The following letter was written by Amos B. Currier (1822-1899) who enlisted at Le Roy on 25 August 1862 to serve three years in Co. I , 151st New York Volunteers. At the time of his enlistment, he was described as a 5 foot 10 inch tall, blue-eyed, dark-haired blacksmith who was born in Wyoming county, New York. He was made a corporal at the time of his muster but was later reduced to ranks and transferred to Co. D in December 1864 with the consolidation of companies. He mustered out of the regiment on 26 June 1865 at Washington D. C.

In the 1860 US Census, 38 year-old Amos was enumerated in Allegany, Cattaraugus, New York, with his 35 year-old wife Amanda M. (Baldwin) Currier (1825-1900), and 13 year-old son, John G. Currier (1847-1893). His trade was recorded as “blacksmith.” After the war, Amos settled in Cuba, Alleghany county where he resumed his trade.

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

Headquarters 151st [New York] Regt., Co. I
Camp La Fayette, Baltimore, Md.
November 12th 1862

Dear wife,

I received your letter on Monday morning and I tell you, it was welcome too. If I ever got anything that done me good, it was that for I began to think you had forgot you had a friend in Baltimore and one that is nearer than that, It seemed strange that you should all forget the directions but I will forgive you this time. I was glad to hear you was well for I was sure you was sick. I should have answered yours the same day but we have to drill most of the time and when we are off, our arms are tired and cannot write. I have to carry a gun that weighs 11 pounds and to practice with it from 9 o’clock until 11 o’clock, and then from 1 o’clock until 6 o’clock and carry a gun on our right hand and shoulder so you see we cannot write for our hands tremble but I will try and do the best I can.

You wanted to know what we have to eat. I will tell you. We have pork, beans, rice, beef, potatoes, coffee, sugar, and milk when we buy it at 8 per quart. Apples at 2 for three cents, small at that. But Clark is our cook so you see after the rest are gone to bed, he saves all the good pieces of pork, beef, and baked potatoes. But we cannot get any butter short of 45 and 50 cents a pound. So you [see], a poor soldier cannot afford to eat much of that. We club together and get some milk & butter for a change—I mean our bunch.

If I could only see you, I would do very well. I have not seen any good looking women nor a horse since I left Lockport. I do think they are the worst looking women that I ever saw. They are full as dark as Lyman Strong and do not wear half as large hoops and some of the best ones to wear none. But they all are given to f___ —skip that word. And the horses cannot help being poor for they ride one and whip the other. Oats are 90 cents a bushel so they cannot afford to feed much, I suppose. Johnny has told you all the news for he has just come in to me for a stamp, He says he wrote to you. He is as large as Clark Graves and fat as he can be. He cooks for the officers and you know he will not starve where he is. He went all over the city yesterday and to Federal Hill, He can go wherever he likes. I went the other day to the Observatory and looked through something about 4 feet long with glass on each end of it, I do not know what it was but it was a very nice thing & could see Fort McHenry and the men all round there. It looked most suspicious to me that there was something going in there. If you will come, I will pay ten cents for you to look through it.

You wanted I should tell you about the blacksmiths. I will tell you all that I know about it. I have been before the officers twice before yesterday, The Colonel and Major told me I should have it when [ ] to going. Thy have a great deal to do. Yesterday all the captains and [ ] all want and I was called before them on my trade and they told me I should have without fail, There is some 18 wants it but it was deiced that A. B. Currier has got it as soon as they could get to it. The captain was afraid it was going to take me away from him. If it was, he should go against it for he saw he could not spare me out of his company for I was his right hand man. Some blarney there, you will say, but his actions do not say so. But the Major told him it would not make any difference—only help me to better pay and a credit to the regiment. Some more blarney. You need not [say] this for it may flatter you.

I have got a call for drill. I have a squad to drill. I am some on that. Never had a gun in my hand to drill, not over two weeks, but learn very fast. So goodbye for now. 11 o’clock. Just got back from drill. Had a very good one. The colonel says if I had long fingers, I would make the best drill officer on the field. I have not got our pay yet….Goodbye and lots of kisses from your own, — A. B. C.