Original 1862 Civil War Soldier Letter – Washington D.C., Feb 1st – From “Henry”

Original 1862 Civil War Soldier Letter – Washington D.C., Feb 1st – From “Henry” of Maine to His Beloved Wife
 
Fresh from the camps near Washington, this deeply personal 4-page letter (dated February 1, 1862) was penned by a Union soldier named Henry from Maine. Written just months into the war, he responds to his wife’s recent letter with raw honesty and longing: “I want to see you dreadfully.”
Key highlights include:
•  Rumors of the imminent discharge of regimental bands and musicians (a hot topic in early 1862, with Henry noting there were more musicians in the army than the entire pre-war force). He mentions Gen. McClellan, the Secretary of War, and the President all favoring sending the bands home.
•  Vivid camp life details: late-night letter readings disrupting sleep, a recent snowstorm, “fifteen feet deep” mud during the rainy season, and cooking his own beef steak supper because the company cook was sick.
•  Heartfelt affection mixed with humor and gossip from home — a drunken dance fight involving Charles Cole of Norway, Maine, and others.
•  Henry’s optimism about being discharged by spring and his tender admission that life with his wife is “by all means preferable to money.”
 
"Washington D.C. Feb 1st 1862
Dear Wife
Your letter of the 28th I just received, not over ten minutes ago, and as you see that I lose no time in answering it, our mail gets here now about noon once a day, and I like that much better, for some nights, (when I do not expect a letter) I go to bed, and am waked up by those that have letters and they sit up and read them and talk and make such a noise, that we that have turned in cannot sleep until they get through, but there is more of us that finds any fault, for we are all anxious to hear from old Maine, I wish that I was there to day!
As you say there has nothing of interest transpired since I wrote you last. I have heard nothing about discharging the Bonds, which I have no sign of a doubt but what they will before next spring. I think the next time that the subject is brought before
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Congress that they will make a final windup of it. I am sure that we shall be discharged. I have more confidence in our Government than to think that they will keep Seventeen Thousand men, in the fields (under double the pay that the soldiers receive) that are of no benefit whatever, there is more musicians in the army at this present time, than the whole of our Army numbered previous to this war! Gen McClellan is in favor of discharging the Bands, also the secretary of war and the pres; and I can look upon it in no other light than, that we shall be sent home soon and I tell you that we watch the Puppets as many as a cat watches a mouse; and each day expect to see that these Bills have passed; to set us a going towards, those that will be glad to see us. I feel that there is one that would be glad to see me, and that I should be very glad to see, if it was not for that one, I would as lives stay here as anywhere else; but I cannot help feeling that a life with you is by all means preferable to money, that is why I am so anxious to get home, it is not because that I am suffering for want of food or clothes or any thing else to make me comfortable, and the fact is I want to see you dreadfully, and I do not feel
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any ways timid about telling you, for I feel as lones you would know my thoughts and feelings as to know them myself, and I have tried that you should always, as far as was in my humble means to communicate, but my courage is good yet, and I think, will continue until next spring, and I should not wonder if I had to stay here longer than, that time, that, my courage would fail me;
We had another snow storm last night about two inches fell, and to day the mud is fifteen feet deep.
My health is good as ever but I think that it would be better, if there was not so much wet weather, it affects the whole Regiment we are having now what they call the rainy season, and will last until the middle of the month or the first of March, and then they say that it is a perfect garden of Eden;
Buce had a letter from Wallace Morton to day, he wrote about the “Horse Irot, and said that they had a Real drunken time, that is just what I expected, and I am glad that you did not go to the dance for he said that they had a fight in the Hall, Charles Cole, of Norway and Ira Records was the principal actors, I recollect Charles Cole for he undertook
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to use me rough, one time, but he did not make out and only got an eye in mourning for his trouble.
I received but two letters from you last week I expect that a good many of them get mis-carried, there is lots of letters and papers that are brought to our Regt. that are sent to others,
Fuller has got home and we have had a letter from him, he wrote that he had been to Augusta to see about the money they had got a check for it on a New York Bank but had not got the money, but expected it in a few days, he said the way that he understood it was that each one of the women that the money was allotted to had got to call in person in order to get it, I think that he is mistaken, I believe that your order or mine is just as good, as to go in person, I should think it funny if it was not. I wrote to Loving and wrote an order for him to get the money and I think that she will, and has before this time, I requested him to write me if he could not get it, and as I have received no letter I think that he has got it.
you must not let the news of my standing a Chance to come home worry you so that you cannot sleep nights will you if I had known that you was a going to feel so bad about my coming home I would not have written anything about it but I will stay out here if you say so or I will come home and be a good boy and not plague you a bit, but I guess this will do for this time, and I have got to go and cook my supper as our cook is sick and we all have got our own suppers I am a going to taste some Beef steak as soon as I can fry it, I believe it would taste better, if you could be here to help me eat it, I wish that I believe that I could eat a peck, but must close now for I have no more paper so good by, write soon and all the news and how you get along in the shop so good by yours with love Henry"