The following letter was written by Henry Wallace Warren (1840-1908), the son of Noah S. Warren (18xx-1889), and Betsy Seaver (18xx-1840) of Stowe, Lamoille, Vermont. He wrote the letter to his younger brother, Roelzo Sanford Warren (1843-1921).

Henry enlisted in September 1862 to serve in the 11th Vermont Infantry but three months later it was re-designated as the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery.

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Fort Stevens
August 29th [1863]

Brother Roelzo, kind sir.

I take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you. I am well at the present time, and I hope this letter will find you enjoying the same health as the rest of the folks. The Stowe boys are well with the exception of Bill. It looks a little like rain today and I hope it will make out before it gets through for we have not had any rain here for some time that has done any good.

We expect Captain Safford’s company here today and I am glad to hear they are a coming. It is no waste for them to come than it was for us to come. About the drafted men, I am glad to hear that they have got to come. If they won’t come one way, let them [come] another. It is no worse for them to leave their homes than it was for me or anyone else of the boys. It is getting to be cool weather here now and I hope the regiment will be more healthy than they have been through the summer. We have not lost a great many boys [by] death for some time. There has more deserted than any other way.

We are a having lots of work to do now for we are a going to build us some new barracks. We are a going to put them up next to the fort and we are a going to have some nice ones this time, I tell you. When we get them in, then you may come and see me and tell Father to come out too, and to come certainly if Mr. Waltz & Hodge comes.

About Holden’s going home, I [hope] he will get home safe and I wish I could get the same chance to go home but never mind, we can go home sometime. We can go in two years if not before. The citizens tell us we shall go before but I can’t see it just yet. We enlisted for three years and I think we shall have to stay our time out. I can’t [think] of much now to write about this time but will try to do better next time.

About the war news, I can’t tell you. I presume you hear more about the war than I do. If you get any news about anything, write and tell me. This from your brother, — Henry Warren

Battery L has come with a very good looking company. Lieut. Safford is Capt. He is the same as he was before he went home. I presume that you have seen him while at home. It is a very good company. They are a green set of Boys. Our boys have some fun with them.

Tell my folks than I am well and that that Battery L have got here. Tell Father Cheney’s folks that Henry said today that Bill is not as well as he has been or was when he left the hospital now.