117th New York Infantry - NEW

Item LTR-11756

Description

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


Camp near Fort Ripley
December 28, 1862
 
Dear Sister Laura,
 
Please, embrace this first opportunity to answer your kind and most welcome letter, which I received some time since. It had been unable to answer on account of not having time. For since I wrote you last, we have moved. One half of the regiment is at Fort Ripley, and the remainder have gone to Fort Baker, below Washington, three miles. We have all gone into winter quarters now, having good times, and expect to remain here all winter. If we do, we shall have nice times.
 
Christmas I spent at Battery Cameron, where I did Thanksgiving and have got an invite there for New Year's. Where did you spend Christmas? What kind of time did you have?
 
Tomorrow, W.H. Carnrite, one of my tent mates, starts for home as he has got his discharge. I shall send some things home by him. I have heard from Henry a few days ago. He is yet at Yorktown, Virginia. He is well gone into winter quarters, boards at the village of Yorktown. He draws his rations, takes them down to the boarding place, gets them cooked, and the woman furnishes him with butter sauce for 50 cents per week.
 
The whole brigade, except for the 81st, were paid off the other day, and they are expecting theirs in a few days. Next Wednesday, we are to be mustered for pay again, and the colonel says he will get our pay by the 10th of January.
 
How do you get along at dressmaking at Millinery, and how did you come out at the settlement of your books? Write me all about it.
 
My health is first rate, better than ever, if anything. As soon as possible, I will send you my photograph. I am so fat, I don't believe you will know it if you don't give it to someone who does. I haven't heard from Lyman or Libby yet, neither Aunt Mary or anyone else from out there except you. How I wish you could come down here to Fort Ripley. It is on the outposts in the defenses of Washington and is immediately connected with Fort Alexander and Fort Franklin, with the Potomac just below us about 150 feet.
 
At the left of us is Fort Reno, Fort Mansfield, Gaines, Pennsylvania, the Elliptical Fort, and others that I don't know the names of, too numerous to mention them. There are rifle pits and batteries that connect them all for miles around, making it utterly impossible for any army in the world to enter Washington without being utterly destroyed by the immense shower of shot and shell, which they would have to meet at any step. It is truly a curiosity, but one that has cost the government thousands of lives and millions of treasure.
 
Well, I must close for this time, for my chum is waiting patiently for his gold pen, which I had to borrow, for I have broken one of zthe diamonds of mine rendering it useless. Give my regards to all who may inquire, and don't fail to answer my letter as soon as possible, for you don't know how glad I am to get a letter from you or home.
 
Goodbye for the present from your affectionate brother,
George R. Waid.
 
P.S. Direct as before and oblige.