This letter was written by David M. Ford (1841-1862), the son of Benjamin Ford (1792-1868) and his 2nd wife, Ann P. Osborn (1808-1874) of Greenville Post Office, Norwich, Connecticut. Receiving 25 dollars bounty which he gave to his mother, David enlisted in Co. H, 11th Connecticut on 25 October 1861. He was promoted to a corporal in the summer of 1862 but was killed in action on 17 September 1862 during the Battle of Antietam.

We learn from the pension application filed by David’s mother that prior to his enlistment, David supported her with his earnings at the mill in Greenville and that when he went into the service, he continued to support her by sending money home until his death. David’s father, it seems was unable to work due to his “rheumatism” and was therefore indigent. I’m not certain that David’s parents actually lived together at the time of David’s death as both parents apparently tried independently to obtain a pension for David’s service.

The letter suggests, perhaps, that David may have picked up a few of the bad habits of his father. David also mentions John W. Wood, a comrade and hometown friend who served with him in Co. H. with whom he occasionally had “a good bum” (drinking spree).

Transcription

In camp near Newbern, North Carolina
May 14th 1862

Dear William,

I thought I would write you a few lines although I said I would not write until you answered mine. But Lon wanted to send a letter so I will write. We are expecting to go home every day according to the stories. We are going to be disbanded and sent home but I guess we won’t see it. It is hard going off to the city or anywhere for if we don’t get back by time the pass is out, into the guard house you go. They shoved me in two or three hours because I did not turn out the guard for the general as I was on guard in front of the guard house. I thought it was two aides. There was one aide with him. But that was made alright.

The Dutch Captain was officer of the day and he is strict as the devil. He might have known I wasn’t near enough to see his badge or buttons. A week or two ago John Wood and I went for the city. John had business to tend to so I sent him for the pass. The Lieutenant-Colonel told John if he had got business, he would sign the pass for him but must scratch off the friend as they was so many going on passes. We just went and called on our friend Reab from a place about six miles from Norwich. You lived up that way once, I believe. He just sat right down and wrote a pass for two hours more and for both of us. We started for the city and the bridge was down so we straddled the string piece and jumped ourselves across. We promised the boys we would bring back some whiskey but we got a bottle and had to pay one dollar and a half for it and we couldn’t see the point of it so we put it down and told the boys we couldn’t get any as they had put a stop to it. We bummed around in some gay places you can bet, came home, told the boys everything was dull, nothing going on, and we did not go anywhere. They believed it all.

We have been down once since on another good bum but I don’t calculate to bum often. I have been steady ever since I enlisted, more so than when I was at home. I would like to see you and the rest of the bloods. Lon says if he gets home, he will have a good bum with you, and if we stay here, he will send money when we get paid off for you to send a box of cigars and whiskey in.

There has a large number of cavalry and artillery landed lately from the Potomac Army. Give my love to all the ducks and to your Mother. Tell her the Sh____ky is all right. Lon says drink for him often. I wrote two letters not long ago—one to Jim, one to Mary Jane. Tell Jim to take courage. Keep up his spirits and spark the ducks for me.

Yours truly, — D. M. Ford