153rd New York Infantry

Item LTR-11215

Description

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


53d Regiment New York Volunteers. Col. McMartin.
Tuesday Evening, November 25, 1862
Head Quarters 153d Regt 
 
Friend & Cousin,
I received your very kind & welcome letter some time ago and I was much pleased to hear from you; to hear you were well and everything well with you, and I am somewhat ashamed of myself for not answering your letter sooner. But I trust you will excuse my tardiness for I have had plenty to do since we landed at our present destination, for the Captain has been sick ever since we landed at Washington and has been on the ground, he left Alexandria for home on Sunday afternoon last on a furlough for thirty days. En, I have no news to write you at present. I am well with the exception of a slight headache but it does not amount to anything and will be over by morning.
 
The regiment is engaged at present guarding the City of Alexandria and they have also had us guarding a convalescent camp about a half mile from us for the last eight or ten days and we have all we wanted to do. There is a good number of the regiment who have bad colds and are unfit for duty. There has been two deaths in the regiment since we have been here. En, I have no news to write you tonight. You get the news from the army as soon if not sooner than we do here. I think we will stay here guarding the City of Alexandria for some time, but it is not a sure thing.
 
Cousin, the 115^th are encamped about 4 or 5 miles from here. They arrived from Chicago on Sunday night. Enders, I would like to see you tonight and have a talk about old times when you and I we were boys but I must content myself by writing you a few lines. The old Adjutant has just went out of my tent. He was in here sometime and has been relating some Coon stories. He is a great chap for telling stories.
 
It has been a nice day here today, but it was quite cold yesterday. It is quite cold nights and in the  mornings and in the middle of the day it is warm, which makes it unhealthy. En, I suppose you took a sleigh ride while the snow lasted. Jake wrote me you had had quite deep snow up in old Florida. The chaplain is well and appears to be contented with his lot.  I have not seen him today. 
 
En what is the news up in old Florida? Has anybody got married since we left or going to be? I suppose the canal is about closed up for the season and you have had plenty to do for the last week or two. En how are all your folks when you were up home? I received a letter from home, last, Jake wrote me they were all well. En, if we stay here all winter, you must try and come down and see us and see the country. 
 
Munsell says that I must tell you that he is fat and lazy. Ben Pangburn has just come up from the City and he says I must tell you that he arrested a Robber. 
 
I must close. Give my respects, tell Mother, when you see her that I am well. Give my respects to all your folks and write me at your earliest convenience so I will say good bye & good night.


Yours truly,
From your Friend & Cousin,
P. E. Houck