The following letter was written by Charles Hendrich Forristall (1841-1917), the son of Thomas Forristall (1810-1887) and Mary S. Morse of Fitzwilliam, Cheshire county, New Hampshire. Charles enlisted on 21 October 1861 in Co. F, 2nd US Sharpshooters and served three years, mustering out on 26 November 1864. Charles signed his surname with only one “r” in this letter but the family name on the grave markers is spelled with two.

I’m not certain who Hattie or Florence were, to whom he addressed the letter. His younger siblings were named Sarah, Levi, and Susan.

Charles’ letter speaks of the number of soldiers dying in Washington during the winter of 1861-62. He also describes the typical soldier burial including the time honored tradition of the three volley salute, firing three rounds into the air.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Washington [D. C.]
Tuesday, January 28, 1862

Dear Hattie & Florence,

I now sit down to answer your letter that I received last Sunday. You wrote that you should of answered my other letter before you did if you could found time. You must answer this as quick as you can for I have got a picture of all the principle buildings in Washington, Now Hattie, if you will answer this before Florence, I will send it to you. But if Florence gets the start and answers it first, I will send to her.

I am in good health now. I had a letter from Charles S. Blodgett the other day. He wrote that he was well. It rains here today. I don’t have much to do now for it is so muddy. You wrote there was going to be dances at the Town Hall once a fortnight. If I was there I would go too but I am too far off for that this winter.

I have some good times and some times that I never thought of seeing. [A] soldier’s life is hard—especially them that are sick. There was a time that they died four and five every day for five weeks. Now they average about one. The way they bury the dead soldiers here is in this way. The minister says a few words, and ten soldiers are detailed out of the company to carry loaded guns. They follow the corpse to the grave and when the corpse are in the grave, they all fire three times together and then they fall in and march back to the camp.

I cannot think of anything more to write this time so good night.

From your friend, — Charles H. Foristall