The following letter was written by 36 year-old George Richmond (1827-1863) of Sodus, New York, who enlisted on 28 July 1862 to serve three years as a private in Co. D, 111th New York Infantry. George wrote the letter to his wife from Camp Douglas near Chicago, Illinois, where he was a paroled prisoner of war awaiting exchange. He and most of his regiment had been taken prisoner at Harper’s Ferry when that government stronghold was surrendered to Stonewall Jackson’s men during the Maryland Campaign in September 1862. George would later be exchanged, survive two days of fighting at Gettysburg, but be wounded in action on 14 October 1863 at Bristoe Station, Virginia. According to Lieutenant Augustus Green, who was in command of Co. D at the time, George “was wounded through the calf of the left leg.” Taken from the field when the regiment retreated closer to Washington, DC, George was admitted to the Grosvenor Branch Hospital (Lee-Fendall House) in Alexandria. It was there that he died of traumatic gangrene on October 21st.

George’s wife was Sibble Gillett (1818-1883). When he left to join the 111th, George and Sibble had two living children—Samuel S. Richmond (1854-1926) and Harry O. Richmond (1857-1903). Two other children died young.

Transcription

Camp Douglas [near Chicago, Illinois]
Oct 26th [1862]

Dear Wife,

I thought I would write you a few lines this morning and let you know how we are getting along. I received your letter on Thursday and was glad to hear you were well. I have not been very well for ten days. I had a bad cold the same as all the boys but am better now so that I went on duty yesterday. I tell you, it is cold here. The ground is white with snow and this corn crib is none of the warmest place to sleep in the world. I am sorry that well does not operate for I thought it would be so handy.

I received a letter this morning from Jane & Samantha. They were well.

I want you to send me a couple of dollars to buy butter, mittens, &c. with. I have sent home a hatchet to the boys by Cornelius Johnson of South Sodus.

There, we have just got through inspection which comes every Sunday morning. Be sure and send that money as soon as you get this for I shall have to eat dry bread till it comes. Butter we get for 18 cents per lb. Some of it is strong enough to keep house without a hired girl. We generally toast our bread on a long stick, then with butter & coffee, we get along first rate.

My love to yourself & the children. Tell them to be good boys. From your affectionate husband, — George Richmond