The following letter was written by Chester H. Weston (b 1847) of Chesterfield, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, who accepted a bounty of $325 to enlist in Co. C, 34th Massachusetts Infantry on January 4, 1864. In June 1865, he was transferred to Co. A, 24th Massachusetts Infantry. He was the son of Ira and Laura Weston. His brother Frank served in Co. B, 31st Massachusetts.

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

Camp Sandy Hook
Co. C, 34th Massachusetts

My dear sisters,

How do you do? I hope well. I am here at Sandy Hook. I am not very well and my hands tremble. I will try and see what I can so with a [pencil?]. I find that it goes better than the ink. I received your very kind letter day before yesterday and was very glad to hear that you are where you was. You said that you wold send me some money. I have had no money for some three months and am getting out of paper and have not had any stamps until here a day or two ago. We had some little bags with some little things in it such as pins and needles and thread and in them an envelope and a sheet of paper. On mine there was a stamp on a nice envelope so I can send a letter to you. I am very glad that I can send one.

May 11, 1864. My dear sister. How do you do this morning? I hope well. I feel pretty well. It is a very rainy morning with a little thunder. It looks like clearing off. I hope so any way. Tell Aliny Fish that the reason that I han’t wrote to her is that I have no money to but anything with so she can’t blame me for not writing to her.

Please answer this letter as soon as you get it. I am here at Sandy Hook Hospital so you see that you can send what you are a mind to and direct your letters to Sandy Hook, First Division Hospital, Maryland, and they will come right here. Please write soon as you get this. This is from your brother Chester H. Weston

They have been… I can’t get my money now—not till the next payday and nobody knows when that will be.