The following letter was written by Henry N. Allen (1841-1931), the son of Albert W. Allyn (1817-1889) and Mary P. Rice (1816-1889) of Shopiere, Rock county, Wisconsin.

Henry wrote the letter from Fort Cass in Arlington Heights in December 1861 while serving in Co. K, Wisconsin Volunteers, 2nd Wisconsin Infantry. The only Allen appearing on the roster of this company was “Henry E. Allen” who enlisted on 1 May 1861 and was transferred on 8 December 1861 to Battery A, 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery (H.A.). This may explain why Henry asked that the “2nd Regiment” be dropped from his address. He may not yet have realized they were to be known as Battery A, 1st Wisconsin H. A.

Battery A of the 1st Wisconsin H. A. was created entirely out of Co. K of the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry and were assigned at various times to Fort Cass, Fort Buffalo, Fort Ellsworth, Fort Worth, Fort Rodgers, and Fort Willard. They were mustered out of the service on 18 August 1865. According to muster rolls, Henry served his entire tour of duty with this unit and mustered out with the battery in 1865 as a corporal.

A pension record informs us that he died on 30 January 1931 at a Soldiers Home in California.

Transcription

Camp Wisconsin
Arlington Heights, Fort Cass
December 23rd 1861

Dear Friend,

I take the pleasure of writing…to let you know how I am getting along. I am well and enjoy good health. I was on guard last night in the fort. It rained most all night and all day. I crawled in the magazine and they could not find me till morning but then it was all right. The Lieutenant said I did just the right thing to get out of the rain. Our Captain [Andrew] Langworthy has arrived today with some new recruits for the company. ¹

I received those pictures last night. You look very natural. It made me homesick as soon as I saw them. I got a letter from Carrie last night. I am a going to send you and Nellie a New Year’s present. I can’t get around so to send it Christmas.

Joseph Small comes to me to see your likeness three or [four] times in a day. I should like to be there again on New Years and have another surprise party. I suppose those are played out, I think, this winter. Joseph Small has lost his speech [his voice] and very likely he will go home very soon and I am a going to send lots of things by him.

I don’t know as I can think of any more at present.

From your affectionate friend, — Henry N. Allen, Co. K, Wisconsin Volunteers Independent

Tell the folks to direct their letter to Co. K, Wisconsin Volunteers Independent, Fort Cass, Washington D. C. Leave the 2nd Regt. off.

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¹ Andrew Langworthy was wounded in the fighting at First Bull Run. He resigned his commission in February 1863.