This letter was written by Robert B. Hill (1840-Aft1920) who enlisted as the age of 22 on 29 July 1862 to serve three years in Co. B, 106th New York Infantry. He enlisted as a private but was a corporal when he was discharged from the service on 22 June 1865. According to his muster records, Robert was born in Wegatchie, New York, and he was described as a 5’4″ tall, light haired, grey-eyed farmer.

During the war, the 106th New York participated in the following battles: Fairmount and Martinsburg, W. Va.; Culpeper, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna river, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor first assault on Petersburg, and the Weldon railroad, Va.; Monocacy, Md., Charlestown, W. Va., Opequan, Fisher’s hill, Cedar Creek, Va.; fall of Petersburg, Sailor’s creek, and was present at Wapping heights, siege of Petersburg, Hatcher’s run and Appomattox. 

Just three months prior to this letter, the 106th New York was placed in the Army of the Potomac as part of Carr’s 3rd Division of French’s 3rd Corps. This letter was penned in the midst of the Bristoe Campaign—a series of minor engagements between Lee’s and Meade’s armies along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in October and November 1863.

Transcription

Near Catlett’s Station
October 29th 1863

Dear Sister,

Yours of the seventeenth has been received some days since and I received one from Mother two or three days before yours and you must both excuse me for not answering them sooner. But the truth is that since I heard of Father’s death, I cannot think of anything to write but we must try and bear it as well as possible and hope when our time comes we may be found ready. And there is another reason that I have not written oftener of late. That is that we have not much time to do anything for we have been on the move nearly all the time for the last two or three weeks.

On the 25th of the month, our Brigade was sent to the front and we was relieved by the 2nd Brigade this morning. We was sent out to reconnoiter and try if possible to draw the rebels out and we went within a short distance of them and they sent their shells whistling over our heads but without doing any damage to our Brigasde. Our artillery would fire on them and then fall back but they took pretty good care not to come within musket shot of us. They have got a considerable force at Bealton Station and when General Meade finds out that he cannot draw them out this way, he will drive them the other. But I do not think there will be any very hard fighting for a few days.

We are just about ten miles from the front now but how long we will stay here, I cannot say. I do not think that our life is any safer here than at the front for we will not die before our time comes wherever we are. All the difference is that the more excitement there is, the time seems to pass away just so much faster and I think that it improves the health of all of us to have something to stir our nerves a little for the health of the regiment never was better than at the present time.

You say that you sent some things to me by Lieutenant [Robert] Riddle ¹ but I never got them for he never came to the regiment and it is not very likely that he ever will for he has been discharged. I received the postage stamp that you sent in your last letter.

Now I will have to come to a close for this time for it is now nine o’clock p.m. This leaves me in good health and I hope these few lines will find all of you enjoying the same blessing. You must not expect too many letters from me while we are on the march for it is not much time we get to write letters. But you must write as often as you can. Give my love to all enquiring friends and keep a good share for yourself. Goodbye for the present. From your loving brother, — Robert Hill

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¹ 2nd Lt. Robert Riddle was discharged from the 106th New York Infantry in early October 1863. He received a gunshot wound in his heel at Fairmont, Virginia, on 29 April 1863.