The following letter was written by George T. Conklin (1839-1863) of Co. K of the 48th New York Infantry. The regiment was organized at Brooklyn in September 1861 and participated in Sherman’s South Carolina Expeditionary Corps in the spring of 1862. They began siege operations of Fort Pulaski, Georgia, that led to the bombardment and capture of the Confederate stronghold until May 1863 when this letter was penned.

George appears erroneously in the regimental roster as “George A. Conklin.” That record states that he was 22 years old when he enlisted on 9 August 1861 at Galeville to serve three years. He was initially mustered into Co. D as a private but later transferred to Co. K. That same record states that George was captured in action during the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, on 18 July 1863, and that he died of disease on 11 December 1863. His father made a pension claim in 1879 for his son’s service but there was no other information provided on-line.

The history of the 48th New York says that the regiment (with the exception of Cos. G and I) left Fort Pulaski and were transported to Hilton Head where they were attached to Strong’s Brigade, 10th Corps. In the assault on Fort Wagner, the loss of the 48th was 242 killed, wounded and missing, including Col. Barton wounded and Lieut.-Col. Green killed. The regiment received high praise from the commanding officers for its gallantry in this action. Strong’s Brigade included the Black troops of the 54th Massachusetts. How poignant that George would close his letter with: “And some of us may kiss the sod before long and I might be the first. Is it not enough to make you feel sad?”

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

Fort Pulaski [Georgia]
May 3rd 1863

Dear Emma,

Once more I have the pleasure of answering one of your kind and welcome letters. Emma, I will send you my picture as quick as I can get it taken and I would like to have you to do the same for I would like to see your dear face once more. But would rather see the owner of the picture than the picture itself.

Emma, war news is all stale. We do not hear any news from Charleston. Tomorrow we are to have regimental inspection by the Inspector General so for a hard day’s work.

Emma, you say all the girls is getting married so I will not have any when I come home. Well I will have to trust to luck. I suppose the next thing I will hear of your stepping off and then what will I do? Oh, Emma, if I was only home tonight where I could bask in some of your pleasant smiles, how happy G. T. Conklin would be once more in his life. Only think, Emma dear, of us poor soldiers that have been away from home for twenty months and have not seen any of those friends we left behind and love so dearly. Emma, how sad it makes me feel to think of it and then probably never will see them again for the war is not ended. Neither is our times out. And some of us may kiss the sod before long and I might be the first. Is it not enough to make you feel sad?

Well, Emma, you must tell me in your letter who is getting married. Probably I will know some of them. Well, Emma, I will have to close my short letter. Excuse the writing and spelling and if I have said anything out of the way, I pray you to forgive me. I send my love to Amelia and all my friends and the most to you. From your friend—yes, more than friend, — G. T. Conklin

To my dear Miss Emma