74th New York Infantry - Excelsior Brigade

Item LTR-9129

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 2 pages, written in period ink.


Camped Near Fredericksburg, Virginia
January 10th 1863

Dear Brother John,

I have this day received your kind and welcome letter of the 3rd inst. for the first since the Battle of Fredericksburg. I was very uneasy on account of getting no word from you in that time. But I am satisfied now when I know you and family are well.

You mentioned in yours of not liking the uniform. But we are not particular here what we wear half of the time. We wear what we can get best. However, do what you think best. It was the best I could get at the time. I may get a better one after we get paid. But at the present, I cannot. There is no signs of us getting paid. I think the Yankees is gone up.

You can tell Margaret when you see her that I have not received a letter from her in over a month. I have written at least a half dozen to her but no answer to any of them. I cannot account for the delay as the mail comes regular to the camp.

I have written a few lines to Sister Mary Ann a few days since with a paper. I hope she will receive it safe for I would like to hear from herself.

Dear brother, since I wrote to you last, we have shifted our camp about two miles further in the woods for the sake of getting into where there was plenty of wood. We have been very busy since we got into our new camp building winter quarters. Whether we get leave to remain in them or not, I cannot say. But I think we will stay for a while. George, me and another is in the one house. We are as comfortable as can be expected under the present circumstances.

You wished me to tell you the reason I lost the two stripes. It was my own wish to give them up. For they were more trouble than they was worth for there is nothing extra for it. Had there been anything for them, I should have kept them.

Dear brother, I thought I would be in New York before this time. But I was disappointed by the near arrival of the paymaster. But I don’t give it up yet. Nine months’ pay is too much to leave behind. It was earned too hard to let it go with them. It will be a hard task but never venture, never win. I will leave when I get paid.

Dear Brother, for the present I will conclude with my love to you all and I hope to be with you in a few weeks – that is, if I can.

Write when you receive this and let me know all particulars.

George Dwyer sends his best respects to you. We have not heard our sentence as yet.



Goodbye. Believe me your affectionate brother,

William Dennis

Write, write, write.

P. S. I will send you sister’s letter in this. It will be safer with you than with me.


William Dennis