Soldier camped in a cemetery in Arlington overlooking the Potomac and Washington
Author
Recipient
Date Written
Aug. 17, 1862
Member of Series
The following was written 159 years, 11 months, 23 days ago.
It was a Sunday.
August the 17th 1862
My dear brother and sister,
I am well at present and I hope that these few lines will find you the same. We got started 2 o'clock that night. We got in Washington at Friday night. We marched to Arlington that night, four miles west of Washington. We are in camp there. It is a fine place.
We can see the capital any time we are a mind to look. There is a fort about 40 rods south of us. I went over to the Fort yesterday and you can count about 9 forts from here. We saw some very pretty cannons.
I have just been in a swimming down to the Potomac River that is just half down to Washington. We are the first of the new call. We are a going to camp here about three or four months. There is a fort on every side of us.
Tell father that I am well and tell Jim that he must ceap (keep) the old fiddle to remember me. I have not that of home____. It seems that if I was only 6 miles from home and expect to come home the next day.
Frank and I tent together. I am laying in my tent now. Stood guard all last night. I am so sleepy that I can not write. Tell everybody that I like to soldier & I am not sorry that I enlisted nor homesick. I do not know whether I will get that 25 dollars or not. I wish that you would find out whether I can get it or not.
There will be a man on the grounds in a few days and the nect (next) letter that I send home I will send you all my likeness. We are in a peach orchard and lots of apples. Lots of them. They are calling for supper now. I wrote all I know.
Be good children and all. (Keep) your noses clean and if I never come back remember that I went to fight for my country. Tell Jim that he must be a good boy and go to school. And tell all of them that I have not time to write to them. I (am) going to write to Cloe next. Let Rachel read this . Washington is a fine place. I am in a war cemetery. So good by all. I hope that I will see you all.
Direct your letters to Washington, D.C.
107th Regt NYV Company D in care of Capt. Slocum.
William E. Vanaucken