The following letter was written by Ira Hobbs (1842-1893), the eldest child of Aaron T. Hobbs (1813-1892) and Priscilla Hobbs (1820-1877) of Carlton, Orleans county, New York. Ira enlisted as a private on 5 September 1861 for a two-year term in Co. K, 27th New York Infantry. He was discharged on 31 May 1863. He later enlisted in Co. E, 2nd Regiment New York Vol. Mounted Rifles, entering as a corporal in January 1864 and exiting as a sergeant in August 1865. He was described as a 6’1″, black-haired carpenter.

While the 27th New York Infantry participated the Battle of Bull Run in July 1861, it should be noted that Ira did not join the regiment until September 1861 so he had not yet had “a brush with the rebels yet” as he states in his letter.

Transcription

Camp Clara [3 miles from Alexandria, Va.]
January 18, 1862

Friend Orren,

I received your letter yesterday bearing date January 5th. I had just come in from picket when I got it. We had been out four days and a half. It was very stormy but we had a good time of it. It snowed most of the time—the first snow we have seen here. We was ten miles from camp, within three miles from enemy’s picket. We did not see anything.

We are camped three miles from Alexandria up the river eight miles from Washington, &c. We heard the firing of cannon down the river all night last night. It is the report this morning that there was a battle down the river. I do not remember what place now so I won’t tell. ¹

Oscar [L. Doane] is in the hospital to work. He gets 20 dollars a month. He is well and is fatter than a fattened hog. That is the case with us all. Ora is on guard today. He sends his best respects to you and all the rest of the friends. Bobby sits here blabbing away and says that if he had some old Len Lee’s whiskey, he could stand soldiering better than he does now. He says by golly he must have some to drink when he goes into battle to make him fight better of them though lucky for them we did not.

I was glad to hear from you and the rest of the friends. This leaves myself and the rest of the boys all well as usual, hoping it will find you enjoying the same. It is raining while I am writing. I have not much news to write to you this time and that ain’t all. I feel ashamed to you as I have not written to you as I agreed to when I left you at work on George’s house. But I hope you will excuse me this time and I will do better in the future.

We are drilling most of the time in the manual of arms, &c. We have not had any brush with the rebels yet but expect to before long. Then is the time to give them our blue pills, I think. The talk is now that we are a going to make an advance towards Manassas. I hope so.

I don’t think of anything more to write just now and I must begin to draw my letter to a close. We are getting our pay today. The pay master is paying off the companies now. Ours is the fifth one and he is paying the fifth now and I must hurry to a close. Give my respects to all of the friends of your place. Write often as you can and I will try and answer them. No more at present. With it my best respects to you and family. Goodbye. Excuse all bad spelling and writing. This is from your friend, Ira Hobbs

To Orrin Acheron, Esq.

---

¹ Similar reports were observed at Camp Franklin near Alexandria. Believed to be ships trying to break through the river blockade on the Potomac river.