This letter was written by Amy A. Rice (1845-1895) to her brother George F. Rice (b. 1840). Their parents were Luke Rice, Jr. (1800-1877) and Arvilla Shatton (1818-1899) of Elizabethtown, Essex county, New York.

Amy’s letter contains the bitter news that their friend, James Alva Coburn (1836-1899) of Co. K, 39th New York Infantry, had been wounded in the right hip during the Battle of Bull Run and had been taken prisoner to Richmond, Virginia. Muster Rolls show that he was returned to his regiment on 15 January 1862 and finally discharged for disability on 22 April 1862. He and Laura B. Reed (1841-1906) had been married in 1860

Transcription

October 9th 1861

Brother George,

I received your kind letter today and was much pleased to hear from you but sorry to hear you have a cold and I know how to sympathize with you for I have not been free from one in a long while, but have been well otherwise. The rest are well as usual. Oh George, how I do want to see you. I am real lonesome lately. I suppose you are not aware that you have a new brother [in-law]. Minerva was married the 3rd of October to Mr. Harlow R[eeve] Peck, Esqr, of West Cornwall, Vermont—and I expect to hear of yours next. But I want you to keep Bachelor’s Hall awhile so I can come and stay with you and keep house. Oh, I wish you would come and see us and I will go back with you perhaps.

You wanted to know how I would like to come and go to school and learn Music. Nothing would suit me better if you was willing for I do love music so well and I am very much obliged for your kind invitation. But I rather mistrust there will be some one else to share with you before long (by that new house of yours). But then I should enjoy myself with you as much as I ever did. You must be sure and come and see us this fall and we will go and make Minerva and her man a visit and have a nice time.

Alver Coburn is a prisoner in Richmond. Was taken there by the Rebels after the Battle of Bull Run. He was wounded in his hip. You cannot imagine how Laura feels about it. She had a letter from him a few days ago (by the way of a deserter) that come from there. Alver says he don’t know when he shall enjoy home again. Oh! how I should feel if I had a man away there a prisoner or a brother either. I never should expect to meet them here on earth again, but should hope to in Heaven. And [just] think of the men that has been slain lately (or during the past year) and I am afraid we have not seen the worst of this war yet.

I attended the Fair the other day at the Village. It was the best one I ever attended. The Ticonderoga Cornet Band was there (also 3 Melodeons). Everything went on nice (until about noon on the second day when it commenced raining very hard which was not very pleasant for the D___).

Now George, please write to me often and how you get along as it pleases me much to hear from you and I will answer them all. Father has to defer writing on account of his having so much work to do but they all send their best regards and hope to see you this fall. I must now close my letter and go to work. Remember this is from your sister, — Amy A. Rice

P. S. Minerva says she would be pleased to have you write to her and that if you do, direct your letter to Mrs. Minerva Peck, Schroon River, New York.