107th Illinois Infantry - Attacked by John Hunt Morgan - NEW

Item LTR-11736

Description

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


November 18, 1862 
 
Dear Wife,
 
I received your letter last evening, dated the 2nd of November. It gave me much pleasure to hear from you and to hear that you were all well. I am well at present, hoping when this comes to hand, it will find you all the same. We have moved our camping place since I wrote to you.
 
We are in camp at a place called Laurel Hill, eight miles from Silver Spring. Our brigade is camping here alone. What they sent us here for I do not know. We are troubled very much with the enemy here. Our pickets are fighting all the time. We are called in line of battle every once in a while, but we do not get to fight any. We have to sleep on our arms every night.
 
It is Morgan's band that is troubling us. His forces are about 1500. We can whip him if he does not take us on surprise. I think that is the reason why we have to sleep on our arms. It is his intention to catch us sleeping, but I think it is no use for him to undertake to play that game.
 
It is rainy bad weather at this time. It is the first time we have been bothered with bad weather for a long time. The mail came in about dark last night. It was the first mail that we have got for three weeks. The mail is going out at 8 o'clock this morning. It is just 5 o'clock now, and I'm writing by the light of the fire.
 
I expect you cannot read this very well. I received five letters last night: two from you, one from Pat, one from Adeline, and one from William Lee. I must drop my letter and run and get a gun. The pickets are firing in every direction.
 
We have had quite an engagement with the darn rebels. They made a bash on us with their cavalry. After fighting for nearly half an hour, we sent them back the road they came, with shells and grapeshot following after them. I am considerably excited so that I can hardly write. It does not scare me to get in an engagement with the cursed rebels, but I cannot keep from getting excited a little.
 
The rest of the boys is standing in line of battle, yet I am not compelled to take a gun and fight. Although I took one of the sick men's guns and went out this morning. I must bring my letter to a close, as it is getting late and the mail goes out at eight o'clock.
 
I will just say that the firing has commenced again. They are throwing shells at us, and we are returning the same.
 
I want you to write often. I will write as soon as I can and give you the particulars of our present trouble. Write soon. No more at present.
 
From your husband, 
 
Elias Brady 
 
[To] Martha Brady