The following letter was written by Edwin (“Ned”) T. Rogers (1819-1868), a book keeper from Springfield, Massachusetts, who enlisted at the age of 42 in Co. H, 18th Massachusetts Infantry. He was the son of Sable and Rebecca Rogers. He was clerk of Company H and responsible, in part, for keeping the Descriptive Roll for the Company. He was mustered out of military service on Sept. 2, 1864 at the expiration of his three year enlistment. Following his military service Edwin returned to Springfield where he ran a meat market and provision store on “the Hill.” He died in Springfield on July 13, 1868 due to “Excessive Dissipation.”

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

Headquarters, 18th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry
Camp Barnes, Co. H, Hall’s Hill, Va.
January 29, 1862

I have just returned from two days picket duty and was much disappointed not to find a letter from you in answer to the one written to you about three weeks since, containing my picture and the little purse; and I am very anxious to know whether you received them or not. I received a paper from you a short time since for which accept many thanks.

We had a very hard time on picket this time on account of the mud and rain and ice. Also it was so dark that the enemy came very near us without being discovered and had not our cavalry discovered and dispersed them, we should probably have been driven in, and there would have been some bloodshed. But we are safe at home again.

We have sent all our clothes and everything into Georgetown except one suit & one extra shirt & 1 pr stockings where they are to be kept till we go home or get into some place to stay some time. This was done so as to be ready to march and not get fatigued. But the roads are so muddy that it is impossible for an army to move from here at present. You have no idea of mud the way it is out here. I never saw anything in Massachusetts to compare with it. Our cannon and baggage wagons cannot be drawn two miles a day scarcely. And should we meet the rebels, it would be impossible for the artillery to work the guns. But I do wish we could whip them out and go home for I am getting tired of this dirty, muddy camp.

I received a boot box from Springfield a short time since containing a blanket & comfortable shirts, drawers, mittens, muffler, 3 pies, 1 loaf cake, some cookies, doughnuts, a bottle of pickles, &c., &c. It was sent by Mrs. Sarah Hubbard & Mrs. Avery (a cousin of mine) and some of the articles were made by the armorer’s wives and daughters on the hill. And Mrs. Hubbard says if I will let them know of my whereabouts, they will send me something more.

We have not been paid yet, therefore, I have sent you no money; but I think it must come soon. I am now in a different tent from what I was, and I like the company much better. There are sixteen of us. Most of them are from Cambridge and Boston—“good boys.” There is an Irishman who sleeps next to me and most every night after we get to bed, he amuses me by telling all sorts of funny stories and I like him very much. He is from Springfield and a fine man. We have to go to bed now at eight o’clock and it is now most time & I must close by asking you to write as soon as you receive this and let me know whether you received the articles I sent in my last letter. Now Nellie, do write often won’t you, for I have no one else to write to old uncle Ned, and if you knew how happy I am to hear from you, you would not mind the trouble. Give my regards to Father, Mother, Aunt Hannah, Cook, Mary Briggs, and everybody else. So goodnight and believe me ever your Friend, — E. T. Rogers