The following letter was written by Pvt. Miner Healy Corbin (1840-1919) of Union, Tolland county, Connecticut who enlisted when he was 21 years old into Co. G, 22nd Connecticut Infantry on 5 September 1862 and was honorably discharged 7 July 1863 at Hartford. Miner was the son of Healy Corbin (1799-1878) and Nancy Coye (1803-1878). Miner was a teacher before the war and afterwards he farmed in Brimfield.

The 22nd Connecticut was the first nine-month infantry unit to be mustered into federal service and they saw little action. Most of the time was spent in the defenses of Washington D. C. though they were in Suffolk, Virginia, for a time. They lost 20 men during the war, all due to disease.

Miner wrote the letter to his cousin, Stephen B. Tifft (b. 1837) of Westford, Windham county, Connecticut.

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

22nd Regiment Conn. Vols., Co. G
Headquarters of pickets, Fairfax county
October 16, 1862

Dear cousin Stephen B. Tifft,

As I am on picket today, I will take the opportunity to write a few lines to you. This morning, Thursday October 16th, we (our company) had to roll our blankets (rubber on outside) with two days rations in our haversacks, our canteens filled with water, forty rounds of cartridges & overcoats on and ready to start at half past 8 o’clock which we did & started for we knew not where. A company from the 133rd New York, one from the 11th Rhode Island, & one other I believe, went with us. We marched up to Fort Ethan Allen about a mile from our camp & there a colonel (I have forgotten his name) took us up to where we are now stationed. One company was stationed on the right and one on the left with our company in the center. We are on the turnpike between Leesburg and Fairfax about 15 miles from Leesburg & 8 from Fairfax and we are about 10 miles from Washington City & between 3 & 4 miles from our camp which we marched with all our luggage. And I was almost sick this morning. It was a pretty hard march for me. I had to step out of the ranks & shack for myself. But I was not but a little behind the rest. Quite a number fell out as well as me. I had had the bowel complaint for a few days and had got some cold & was quite weak so that it was hard to march with our load under such circumstances. But I have got considerably rested and feel better and if I could rest for a day or two, I should be all right again.

The pickets are thrown out three or four in a place at equal distances from each other and some one of them have to be on guard during the day & two during the night. About half of our company are on such duty under Lieut. Corbin & a squad of 6 or 7 under Lieut. [Thomas F.] McMain are stationed down at the road a few rods from here & we are stationed (with the Captain) at a house fronting the south which looks to me to be west. I get turned round marching in all directions but I know the directions most of the time.

You will want to know what we have to do. Just nothing at all as I may say for only one has to stand guard before the house & is on only one hour (we are the relief guard) and as there is 30 or more of us, it will not come very often. So we can be as lazy as need be with plenty of sweet potatoes at 30 cents per pound, eggs, pies, chickens, &c. &c. You may expect I shall try and live while we stay here which is 48 hours. When an officer comes around, we have to fall into line and present arms. Then stack arms again and are at liberty them until another comes along which is not very often. Melvin, John, Byron, Frank, Walker & Horton are with us which makes it very pleasant to be together.

Yesterday forenoon our regiment was called out to go up to Fort Ethan Allen. We marched up there & had places picked out for us where we were to be stationed & each one knew his place. Then we marched outside of the fort, formed into line, and marched in double quick to our position which made us puff some. Those that were in there were moving out and they said we were coming in but I think we shall stay in our camp and if the enemy should happen to come, we should have to run for that fort to man it.

The most of our company are stationed on the south side which the officer said was the most exposed but less firing to be done & I think that looks as though we might winter here. I hope we may. I shall not have time to write more now. Give my love to Juliet, your father and mother, Mrs. Carpenter, and all enquiring friends. Write soon all the news, what you are up to, &c. &c. From your affectionate friend and cousin, — M. H. Corbin

Melvin says to tell you he is well and sends love to you all. He had a letter from Sandford last night. A welcome one too. Direct to Miner H. Corbin, Co. G, 22nd Regt. Conn. Vols. Washington D. C. (Our chaplain is post master. We have the mail every day.)