142nd New York Infantry - Wounded at Bermuda Hundred, VA

Item LTR-10926

Description

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


Camp Howland
 
Wednesday
March 4^th 1863
 
Brother Daniel,
 
I received your very welcome letter and was very glad to hear that you all was well.  I received a paper which you sent me some time ago.  They weather here is quite pleasant but we have had some very cold and stormy weather.  The folks here say that this has been a very hard winter and had more snow than common.
 
We have moved from our old camp about five miles or about that from Alexandria that lies on the Potomac.  It lies eight miles from Washington.  Colonel [Roscius W.] Judson is sick to Washington and his son has come down to go home with him as soon as he gets able to.  [Newton Martin] Curtis from the 16^th Regiment is our Colonel now and Mr. [Albert M.] Barney from the same regiment is our Lieutenant Colonel.  He has been through most all the battles which have been fought.  Our Colonel is only six feet four inches in height – that’s all – quite an infant!
 
I have not been sick.  Only for four weeks until last Sabbath was on guard have had a very hard cough and cold which settled on my lungs.
 
Well, Dan Turner has arrived all sound to his regiment and the boys and all the officers think more of him than ever.  He came here to Washington and went to Preston Ring and got a recommendation to go to the Secretary of war and get a pass to come to his regiment.  I think that Hemmons and Ranger have cut a hog’s ass in getting Turner arrested and after all he is better off now than either of them are after all the fuss.  The boys say if they ever get home, they will suffer for what they have done.  What difference was it a going to make with them whether Turner ever came back or not?  They probably thought it would be a good chance to make a few cents.  They may as well go to Canada for they will have to save themselves when Company K gets back.
 
The country around here is hilly and looks some like Russell very much.  We have to pack our wood a half mile and scarce at that.  The war is not carried on as we expected.  Everything is different.  The soldiers are all very much discouraged and won’t never fight much more.  The war is a speculation and nothing more.  The officers of our army don’t care if they can only fill their pockets and not get hurt.  I think if we could get Vicksburg and Mobile and Charleston, it would cut off all supplies to the rebs and the war would soon close.
 
I must write a few lines to Lelia, I guess.  Well, Lelia, how do you do?  Are you well?  I hope that you are.  And I suppose that you are a good girl, are you not?  I was very glad to have you write to me and tell me so many things which them Dana boys have been doing.  What boys they are, I swear.  Who have Alonzo’s folks got now for a hired girl?  That Dana is smart to a going and taking Rachel’s hired girl away from her.  Lelia, I thought I would come and bring this letter and am glad to see you.  Now I must bed you goodbye.  Write again soon.

Dan, write what you are going to do and what business you are a going into.  Write soon.
 
From your brother,
 
J. W. Chase