34th New York Infantry

Item LTR-9797

Description

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


Camp Falmouth, VA
Saturday, Jan 24th 1863

Dear Brother,

I received yours of 14th today but with a sorrowful heart I read and reread yours for what comfort must there be for you or for our sisters. So much sickness as you have had and Sister Lane but I feel glad to hear that she is so she can be up again but poor sister Lib. It grieves me to hear of being sick and we so far apart. Would to God that my time was out that I could be once more with you and Dave. I was in hopes that he might slip clear of the fever but it seems it is his luck and Jacob Lewis. Now you are alone to work or do anything which makes me feel worse than ever for I can think and see just about how you must work and then the trouble and trials you are under. I am glad to hear that father truce fits him and that father’s and mother’s health is good. Yet if the hand of providence will ever spare them good health and may help once more return health to our sisters and David Henry and Jacob Lewis. I wish I could be up there to see them. How I do long for these next three months to pass away that I may return to them olde hills but my mind is so overloaded with the thoughts of the many sick at home that I can hardly write but I will do the best I can.

As to the war news, Brother. I suppose you are as sick of hearing about such movements as we have here that you hardly want to hear or see any of it. I suppose the news up there about now is that the Army of the Potomac are having a battle but not so. They or we received orders last Tuesday to have three days rations in our haversacks and be ready at at moments notice. We were the last Corps to move as we lay on reserve for Sigel. But after the army from the left had got up to the right Tuesday afternoon it commenced raining and kept on for two days and nights which caused the mud to such a depth that it was impossible to move the cannons or pontoons in which we lost a good many horses that got tuckered out and pounded to death and they still are stuck fast that is the cannons and pontoons and we haven’t been across nor any of our forces nor I don’t think that there will be a move made very soon as the men are now more discouraged than ever and such straggling I never saw. If ever there was an army demoralized, I think it is ours. They have no confidence in themselves nor leader which is a death blow to ever thinking of winning a battle in the condition we now are. The 121st are half of them deserted and the rest under guard so they won’t be worth anything. The colonel got back yesterday and his discharge came the same day. He is no more a soldier of the United States but a citizen and I suppose he soon will return home.

Brother, I can’t see the reason that you don’t receive any letters as I have written to you and Dave Henry every two days or three that pass over my head. There is some conniving I think in that post office not by the postmaster but by others.
I received my box all safe and sound, except the turkey and chicken. The rest of it was all good. I have some of the butter yet and am thankful and thank all that sent to me.

Brother I expected my pay before this but we have had to wait but he is here in our Corps now and tomorrow he will be here but it seems that we only get two months pay and ten dollars is taken out for clothing which will make it bad as I told you. I had meant to send $40 to you and father but I will do the best I can. We settled up our clothing bill once but we had ten dollars deducted out of the over pay for what we had lost and it seems we have to pay it now but if we get four months pay I will send you all I can.

Write whether my mare is with foal or not and if you need money sell any of them that you think will pay the best Brother. I wrote to John Burger that I thought I had a break but it wasn’t—I strained myself but I am alright now. I have no more hoping when this reaches you that the hand of providence has restored health once more to the sick. I am in good health, never better. Hoping this will find an ever remembered Brother the same. I received them stamps. Write whenever you have time. Tell Dave that I hope the hand of providence may spare us all to meet what’s best there is of us yet.

Philip Crewell