48th Pennsylvania Infantry - Fort Sedgwick

Item LTR-9756

Description

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


Fort Sedgewick, Virginia
December 28, 1864

My Dear Daughter,

It has been some time since I wrote to you and suppose a short letter from me will not be unwelcome. So, I will try and write you one. But not in quite so plain a hand as the other one was. I have not a doubt, however, but you can read it as readily as you did the other one. For it is now nearly or quite two months since and a good girl, such as I hope you are, must certainly have improved a good deal in learning in that time.

That vase of wax flowers which you were so kind as to make and send me, I am sorry to say, were all broken. But it must have been very pretty and certainly shows a great deal of taste in a girl of your age. I would like to send you a Christmas present in return. But there is no place here to buy anything suitable for a present for a little girl. So, I must beg you to wait a little while yet. For perhaps “Pappy Grant” will take us away from this place soon to a more civilized place where I may have a good chance to send you something.

Perhaps you would like to know what kind of houses we live in. Well, we dig a square hole in the ground, like a cellar, then lay big logs across and cover it all up with dirt, except a hole in one side for a door. Then we lay boards across a couple of sticks for a bed. On which we sleep very comfortably. Our fireplaces and chimneys are built of small logs, plastered with yellow clay and serve to cook our victuals and warm our houses.

Give my love to Grandmamma and your mamma and Grandpappa and your brother and sister and all your aunts and cousins.

Don’t forget to write to me soon again.

Your affectionate Father,

George J. Heisler