The following letter was written by Rinaldo Hood (1840-1892) on behalf of himself and his younger brother Edgerton F. Hood (1842-1903) who served together in Co. E, 2nd Vermont Infantry. They were the sons of Jonathan Hood (1807-1887) and Persis Folsom (1811-1876) of Chelsea, Orange county, Vermont. A third son, Marcellus F. Hood had also served with them but he was discharged for disability in mid-September 1862.

Rinaldo enlisted as a private and was promoted to corporal before he was wounded on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House and was mustered out on 18 October 1864. Edgerton was also wounded on the same date as Rinaldo but mustered out three weeks earlier than his brother.

To read a similar letter written by another soldier in the same company on the same day, see—Philo Emery, 15 December 1862.

[Note: The following letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr and was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

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

Camp on the Rappahannock
[Monday] December 15, 1862

Dear Sister,

I received yours of November 13th and another of December 3rd some time ago but it has been almost impossible to write. We have been on the move almost every day since we left Hagerstown. We stopped three weeks at Aquia Creek but could not get any stamps at that time so could not write. The third we went on picket (our regiment) and our division moved here. We stayed 7 days and when we arrived our Brigade had been paid and the paymaster had gone back so we missed getting any pay for this time. My hopes are good yet for it will come some time if ever.

We crossed the river last Friday [12th], went to the front Saturday [13th], stayed there all day. Our company had five wounded—none dangerous. The same one that was wounded at Savage Station on M[arcellus]’s right was wounded on mine and the second one on my left, but it was not my time so I was spared. The regiment lost killed and wounded 100. We were relieved from supporting a battery this morning. We lay on the bank of the river. The front line is half a mile from here. The firing has been kept up most of the time since last Thursday morning until this morning. There has been but a few guns fired today. What the result is, we do not know yet but hope it will prove for the best.

The men haven’t as much confidence in Burnside as in McClellan. This battle will make a great difference in their opinion if he is successful. It has been very cold for a week past and the snow has been two and a half inches deep. The ground has froze nights and thawed day times. It is very muddy in the afternoon. It is warmer today. We expect to see Richmond in a few days if we don’t miss of it (as I think we shall). I know but a little of the war news for it is seldom we get any papers.

Ed’s and my health is very good. I have but a little caugh. Oh, that hair I forgot the last time I wrote, Much love to all. From E. and R. Hood

Ed’s in the inside.