32nd Massachusetts Infantry - NEW

Item LTR-11706

Description

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



Satterlee USA General Hospital
West Philadelphia, PA
February 26^th 1865
 
Dear Friend Elmira,
 
I received your kind and most welcome letter on the 24^th. I see it was mailed the 14^th, it has been some time on the way and I assure you that I was more than glad when I received it for I have formed an attachment for your letters as for yourself that I cannot conceal. No excuse or apology can I offer for my boldness in addressing you thus but the deep and fervid love that compels the act. 
 
You may ask yourself how could I have formed a love for one that I never have seen. I cannot answer that for since the first letter from you it touched the magic and it has grown stronger ever since till it has tempted me to write you my sentiments. Do not I entreat you, consider me audacious for though I be rendered miserable by a refusal I cannot refrain from telling you how fond, how true and how devoted is my affection and I now offer you my hand and heart in that sincerity which knows no wrong.
 
Say then dearest Elmira may I hope? May I enjoy the felicity of treading with you the pathway of life? Your presence will be to me as the summers sun is to the earth or as the dew is to the flowers. I will guard and keep you from every ill. None can I ever love but you and to you I write in hope and fear. You thought perhaps I would start for Moriah before your letter reached me but I have received it and I hope to hear from you again before I go to M. I had made up my mind to wait till the last of next month and then the winter will be broken and it will be more pleasant then.
 
 I was examined and marked for the 1^st Battalion, Veteran Reserve Corps. It may be that we may be sent out your way to guard the frontier to look after raiders from Canada.
 
You spoke of having a letter from a friend with the sad news of the death of a soldier in the Rebel prison. It reminded me of a few lines of poetry I read the other day. They read thus:
 
Is he lying silently now
With the frozen clods above his breast
Has God knoweth what is best
But better far better our poor hearts say
To pour out his life in the fiery fray
Then slowly to die in the loathsome cell
Of a terrible Southern prison hell
God knoweth best – to his will we bow
 
Elmira, I think you are right when you say that God will forget them not but will bring down punishment on those that have wrong them and their country. And it looks to me that the time is near at hand you will write that your mother is getting better. I am glad to hear that. I see that you are having a good time at your donations. I think they are making out well according to the descriptions of the place Mr. Titus gave me. His wife wrote him that some of the folks are getting the Western Fever on if there is a great many Irish then I don’t blame them. Mr. Titus’ health is poor but I had another man detailed to help us, so he will have it easy now and it is getting warm weather now.
 
I have enclosed a photograph in the letter for the other was not a very good one. I would like to have you write soon. Mr. Titus sends his respects to you except these few lines from your devoted friend.
 
Yours while life remains,
 
Duchesne O. C. Edson