35th Massachusetts Infantry

Item LTR-8198

Description

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


Knoxville, Tennessee
December 10th 1863

My dear Sophy,

When writing to you, I have steadily uniformly, persistently and stupidly neglected, omitted and forgotten two important things. Your mother was good enough to put up for me some excellent preserves. You know what proportion of them I packed, quite as well as I do, probably, because I took some of mother’s also. They were successfully toted down to Lenoir Station, where the box was unpacked. They were afterwards repacked in it and triumphantly brought to Knoxville, where they were duly praised and devoured by my mess, to wit myself, 1st Lieutenant A. A. Pope and 1st Lieutenant W. N. Meserve (in order of rank). While we were consuming our beef and coarse bread, with good coffee and sugar, at breakfast, it was quite gay (pron. ja) to be able to chuck in such goodies and from such hands.

You were good enough to infer from some remarks in my letter what was true concerning my search for the box of letters. I don’t believe the thing was to be bought in any store in Cinth, and so you, good soul, got a box for me. Now I should like it very much. But they would never put it upon the backs of those mules to be brought across the mountain, and I do not blame them. They often throw out newspapers. Therefore, Sophy, we much wait if ever you do send them, do up for me some hard words, or better, perhaps, write down the letters on a piece of paper, which afterwards you can cut (it) up and fold the bits in a piece of paper. The packages I can lay by and afterwards, at any time, draw them forth and select the same elements from the box. How are you. Orthography? This time. Postage stamps, my dear Sophy, are not to be obtained here. Will you allow me, do the favor to procure some three centers for me with the enclosed bill and keep the odd change for your trouble? It will be like the “fiscal operations” of ye former days. Besides, I should like to have you become accustomed to doing little odd country store jobs for me. I beg pardon, us. If you get the stamps, will you forward them to me instantly in a long letter?

I am getting well fast and living comfortably now. I would rather be well and out in the rains, by far. While lying comfortably on my back I have read many pages and darned my stockings. The last named work always strongly reminds me of you. I have now three pairs of wool socks, good enough. My new flannel shirts are excellent. They protect the throat beautifully. The new blanket is not as good as the old blue one was and few army blankets are. This good enough, however. The overcoat is very shabby now. There is a current report, which I have believe, that as soon as they can be spared from east Tennessee, the 9th Army Corps is going back to NY to recruit its ranks. Shouldn’t that be good! It is an awful march to that pleasant land; and still the boys wish the story might be true. So do I. So do you, I know. Don’t you now? I must cease here, which I do it with much love for yourself and yours. I think of Joshua very often, for I nightly hear real niggers practicing upon nigger songs with violin and banjo and tambourines and bones.

Yours respectfully,
John W. Hudson