18th New York Light Artillery

Item LTR-9801

Description

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


January 19, 1863
Enunciation Square, New Orleans

Dear Friends at home,

I received your very welcome letter the 17th of this month and you cannot afform an idea of the excitement there is when the mail arrives. I had written my four letters to you before I received your last. There has nothing transpired worthy of note since I wrote my last except pay day. We signed the pay roll yesterday and the Paymaster arrived today. The allotment I made to send you home 10 dollars, the Paymaster knows nothing. I therefore received it myself, that is three months pay. I shall therefore enclose 30 dollars in this letter and I want you to use every cent of it if you wish and as much more as you want. Do not be afraid of it, Uncle Sam is rich enough to supply us all in green backs. My health is good and I have gained 10 pounds since I left Rochester. You asked me to send home a lock of my hair. I have to laugh when I think of it. I have had my head shegeled and sandpapered and I will have to wait until it is grown out. I shall now be obliged to close for I am in haste. Please direct all folks in care Captain A.G. Mack, 18th Light Artillery, General Bank’s Expedition, New Orleans.

From your ever true and affectionate son and brother,
Alfred H. Bryant

P.S. Give my love to all my inquiring friends specially to Emma and Lattie and accept a share yourself.

Alfred your soldier boy, Good bye, write soon.