29th Massachusetts Infantry - Wounded at Bethesda Church & Captured at Fort Stedman

Item LTR-9533

Description

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


Camp near Richmond

June the 13th 1862

Respected Friend,

I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know how I get along. We are stopping within about 30 rods of the rebel pickets. We have to stand in line of battle most all the time. We expect to. have to go into action every minute. There has got to be a great battle fought at Richmond yet, I think.

I saw Daniel Ashley yesterday. He is in the 20th Regiment. If you see his father, I want you to tell him that I see him. He is as tough as a bear. He was in the battle of Saturday and Sunday [June 7-8 1862].

Have you received that Treasurer’s Note that I sent when I was in Suffolk? If you have, or have not, I want you to write and let me know as soon as you can. I sent a note so that you could draw $16 every two months out of my wages. You must carry it to the town treasurer of Acushnet. The reason that I don’t write often is because that I don’t have any postage stamps. I have not got time to write much more at present. The rebels think that if they lose Richmond, they lose everything.

We have to sleep outdoors most of the time. We have to turn out in the night and four times in the night. We have to eat hard bread and water most of the time. We don’t get much time to sleep now. I have got tired of such living, sleeping outdoors in the mud and rain. Our sharpshooters are picking off the rebel pickets. There is a large tree close by that we can get up in the top of it and we can see the rebels quite plain. But if the rebels see you, they shoot at you. I went up in the tree yesterday with a lieutenant. We got fired at twice, both of the balls struck the tree.

Charley is smart. Give my best respects to all inquiring friends. Please excuse this bad writing. Direct your letters to Fortress Monroe or elsewhere, Company F, 29th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers.

Yours truly,

George Pierce