7th Wisconsin Infantry - Iron Brigade - Twice Wounded

Item LTR-11372

Description

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


Camp of 7^th Regiment Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers
Near Petersburg, Virginia
 
Tuesday eve
January 10^th 1865
 
Dear Friend Frank,
 
This evening finds me all alone in my cabin and I was rather lonesome.  So, I thought that I would sit up to the table and write you a few lines.  I thought that I could not pass the time away any more agreeable than writing to you “dear friend.”  Well Frank, it has been raining here all the week and you may bet it is muddy.  Well, to tell the truth, it has rained all the month.  There is not much news to write as everything is quiet all along the lines.  I suppose that you are having all the snow that you want up to Hancock.  We have had some here.  But not to last long.  
 
I guess you won’t get a very interesting letter.  For one of the boys have come in and is blabbing all sorts of stuff to me.  I had a letter from Sue Taylor the other day.  She had some of her talk about you as usual.  Oh!  Frank, I had a letter from Lucy Babcock the other day and she went on about you.  So, when I answered it, I just told her that she could not tell me anything about you and gave her a few sly hints to keep still about you.  I don’t think I will get another letter from her.  I will be glad if I don’t.  “There now I have said it.”  Oh, I am an awful Rough Boy.  I suppose you know.  
 
I have not heard from home in some time now.  I suppose you had an awful good time through the holidays.  At any rate, I hope you did.  I did not have much of a time.  Although I had a good New Years present.  Guess what it was.  Give it up? Well, it was nothing but a commission as first lieutenant.  Quite a fight, I think.  What think you Frankie?  I would like to get a furlough to come home this winter.  But I don’t expect I can as there is so many that have not been home since I have.  I wish that you could be home as long as I was last summer.  I guess I would have a better time than I did.  Still, I had a good time last summer.  At all events, I got rid of “doing some big fighting.”  I have not been in but one fight since I came back and two skirmishes.  
 
I heard that Oscar was having all he could attend to in taking care of Ann Greenfield.  How is that.  I suppose Sarah G is married, is she not?  
 
Tomorrow we are going to have a great time here.  We are going to be reviewed by Major General Parke, the commander of the Potomac Army while General Meade is absent on a furlough.  It will be a big thing.  I wish you could see it.  I tell it would make those black eyes of yours stare to see such a large crowd of soldiers with their glistening swords and bayonets.  It would be quite a sight to anyone that never saw the like of before.  But to those that have seen such, it is nothing great.  
 
Oh! Frank!  How is Kitty Rancier getting along.  I always thought so much of her and Joe.  I suppose you are going to school this winter.  Are you not?  I don’t know whether Inez goes to school or not.  Most all of the Hancock girls are teaching school.  I expect to hear that you are.
 
All the rest of the officers are having a great time over to the Colonel’s house.  And I am an odd chicken.  I don’t mix in with them.  I don’t like their whiskey well enough to associate with them all the time.  I never drink only in extreme cases.  Still, I would not care if I had a quart of lager beer on the occasion.  I think I could put it out of sight rather quick.  As I have not had any in a long time.  
 
Well Frankie, as there is nothing more than I can think of at present, I guess I will wind up this attempt at letter writing by bidding you good night and pleasant dreams.  Accept the love of a soldier.  
 
Give my regards to the folks.  Also, to my folks if you see them.
 
I am very respectfully your true friend and well-wisher.
 
Gust. M. Hubbard
1^st Lieutenant, Company E
7^th Regiment
Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry
 
Miss Francis A. Owen
Hancock, Wisconsin
 
P.S.  Direct to Lieutenant A. M. Hubbard, Company E, 7^th Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry, Washington, DC