The following letter was written by Horace Burr Potter (1842-1864) who enlisted on 31 August 1861, claiming he was 2 years older than he really was, to serve three years in Co. A, 153rd New York Infantry. He was mustered in on 17 October 1862 and wrote the following letter a year later from Washington D. C. He died of consumption on 14 June 1864, at Charity hospital in New Orleans, La.

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

153rd Regiment New York Volunteers, Co. A
East Capitol Hill, Washington D. C.
October 24, 1863

Dear Father,

I now sit down to write you a letter in answer to yours of the 19th October received on the 21st and also yours of the 22nd received today in this a.m. mail. I was glad to hear that you were all well and hope this will find you all the same. I am as well as usual and enjoying good health. The weather has been fine along back but it is raining quite hard while I an now writing. It commenced yesterday afternoon and is quite muddy. Charlie Cheadell’s regiment arrived in this city yesterday afternoon and he came up and seen us and bunked with me last night. He feels good and is as rugged as ever, He is 4th Sergeant & gets $18 dollars per month. He says that he won’t be a soldier over 6 months. Well every one to their notions. There is several others in the regiment that live up around Kingsboro and Gloversville that have ben up to see some of our Boys that they were acquainted with. Their regiment has only 8 companies but they are full as they have 1100 men in it.

Old Mr. Gulich [Gulick] arrived here today from Gloversville to see his son William who is in our company and we sleep together in one bunk. Mr. Gulich gave all the news there was. He said he saw you before he came away day before yesterday 22nd October and that you was well. I also received the Observer & Standard you sent. Also all the stamps, paper, wrappers, &c. that you have sent all right and am much obliged for them as others don’t do as well as you do that write to me as I have to find my own stamps &c… As to those shirts you wrote about, send them if you send a box but don’t send any wrappers, drawers, &c. A pair or two of gloves won’t come amiss. The watch I can sell. The boots are mighty steep, I think, but am satisfied as I know that you have done the best you. could. But I think the old [ ] is a charging an old customer a big price. When I want any more boots or other things, I shall send for the money if I haven’t got it and buy them amongst people, not such ones that live in two of the cussedest places this side of hell for cheating and swindling soldiers who are defending them. But enough of this.

I disown Gloversville and Kingsboro both and never shall return to either till this war is entirely over. Then it will only be on a visit to you. If we serve our time out before it is over, I shall enlist over again here and shall now for the war in a new regiment the first opportunity that offers and get 6 hundred dollars bounty which veteran soldiers get that have been in the service before for 9 months. A soldier’s life agrees with me right well and I just as leave be in the army as anywhere else and I would be nothing else at present. But enough. I hope you won’t be offended at what I have written as they are my sentiments of the people that live there. I want you to look out for my interests and turn everything I have there into money. Keep track of it all as I shall never invest any of it up there and I shall call for it one of these days so shall want as large a pile of it as possible. And every cent that belongs to me I want kept track of. Tell Vanostine the next time you see him I shall make all such gents as him shell. out when I come up there. I want you to get all the interest on my money you can. I just as leave you should use as anyone, only I don’t want it at loose ends when I come home after it… I must close for the present as I am in a hurry. Excuse this scribbling as it was written in haste. Write often. Goodbye for the present. Much love. I remain your affectionate son, — Horace