70th New York Infantry

Item LTR-9291

Description

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


Camp McClellan
Washington

August 23, 1861

Dear Friend,

I now take my pen to hand to write you a few lines Theodore. I tell you that I was glad to hear that you was well and also to hear that you are a strong friend of mine and good fellow. That you said that if you was down here when we catch Jeff Davis for to spool the rope. And Theodore, I wish very much to see you. But I guess you have to wait till I get home. Just the time I received your letter, I was writing home. And Theodore, you must pardon me for not writing to you. For I had to write home so often and I thought I would write many times. But I intend to now. To keep up at continual writing to you. And Theodore, while I was writing this letter, I heard the big guns going off all the time I was writing this. And if you see George, tell him that I wish him to write to me. And I think it is hard to have a brother and not to hear from him and tell him I would be very glad to hear from him. And I wish very much to hear from your Father and Mother. And tell all to write to me and tell them to write and to direct to Camp McClellan, Washington, DC. And John Loyd, the Ward Master, wishes me to give his best respects and said that letter was a bully one. And he has been a good gentleman to me ever since I had been under his care. He has done his best and he wants you to write to him and Theodore.

I do wish that I was home. And tell Charley to write to me. For I would like it very much. But my pen is poor and my ink is bad. And so is Old Dad and that is so. Don’t you think so Theodore. And the one thing I do is to nurse the sick and I’ve them the medicine. I had about twelve men to take care of me most of the time. But my friend Loyd, the Ward Master, helped me great parts of the time. But I hope I can stand it. And if I cannot stand it, they may have to send me home. And one thing I have to say is that our Brigade is about five miles from the secession pickets. And it is a pleasing thought for to be fighting the rebels. For our brigade is ready to fight any time the orders are given to us. And I do wish that the rebels would attack our brigade and we would give a good fight.

And I suppose that you heard that about the battle in Missouri on Monday last. And our men made them retreat from the ground that they won. But it is ours now. That is so the south will be luck out. Because there is thousands of men coming all the time and the weather has been very bade now. And tell Mother that I would like to see her very much. And tell her that I wish she would tell Aunt to write to me. For I would like to hear from her very much. And while I write this letter, I write it on the head of the drum.

But our Colonel is a scoundrel for not paying us. For there is men in our brigade that has been there over three months or more and has not paid them. And they are as mad as dogs can be. But I am in hopes that we will get our pay soon. For I want some very bad. For I cannot get enough to eat and wish that if you could lend me some, I would repay you as soon as I get my pay. And by doing so, you will oblige me very much by so doing. And if you have not excused me for asking you and therefore, I am not tired of writing to a good friend as you are. For I do think a great deal of you. And I do think that we will see each other sometime or other, if the secession doesn’t hang me before I see you. But if they do, I think that they will have to kill a great many more. And ain’t that an opinion of yours?

But Theodore, ever since I have been in camp, I have slept on the ground, but my blanket under me. I have laid on the ground when it rains hard and the rain ran under me all the time. I slept for three nights at a time and at my quarters. I had three crackers a meal and a piece of meat and a half pint of coffee at a meal. And I cannot get such as peas and beans, potatoes, greens, Buch cakes, and all I would like to get potatoes and turnips and potato spuds and tomatoes loose and ingin cakes and mush and milk. I think that I would get fat soon. And to get fat as I got poor. But I have to stand it. It is no use of talking of eating potatoes and so forth. Theodore, do you remember the trip that we took that Sunday up to see the Crane girls? And what a tip we had that day. Write all about the girls and boys. And have many boys left? For I would like to know about it.

And I do not intend to stay the three years out. For I think that the war will not last long. I hope not. For I am tired of the war. It is a hard place for a human being. For it looks like the stables that the farmers have. Sent in love to Sally Hotel and write soon. So goodbye for the present.

David R. Losey


“Who having once turned around goes on and turns no more his head for he knoweth that a fearful fend I doth close behind him tread”

David R. Losey

The brave who sink to rest by all those counters wishes blest.

David R. Losey

He could tell at the first relish if his oysters fed on the interion or the liverier bed and from a crab or lobster’s color name the country nay the district whence it came.

John Loyd
Wardmaster of the Hospital

And show it to Mother

David R. Losey

And tell Mother where to send the letter.

David R. Losey