111th New York Infantry

Item LTR-9128

Description

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


Camp Pomeroy near Hunting Creek, Virginia
December 24th 1862

Respected Wife and Children, Brother and Family,

How do you all get along today. As I have an opportunity to write a few lines, I thought I would improve it. I suppose you have no objections of my doing so. I have not been able to do anything for a few days and I get lonesome sitting here thinking of home. I have goat a lame back so that I am not on duty I have been using lineament and now I have got a blister plaster on it. I am in hopes that I shall be able to go to work again soon. Our regiment are at work on a fort and they want all the men that can work and I count one when I am with them. Ben Strong was excused by the doctor yesterday but has to work today. Chris has gone with them. George Whiltek has just gone after some beans for our dinner. I have stewed some apples this morning and now I will eat.

Well, I have eaten my dinner and now I will try and finish this letter. It is a very pleasant day. There is no snow to be seen. The most I can hear is the firing of guns, sounding of horns and beating of drums. I would rather hear the sound of the Anvill where I was one year ago today.

Well, tomorrow is Christmas. I wonder what you will all be about. I hope you will have a good time and I would like to help you. But I have got something good to eat that you sent me. I will have a Christmas dinner out of that and if you have any more potatoes, then you want to eat one for me. Maida, you and Elvey must hang up your stockings. New Year’s Ma must tell Old St. Nick to come and put something in them. Ginna, what did you and Gene get for Christmas when PaPa or Aunt Sarah writes you must tell me what you got Sarah Haw. I suppose you feel very proud of your new house. I have got one nothing near as large as you and I am not very proud of it. I don’t keep it looking very well. I don’t sweep the floor once a week for there is no floor in it. And I don’t think there ever will be. I don’t have to take my shoes off every time I come in the house. That is what is the matter.

Well, Sarah, I would like to know whether James or any of your folks come to see you or not you. Have said nothing about them. Catty do you think they feel as bad as they did. If they do, I would like to know it. I promise to write to Mary. But I don’t know when she is as I would have written before. Please tell me if you know if they inquired anything about me. Give my respects to them. I wish I had thought and tole you to send the children’s likeness to me by Rath Granger. I would like to see them and yours too. But I am in hopes that I shall see them before long without you sending them. My back begins to smart very bad and I shall have to close this. I want you to write as often as you can. I will do the same.

Goodbye.

Yours truly,

Willy Mallery