This letter was signed “Will Forster” and I believe him to be the same William Leonard Forster (b. 1841) who was the oldest son of James Forster (1811-1876) and Eliza Rankin (1816-1892) of Williamsburgh, Kings county, New York. Will was a 19 year-old clerk enumerated in his father’s household at the time of the 1860 US Census. His British-born father, who emigrated to the United States in 1839, earned a living as an upholsterer in New York City.

When the war began, Will joined the 13th New York State Militia and was mustered into Co. C as a private on 23 April 1861. The regiment was sent to Annapolis to secure that important naval yard and port and to guard the all important railroad line from that port to Washington D. C. In June they were sent to Baltimore and then mustered out after three months service in August 1861. Then, in late May 1862, William reenlisted and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Co. B, 47th New York Infantry. He mustered out the 47th on 23 July 1863.

See also—1861: Christopher Swezy to Noah T. Swezy

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

Carroll Hill, Baltimore, Maryland
June 17th 1861

You are perhaps surprised to find this letter headed Carroll Hill but such is the case. I received your letter last Wednesday afternoon at five o’clock but have not had time to answer until now and in fact I have not now time but have to sneak away from the camp to write this.

The reasons I have not answered before are first Thursday being election in Baltimore and all through Maryland so we were ordered to go up to Baltimore and we staid there until the next day when we returned home and reached there late in the afternoon too late to commence a letter to you.

Saturday I was put on guard so I could not write then. After coming off on Sunday morning, we were ordered to pack our knapsacks and be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. We got into the cars at noon but did not start until four and reached Carroll Hill at eight p.m. and this morning I thought I would write and let you know why I could not write before and I wish I had time to answer your letter but as I have not, and besides have no facilities for doing so, I will wait until we get settled down and our tents pitched.

Just think of my laying down on my overcoat and my tin pan for a writing desk. Now if you can imagine anything more pleasant, why let me know.

I hope in my next letter I can tell you how to direct your letter but I could not say whether we will stay here or not. I hope we are. They intend to give us a taste of real camp life and not as we have had it. We had to lay down last night without anything over us and about half past eleven it commenced to pour and all scatt[er]ing I never see anything to beat it. You can imagine a thousand men scattering for the cars. It was a gay sight. I was pretty wey when I reached the cars and made my sleep very uncomfortable the balance of the night.

It is rumored about the camp that we will be sent home in about two weeks but how true it is, I could not say.

Lottie, I will have to stop as I got to get to work and as soon as we are settled, I will write again. So goodbye for the present. From your old friend, — Will Forster