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111th New York Infantry - Captured at Harper's Ferry

Item LTR-9227
October 19, 1862 William A. Mallery
SOLD

Description

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


Camp Douglas
Chicago, Illinois

October 19th 1862

Well Laty, as you say. I received your letter today and was very glad to hear from you and the rest of the folks. I wrote a letter to you yesterday and I have a little more to write today. Poor little Ida. How sorry PaPa is that. You had the toothache. I hope that it is well by this time. That is the tooth that eats Pa’s candy up, I guess. I wish that I was there to buy Sissy some more. Don’t you? And some for little Elvey too. I mentioned in my other letter that we expected some more company from Aurora. They came yesterday. George Miller and Lib and his sister. Well Lathrop’s sister and wife, they brought three or four baskets full of baked chicken, biscuits. There are four kinds of cake and pie and most everything that was good. As Sarah says, you had better think we had a good dinner and have got some left. There was about twenty that took dinner. Welcome to such visitation as them. We would be happy to receive them every day in this time of need. Lib said that her Father and three brothers had gone to war. And she seems to be a friend to soldiers. She has got a nice little boy when he went away. He said goodbye ma’am. He father is the same George as he used to be. Lib’s face is about as thick as a knife. We have never heard the articles of our parole till today and I have but little faith in it. We think it to be bogus. They say that it was a special parole and they intend to drill us again and have us do camp duty. The guards will be the paroled prisoners. They will keep us in camp over the left. They have to keep a fire guard now. I don’t think that will help the matter much of what you wanted. I should let you know what I thought about you going to Michigan. That is something that I had not thought of and am not prepared to answer it directly. If I was sure that we were not coming back to Auburn, I should say go, if you think best. And could shape matters and things, so you could go. I don’t know what you would do with the house and things. There is some talk of our coming back to Auburn this fall. But we can’t tell anything about it yet. If we should, I would rather you would not go. We will know more in a week about it perhaps. And then I could tell you all about it. You might see what you could do with the house providing you could go and then write to me.

Captain Lurk is going home this week. I understand he may know something about it when he comes back. You wanted to know what I had to eat. We get two or three potatoes a week and sour bread, coffee once a day. Sometimes meat once a day, once in a while rice. You said something about a box of stuff. I don’t think it best to send it yet for a while. It will cost about all it is worth to get it here and I would have to divide with the rest of the boys. And it would not amount to much. I shall not need it very bad unless I am sick and then you will know it. You must not worry about me. If you can take care of yourself and children until I can send you some money. That is all I can ask. Write as soon as you get this and let me know how you are getting along. I am a little nervous today. You know that by the looks of the writing. No more at this time. My love to all. Jimmy, how does you and Dickey stand it these cold nights.

Yours as ever.

W. A. Mallery

Here comes your postage stamp back again and I wish that I was with it.