The following letter was written by Jacob Phelps Nay (1831-1908) who enlisted at Potsdam on 15 October 1861 when he was 30 years old to serve 3 years in Co. F, 92nd New York Infantry. He mustered in as a sergeant and was transferred to Co. H on 11 June 1863. He was discharged from the regiment on 16 June 1863.

Jacob was the son of Benjamin Franklin Nay (1804-1873) and Lucy W. Phelps (1807-1857). His letter is addressed to “brother Hiram” which is odd because I don’t see him listed among his siblings unless perhaps he was a brother-in-law. It should be noted that the family surname is occasionally spelled Ney.

The letter is written on the back side of a poem composed by 48 year-old Dr. German Haight Sutherland (1814-1867), a physician from Hermon, St. Lawrence county, who served in Co. B of the 92nd New York Infantry. He wrote several poems during his time in the service including such titles as “Prison song”, “T’was on the thirty-first of May”, Father Abraham”, and others.

The fort being built by “ditchin’ and slashin’ on the north bank opposite New Bern by the 92nd New York was Fort Anderson. It would come into play a month after this letter was penned during D. H. Hill’s campaign to recapture New Bern.

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

Newbern, North Carolina
February 14, 1863

Dear brother Hiram,

I take this opportunity to write a few lines in answer to yours of the 31st of January, I was glad to hear from you and the rest of the folks and glad to hear that they are well. I am as well as common and as saucy as ever. Our regiment is on the opposite side of the Neuse river from Newbern building a fort and doing picket duty and eating Uncle Sam’s beef, pork, and hard bread. They are intending to use up the 92nd Regiment a ditching and slashing and all to no benefit and if this war should last another summer, there will be but few left. The officers that left Potsdam with us, there is but thirteen out of thirty-three commissioned officers left, and of sergeants, twenty-three out of fifty. Privates the same proportion. I cannot think of much to write so I will close by sending my best respects to all the friends.

Hiram, be contented and stay to home and be good to Father and help save all you can for there is harder times coming than you ever saw and see to my wood as your Father thinks best. And if I ever get my pay, I will pay the expenses. Write as often as you can. Give my respects to Father and Mother and the rest of our folks. Yours forever, — Jacob P. Nay, Sergeant 92nd Regiment, Co. F, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Corps.