is making money fast. But I think this is the greatest place to spend money that I ever saw. For I have bought apples for five cents apiece and everything is costly. We expect to leave here before long. And where we are going, I don’t know where. But I shouldn’t wonder. But they will march us towards Richmond. But we are willing to go wherever they want us to go. I did not see you when you was to Delhi and I was sorry because I did not see you. I did not get a chance to speak to your father when he was to Delhi. But I am in hopes to come and see you all again when this rebellion is put down. Then I likely have some yarns to tell you. I have seen a great any soldiers since I left Delhi. It is quite a sight to see four or five regiments together. We have not drilled much for a week back. For we have been on picket and it has been very rainy. Today it has been as cold as the very mischief. Today, I will mention the names of my tent mates with myself. Cyrus Glendening, David Thomson, Ira Weaver, John Ferguson and William Gillie. That makes six but today we got them dog tents where there are but two in a tent. We will be well rigged out when we have our house on our back. You know we have to carry them on our backs. You must excuse my poor writing. For I am writing with a board on my knee. I send my respect to you and your folks.

Nicholas Lambrecht

Write soon.