The following letter was written by Alden F. Ballou (1842-1863), the son of Henry Ballou, Jr. (1818-1904) and Alzada Ballou (1820-1902) of Richmond, Cheshire county, New Hampshire. Alden was married to Mary B. Fisher on 25 August 1862 in Keene, just days before he enlisted for 9-month’s service in Co. I, 16th New Hampshire Infantry. Though Alden was mustered out with his company on 20 August 1863 after 11 months service, he died in Chicago on 2 September 1863. From the widow’s pension record we learn that Alden’s death was attributed to “fatigue & chronic diarrhea.” He had been in the Marine Hospital in New Orleans for some time but was redirected to Chicago on his way home where he died in the “Soldier’s Home” less than one hour after his arrival.

A deeper dive into the Pension file informs us (per Sgt. Rufus Freeman) that Alden was part of a detachment of sharpshooters detailed on the gunboat Estrella on Red River near Alexandria, Louisiana, in mid-May 1863 when he contracted the measles and was confined to the boat for 12 days. He was then returned to Fort Burton on Atchafalaya river where he was determined unfit for duty on 29 May 1863 and sent at last to the Marine Hospital in New Orleans. He arrived there on 16 June, 1863, according to the Surgeon in charge.

Transcription

16th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers
Camp Mansfield
Carrollton, [Louisiana]
[Friday] January 30th 1863

My dear wife,

One more month is nearly gone and I thought I would write you one more letter this month. I am well and hope this will find you the same. We have moved from Camp Parapet down to Carrollton the distance of a mile. It is a better place than the other.

I hardly know what to write. There ain’t any news here and there ain’t anything that looks like war here. The Colonel is sick and quite a number more. One died out of our company last Tuesday [27 January 1863]. He was in the tent with me. He was sick two days.

The weather is very pleasant here now. It has been pretty cool but not quite as cold as it [is] up in old New Hampshire I guess. I think we shall be in New Hampshire as soon as the middle of April. I don’t think we shall stay our time out but perhaps we may after all. Don’t put any dependence on that statement for it may not be so, but I think it will.

There’s beauty in the sunny South
It’s orange and it’s flowers,
But there’s beauty still more lovely
In those New Hampshire hills of ours.

That’s so nice I guess I will write some more.

There’s wealth amid the southern skies
The cotton and its sugar,
Yet I’d not swap New Hampshire
For all its mules and niggers.

I am a pretty good hand to make poetry, you see. Don’t you believe I shall go into business?

I got a letter from Father the other day and one from you. Don’t know but I told you about it in the other letter but it won’t many ads if I did. I have got to fill this up with something and might as well with that or anything.

Tell Susan that I send my best respects to her and a kiss too if that is any better. I guess I have wrote about nonsense enough. Keep up good courage, Mary, and enjoy yourself if you can. The time is not far distant when I shall return to you. Be a good girl and pray for me. Yours truly. From your own husband, — Alden

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Letter 2

[Editor’s Note: This letter is from the Widow’s Pension File and it was handwritten by Mary B. Ballou, Alden’s widow. She claimed it to be a copy of the last letter she received from her husband. She did not want to send the original to the Pension Office for obvious reasons.]

Marine Hospital [New Orleans]
August 13th 1863

Dear wife,

I have been very sick for a long time and am worse than I was when the regiment left. I was unable to go when they went away but expected to go in a few days but I seem to grow weaker every day. I am in hopes to get so that I can start for home but the well ones went up the Mississippi river and the sick—or most of them—went by salt water through New York. Most of my baggage is with the regiment but my blanket and overcoat and a few things I have got here. I don’t want you to worry for as soon as I am able, I shall start and I hope that won’t be long. I have not been paid off since last January. One reason why I have not wrote is I have been expecting to start every day. You write often and if I should start, they will be sent to me. Please let brothers folks know how I am getting along. I feel contented and don’t worry and as I have no news, give my best wishes to all my friends. From your true and loving husband, — Alden F. Ballou