I can’t be certain of the identity of the author of this letter. Only because I recently transcribed a letter by Robert Hill of Osweatchie, New York, who served in the 106th New York do I have a hunch that it may have been written by:

MILLS, FREDERICK H.—Age, 21 years. Enlisted, August 7, 1862, at Oswegatchie, to serve three years; mustered in as corporal, Co. C, August 27, 1S62; mustered out with company, June 22, 1865, near Washington, D. C.

Transcription

January 15, 1863

Friend Libbie.

I now take my pen in hand to answer your brief note which I received this evening and was glad to hear from you once more. I am well and I hope these few lines may find you the same. I am at Larel [?] now building barracks for to move in but I do not want to move here for the citizens here has got the small pox and some of our regiment is exposed to it. One man died today and four of our regiment is going tonight to bury him.

I hardly know what to write tonight and if I did, I could not write tonight for Rob and John Hills is here on the floor and you may guess what I have to encounter with so you must excuse my bad spelling. But I am sorry to hear that you have a cold that lasts you so long.

I should like to have been there at New Years for I think I could have enjoyed myself better than I did here though I had a good time here, but you must have had a great time to have afflicted you so. But it is now all over with I hope by this time. I am glad to hear that Diana is well but as for her ever asking me to sleep with her, it’s not so. nor she had better not for she would surely have to. But she got mad at me as I got at her.

The weather is warm and nice here now. It has not been much cold weather here yet but as it is getting late, so I am obliged to close for the time. You must excuse my bad writing and spelling for my pen is good [for] nothing or paper either, but it is the best I can get here.

No more this time. This from your friend Frederick

To Libbie