The following letter was written by Charles E. Potter (1834-1904) who served in Co. H, 107th New York Infantry. Charles was married to Mary S. Warren (1834-1894) and residing in Hector, Schuyler county, New York, at the time of the 1860 US Census. He was employed as a carpenter. His son, Lyman, was two years old.

According to muster rolls, Charles enlisted on 29 July 1862 as a private; was promoted to corporal not long after, and was promoted to sergeant in March 1863. He was discharged from the service in mid-June 1865.

Charles’ letter refers to the Battle of 2nd Bull Run which was fought between 28 August and 30 August, 1862, in Prince William county, Virginia.

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

Fort Lyon (Washington D. C. Defenses]
August 28, 1862

My Dear Companion,

All is quiet in our camp as usual this morning. There was quite an excitement in camp last night. Some of the officers told us that the Rebs was coming and that we had got to fight. They done it to try the men, I expect. There was a bright light seen during the night. It is thought that it was burned by the rebels. I am going on guard at one o’clock today for the first time. We go on two hours and off four, for 24 hours. I had as soon be on guard as not.

I sent a letter to George Burritt this morning. I neglected to state the other time I wrote that there was a man arrested here Sunday on suspicion of intention of poisoning the well and was found with poison in his pockets. What will be done with him, I cannot tell. The wells and springs are guarded very close now.

I have not heard from Mother since I left. I spoke about sending me a box in my last letter. Mark Smith has gone home. He lives at Wayne. He is our Captain’s ¹ waiter. He is coming back in 8 or 10 days. He said that he might perhaps go to Burdett before he came back. If so, he would fetch me some things. I would like to have some summer savory, a little dried fruit, a paper of salaretin, and what[ever] else you had a mind to send. If you send any fruit, send it before it is soft so that it will not rot or bruise. Get some soft pine shavings and pack them in. A dozen onions and some tomatoes would not come bad. Don’t send me any clothing yet.

I have not got my month’s pay yet. I don’t think that is paying in advance very much. You will get 10 dollars of it. You need not tell folks how much I send. I don’t blame boys for spending a considerable money. I presume I would do it if I was a single man. There is everything to tempt a fellow—peaches, watermelons, cakes, pies, and a hundred other things of like character.

Mary, I want you to write to me once a week anyhow and tell me all about matters and things that you think I would like to hear. I have not got but one from you yet. I guess I will bring my letter to a close. Tell Lyman to be a good boy, feed the chickens, eat bread, and not run away. This I send you is a sprig of holly I plucked from a bush in our camp. Goodbye Mary and Lyman. — C. E. Potter

August 29th. Half past six in the morning. Good morning Mary. I thought I would write a little to you this morning before I have to mount guard again. I have to go on at 7 and come off at 9 and then I am through till my turn comes again. I presume there is 75 thousand troops within a mile and a half of here. McClellan’s army has fell back to this vicinity and Pope’s army is retreating and the Rebels following. They want to draw the Rebels out of their hiding places. McClellan’s army is a going to march today, I expect, to join Pope and give the Rebels what they deserve.

I expected a letter from you last night certain but I was disappointed. I want you to write often. Has Al Coon paid you that $1.50 for that cradle scythe? Has Tom Van Dorn paid you yet? How does father pay up? Write me all these particulars and oblige your friend and companion, — Charles

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¹ The Captain of Co. H, 107th New York Infantry at the time was Erastus C. Clark. He was wounded in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862 and discharged for disability a couple months later.