The following letter was written by Arthur Rupell Aldrich (1844-1918), the son of Jeremiah B. H. Aldrich (1812-1861) and Betsey Applebee (1819-1893) of Pittsburg, Coos county, New Hampshire. Arthur was married to Violetta T. Wright (1835-1909). He wrote this letter to his father-in-law, Wells Wright (1810-1884) of Pittsburg, Coos county, New Hampshire.

Arthur wrote the letter from Portsmouth, Virginia, on 1 March 1864, while serving in Co. H, 13th New Hampshire Infantry. He enlisted on 4 January 1864 and mustered out on 21 June 1865 after having transferred into Co. B, 2nd New Hampshire Infantry. While in Portsmouth, the regiment was engaged in garrison and picket duty. Not long after, they were reassigned to the 18th Army Corps (Army of the James).

[Editor’s Note: The first transcript of this letter was kindly prepared by Abbey Weber Jones.]

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

Portsmouth, [Virginia]
March 1, 1864

Absent Father,

I now sit down to write a few lines to you to let you know that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you the same. I have not much to write but it is fine weather here now, but the sand flies as bad as bad as bad as you ever see the snow. The boys are all well that went from our place. The old boys are thinking some of going home to March meeting but I think that they will go.

I should like [to] come home to see how things are going on, but I don’t think that [I] shall come home until this war is settled. But I think that we shall give the rebels hell this summer and it will be a[n] end to a great many [lives] before that it is settled. But the rebels are a coming in every day. I see[n] one of them prisoners that got away from Richmond and he said that the rebels had got almost discouraged and a good many of the officers.

We took a rebel spy the other [night] he had the plans of the campground and the forts and everything. And we just took the young gent and put him in Norfolk jail and he will be apt to stay there until this war is ove[r].

I don’t think of much more to write. I am troubled with the Shakes [malaria] some, but not so bad as I was when I first came out here. David Moody and James Bacon was some homesick when they first came out but they are getting over it some. The rest of the boys enjoy themselves very well. A soldier’s life is the easiest life that a man can live, for they have more to eat than they want, and they have somebody to look after them. And when they was at home, they had to take care of themselves. So I think that a soldier stands a better chance than any other man, but I think that the war will be closed this summer so that we all can come home and tend to them meetings. I think that when the soldiers go home, they will take religion in abundance. I understand that some of the converts has backslidden—Silas especially. I don’t think [I have] much more to write this time. Tell Mary and Jules that [I] send my best respects to them and I would like to have them write to me and I will do the same. I must close now.  Write as soon as you get this. 

Yours respectfully, — Arthur R Aldrich

to Wells Wright. Direct your letters to Washington D. C. Co H, [13th] N H V

My pen is poor and my ink is pale. If you can’t read it, throw it away.

The following letter was written by Amaziah Joshua Foss (1839-1863), the son of Woodbury Marden Foss (1804-1869) and Eliza Foss (1811-1887) of Strafford, New Hampshire. Amaziah and his younger brother Lemuel Perkins Foss (1841-1871) both served in Co. F, 13th New Hampshire Infantry during the Civil War.

Amaziah enlisted in August 1862 and was mustered into the regiment on 19 September 1862. He wrote this letter a few weeks later while at Aquia Creek, Virginia, less than a week before the Battle of Fredericksburg. He survived the attack on Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg but a few months later he received a severe wound in the right leg while fighting at Providence Church Road (Suffolk) on 3 May 1863. His wound required amputation of the limb and he died from loss of blood on 7 May.

Transcription

Camp near Aquia Creek, Virginia
December 8th 1862

Father,

I take my pencil in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and so is Lemuel. I suppose that you have been wondering why I have not written before but we have been on a march [since] last Monday. We are brought up for a support, so I heard. I suppose that there is agoing to [be an] advance on Fredericksburg as soon as they can get ready.

We had a good time to march until Friday when it began to snow and rain which made it muddy. Some of the boys went off and got a pig and brought into camp Friday night.

You want me to tell you if I got the money and postage stamps, I got them both but the box we did not get and I suppose we shall not get it at all now but still we may. They say that we are in camp where there was a Rebel cavalry encamped last winter but they have all gone now. 

There is five brigades in camp here now I believe. The sick we left at Camp Casey but some of the them has gone to New York and three of them has come on after us and the rest is in the hospital—all there to Camp Casey.

I can’t stop to write anymore now so good[bye for] now. From your son, — A. J.

Direct your letters as before.

The following letter was written by Sgt. Robert Richard Thompson (1823-1864) who enlisted on 16 August 1862 in Co, H, 13th New Hampshire Infantry. A month later he was promoted to 1st Sergeant. On 1 June 1863, Robert was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Co. D and 13 months later promoted to 1st Lieutenant. Sadly, though he was “full in the faith all will come out right yet,” he was killed in the fight at Chapin’s Bluff, Virginia, on 29 September 1864.

Robert wrote the letter to his wife, Annie Lucia Baldwin whom he married in 1859. They had two girls prior to Robert’s enlistment.

Transcription

Washington D. C.
October 9th 1862

My Dear Wife,

We arrived here last evening & a hard journey we had of it. We left Concord last Monday morning about half past 5 o’clock. The regiment were entertained by the citizens of Nashua & a very fine entertainment it was too. The Colonel, Lieut. Colonel, one company and one officer of our company & the Adjutant of the regiment are in it so you see the Nashua people are much interested in the regiment.

At 1 o’clock p.m., we started for Norwalk to take the boat for Jersey City, thence to Washington direct by cars. We remained in Baltimore from 6 o’clock a.m till 11 o’clock a.m. We were from that time till 9 in the evening traveling 40 miles. I do not know the cause of delay. We had to lie on the soft side of a board last night. Today I learn we leave to report to Gen. Casey and to camp on Munson Hill on the south side of the Potomac. I believe we shall be near the 17th Maine. I will write more in detail after we are settled. I have not been in the city.

How much I have thought of you on my way here. How lonesome you must be! But my dear wife, do not mourn my absence too much. I am very well & contented.

Does darling Jennie enquire why Papa does not come to bed now? It makes my heart ache to think it is necessary to be separated from you, but believe me, I am full in the faith all will come out right yet.

Troops are coming in at a great rate. I must close now for I must prepare to leave. From your most affectionate husband, — Robert

Do not write me till I send you direction.