These letters were written by Charles D. Wilson (1846-1916), the son of Robert Wilson and Sarah Ward of Constantia, Oswego county, New York. Charles volunteered to serve in Co. K. , 81st New York Infantry. Charles claimed to have been born in 1843 when he enlisted in December 1861 but census records reveal that he was actually born in 1846 so he was probably only 15 or 16. He reenlisted as a veteran in 1864 and was wounded before Petersburg on 15 August 1864 and mustered out of the service on account of his wounds on 8 September 1865.

In 1880, Charles was a laborer in Oil City, Venango county, Pennsylvania, where he resided with his wife Libby Ryan (1855-1936). He later relocated to Jamestown, Chautauqua county, New York, where he died in 1916.

Letter 1

April 4, 1862

Dear Sister,

I thought I would write a few lines to let you know that I got your letter while on the Potomac just after leaving Alexandria, or the mail was put on board just as we left. We left Washington and then went to Alexandria by land and stayed to Alexandria one day and then left for Fortress Monroe by the Potomac and steamboat and was on board of her two days. As we was coming down the Potomac, we seen a great many Rebel batteries along the river and when we got to Fortress Monroe, it was a grand sight. The fort covers one hundred acres of ground. It is of solid stone and some thirty feet from the top down to the water. It is straight up and down and all around the fort is a ditch like the canal and the water is very deep so that it is impossible for to get in or out except in one place where there is a drawbridge. We are about 11 miles from the fort right among the Rebels. We are the advance regiment. The Rebels are not two miles from us. Our pickets saw them last night. It is my turn to go on picket tomorrow and then we have our guns loaded all the time, ready for an attack any time. We are close to the James river where the Rebel ship Merrimack is now. Yesterday we heard their guns all day. She had a fight with one of our ships.

It is nice and warm down here. The grass has started and the trees are all green. It is a very wild country. It is all woods but in little spots. They are all secesh here. Every house has a secesh in it. So I must close now for it is supper time. You must write soon. From your brother as ever, — Charles Wilson

Direct as follows: Charles Wilson, 81st Regt. Co. K, N. Y. S. Infantry, Fortress Monroe, Va., in care of Col. Rose.

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Letter 2

Headquarters, Co. K, 81st [New York] Regiment
[At Harrison’s Landing on the James River]
August 2, 1862

Dear Mother,

I received your letter last night but was sorry to hear you say that you had not got a letter for I wrote two since I got your letter. I had not had a letter from you in most 5 weeks and so I wrote again. As for that letter, I had not got it but I got the paper but no letter so I was not to blame. Tell Henry I sent him three letters and as you think I have seen enough of the war to be satisfied but I have not for I learn some things every day and you know that if I was there that I would be on the canal and that that would be worse and I can do better here than there.

As you wanted to know how we fared, I will tell you. We get potatoes and onions, beets and pork bacon, fresh beef, beans, rice, sugar, coffee, tea, and molasses and desecrated vegetable for soup. We live good now—better than we ever did before. We get hard bread—that is the worst of it. And as for clothing, we can get that whenever we want it. Every week if one liked to get it. So often they will not let a man go dirty and ragged. We are inspected every week by the general and we have got to be clean when we come out, as well as our guns.

I wish you would send me some postage stamps if you can for I cannot buy them for any price but I can get paper and envelopes as cheap here as there. I got them postage stamps that you sent in your last letter before this. I sent you some more money. I sent it with Robert Todd by Express. So write soon and all about the money. How much you get and how much you have to pay for it and I would like it if you could sed me some stamps.

We are in the same spot that we was before—close to the river. It is a nice scene to look off on the river and see all of the gunboats and transports lie at anchor. The river is full of gunboats. The Monitor lies off opposite us. So I will close now. Write often for I do. From your most affectionate son, — C. Wilson