5th Connecticut Infantry - Captured at Winchester

Item LTR-9574

Description

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


Fort Scott
October the 6th 1862

Dear Friend,

I received your letter in due time. I suppose you will be anxious to know why I have not answered it sooner.

I will tell you we left Annapolis in five minutes after I received your letter. We went by boat around Washington. Stayed there but one night. Then crossed over to Alexandria. Went into camp. How long we will have to stay here I don’t know. We have no post office here or mail. All goes up to the convalescent camp and then to the post office. It is so badly managed that we are liable to lose our letters. I don’t stay in camp much of the time. I am now writing from Fort Scott.

What was once Fourth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry is doing garrison duty in forts around Washington. I haven’t had a great many acquaintances among them. It makes it quite a pastime for me to visit them and see the forts.

If I had known how things were when I was at Annapolis, I would have come home and made a short visit. But where we are now, it is impossible for me to get home at present.

I have heard several times that our regiment is going home to Fort Trumbull to recruit. If it is so, we shall have a good time this winter. My captain is wounded and quite a number of my company. They are in the hospitals in town. I haven’t heard from my Mother yet. I suppose they wrote to me, mislaid or lost or some other thing.

You wrote that your health is not very good. I am very sorry to hear it. I am in hopes that when this reaches you it may be better. Do not let it once come into your mind that you will not see me again. I think that before many weeks we shall meet again.

My health is very good.

Give my kind regard to all

From your true friend,
William

When you write, direct as follows:
William Fuller
Company I, 1st Connecticut Volunteer Artillery
Washington, DC

With these directions, I shall be sure to get it.