Letter dated 11 May 1864, from Silas Doolittle, 75^th New York State Volunteer Infantry

 

                                                            Camp Grant, Va.

                                                                        May 11^th, 1864

 

Dear Mother,

the mail has just come in & was much disappointed at not receiving any, so thought I would have Revenge & write one.

 

my health is good & am enjoying myself first rate. day before yesterday some of our mail was lost. the Officer that went after it got drunk & lost part of it.

 

the weather here is very warm & everything looks like summer. our infantry arms have not been given out yet & the talk is that we are going to New Orleans. I would rather be there only on account of the mail coming so often.

 

I am afraid Phebe Ann has given up her good resolution of writing every week, but hope not.

 

I am going to send the Photos of some of my comrades in arms; Chet Pritchards for one. Chet is the best Boy that ever lived & I like him next to a Brother, & I think he will be a Lieutenant before a year; & so is Clark Grant, & Jack as good boys as can be.

 

how does the garden look? how do you get along for wood? we have not been paid yet. I dont know how soon we will be. how does Phebe Ann get along with her shape? tell Hannah she must write to me, for I wrote to her a few days ago.

 

there is considerable small pox in our Regt now, but none have died that I know. Clark Grant is sitting here. he says give you his best repects.

 

I have given up sending my Album. it would cost so much. so I will send the Pictures in Letters.

 

now, Mother, you must not work out in the sun any more than you can help, or I am afraid you will be sick. I think it would be better to hire somebody to work in the garden & split the wood, etc.

 

there is heavy fighting going on at the front, & am thankful that we are not there, but somebody must fall.

 

report says that Lee has been badly whipped by Grant & Butler, & driven in behind the Richmond defences & his army in a bad strait for rations. I think on this summer issue hangs the fate of the Union, & I hope for the best, & think there is no doubt as to the final, for if Grant is let alone he will clean out Virginia & kill or capture Lee’s entire army; & then what can the Rebs hope?

 

I guess I will draw this Epistle to a close, hoping soon to hear from you. I will write again soon.

 

To Phebe Doolittle

            from her Affectionate Son

                        Silas Doolittle

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