The following letter was written by Franklin Darius Sizer (1840-1862), the son of Luther Sizer (1798-1877) and Perlina Barnum (1802-1873) of Western, Oneida county, New York. Frank enlisted on 12 October 1861 to serve in Co. I, 81st New York Infantry. He died of disease on 29 December 1862 at Yorktown, Virginia.

He wrote the letter to his younger sister, Julia Ann Sizer (1842-1926).

Transcription

Co. I, 81st New York Volunteers
Camp near James River, Virginia
July 6th 1862

Dear Sister,

It is with pleasure I hasten to answer your letter which I received last night. I was glad to hear from you. The mail is a going out at noon today, the first chance I have had in four or five days to send a letter. We have been on the march for a week or so. I am well & I hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing. I have not had a letter from any of you before since the last of May some time.

We are within about a half a mile of the James River. It is a very pleasant place here. We are in the woods. The whole of the Army of the Potomac is stationed within four or five miles around here. I have seen the whole of the Army of the Potomac. They would cover a parcel of ground ten miles square, I should think. We have got marching orders & I must wind up pretty quick.

We celebrated the 4th of July here. They fired a salute at twelve o’clock and about four o’clock. General McClellan and his staff & bodyguards passed through the camps on the 4th. His guards numbers 100 cavalry. The bands was out a playing all over where they had any. Our men has got siege guns about 12 feet long here.

Mother wanted to know if I lost my bible or not. I did but I found two more old ones. I sent that money to George Barnard of Rome—the same man I sent to before. I hear the mail has gone out this morning & I shall have to wait till tomorrow so I can lengthen my letter a little more.

They have just detailed 200 men out of this brigade to so some chopping. I think there has been a thousand acres of woods chopped off in the whole. They have done it to give the artillery a chance to work.

We are a going to be paid again by the 15th of this month. We are a going to sign the pay rolls today or tomorrow. Ma wanted to know if I heard any preaching. I have not heard any in a month or over a month. No one knows where he is as I know of.

If you want to see the picture of the battle we was in, I suppose they have got them in Frank Leslie’s paper of June some time. You will find them in the book store in Rome somewhere. I have the picture of the Battle of Fair Oaks. That was the battle on Sunday of June the 1st. We was in the battle of the Seven Pines. That was on Saturday, 31st of May. I have heard that the Boonville Regiment [Third Oneida] has been battle in North Carolina & Colonel [Charles] Wheelock was killed & they charged on the rebels and got his body.

I would like to have you send me the Rome Sentinel or some others of the Rome papers. We don’t see any papers—only as the boys get them from home. I would like to have you send some postage stamps the most of anything. They cannot hardly be got for love or money. I think I shall send my money to the same man this time that I have before. I have [written all] I can think of pretty much. Write how you celebrated the 4th this year & all the rest of the news, how Old Doll & Mink looks. My love to all enquiring friends. Write soon. Goodbye. This from your brother, — Franklin D. Sizer

To Julia A. Sizer