The following letter was written by William D. Bosenbark (1839-1862) of Co. C, 67th New York Infantry. Their nickname was the 1st Long Island Regiment. He enlisted on 24 June 1861 as a private and was wounded on 31 May 1862 in the Battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia. He died of a gunshot wound at David’s Island N. Y. Hospital on 23 June 1862 after one year’s service.

William was a resident of Ward, Allegany county, New York. His parents were Charles and Susannah (Bowers) Bosenbark.

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Proctor On Queens Farm
First Regiment, Long Island Volunteers, Co. C
Washington D. C.
February 7, [1862]

M. A. Green,

Dear friend, your long neglected letter I now commence to answer. But there has not ben any change in our program. Only we were paid yesterday & day before and as usual, it makes quite a stir in camp. Along the entrance to our camp may be seen peddlers wagons of every description where sogers can lay out all their money to a disadvantage. Now is the time we bluff it. We go it whole hog to lose or win.

There is a report that we are to be put under marching orders with three days rations cooked in haversacks on hand. It is so every time we are paid. It is done on purpose to keep us from getting passes, furloughs, &c. &c. It seems by the reading of Prof. D. W. Maxous writing in the Wellsville paper (the Free Press) that the 86th Regt. are over the river so the Spencer boys & those of Alfred in that regiment may see some of Jeff’s men in arms before I get a chance to yet.

The 64th Allegheny Regt. are also over the river. The 85th is camped about 2.5 miles from here on Meridian Hill. The weather here has been very wet & rainy for a long time so there is no end to mud in camp and in the roads where the supply trains run. I was down to the City the 5th inst. and coming back I met a train of 60 odd wagons, 6 mules to the wagons.

Well, I cannot write anything to interest you so I will finish. Since I wrote before, we have exchanged arms. We are now armed with Springfield rifles—very nice & good ones too.

Warren H. is still in the Brigade Hospital but is getting so he will be on duty soon now. His brother is on duty here now. Co. C are all on duty now, hearty & tough as bucks. We were on picket duty yesterday. All we had to do was to go to the camp of the 31st Pennsylvania Regt. to mount guard & then we came to quarters to stay unless called upon to support the Grand Guard in case of an attack.

Let me hear from you soon. Tell me the news stirring. Yours with respect & dignity. Direct as before. — Wm. D. Bosenbark, your friend

Answer soon.