Civil War

Below are excerpts from letters written home by Union soldiers.

First, a letter written by a gentlemen from the South before the war started. It echoes the bitterness of the time.

"It was quite a privilege to have all the news up on the cause of freedom, yet I very much fear how it will go with us when I consider how many traitors we have in the Northern States..."

"I hope we may be blessed with a more honest president than the one we now have for I consider him a bigger traitor to the Southern States than even (Benedict) Arnold..."

Now, Letters from the Soldiers

"...I don't think that Abraham Lincoln understood how fearful a malady his country (sic) was attracted with..."

"...if we ever have peace again restored in this country, we shall know how to prize it but I want honorable peace for then it will be long lasting."

"...I am alive although I am not well."

"...Harry was dead, shot through the head..."

"I fought all day and came very near taken prisoner. The rebels flanked us...I could hardly run but as good luck favored me, I got away."

"...they got a crossfire on me and bullets flew all around me."

"We had a young man shot dead in the hospital not more than 8 feet from me by one of the rebel sharpshooters."

"Our regiment is all cut to pieces."

"...a dreadful thing happened here Saturday night...the officer of the day was stabbed in the bowels with a large knife and it is thought to be a fatal wound. The man was caught and his legs tied back...arms drawn back...stick put between his elbows and tied...I hope he will be set up as a mark to be shot..."

"...our unfortunate brother, Mark...is now in a loathesome dungeon, confined in irons for having stabbed an officer"

(Note: Different letter than the quote before. Could this be the same person?)

"...I guess you have all forgotten me or you would of written..."

"...we have seen the hardest of our time...we never shall see such long forced marches nor hardships."

"...the snow fell about 8 inches deep, the wind blowed like fury and it seemed like old times in Vermont..."

"You ain't a widow yet..."

"We have gained another victory...and took a lot of prisoners."

"...I don't believe the fighting will last till next June. If the South aint licked then, it never can be."

"We had boiled corn for dinner last night..."

"...we have meat sometimes that if I caught my dog smelling I would kick his ass..."

"We had a snowballing scrap the other day...I let one fly, it took the Captain right between the eyes and almost knocked him down. ...They thought if we ever come into a battle, I had better throw down my musket and throw stones."

"...we don't go on Picket only once in 5 days and don't drill any..."

"...we should have to go a long ways to find a rebel army."

"One of our boys was sent to the guard house the other morning for farting in the ranks."

"We received gold in pay but I could not send gold..."

"...our old officer can't drill us perfectly. We want some person that can..."

"We had a regular row last night. They called the corporal of the guard and he got a file of guards to take them off to the guardhouse but they all jumped on the floor and said if one went, all would go..."

"There is not a person in this camp that can get a pass..."

"I think this war is about played out..."

Civil War Letters