Letter dated 14 May 1865, from Silas Doolittle, 75^th New York State Volunteer Infantry

 

                                                            Savannah, Ga.

                                                            May 14^th, 1865

 

Dear Sister,

            To day being sunday and everything quiet, thought I would sit down and have a little talk with you. I received a letter from Coleman yesterday. he was at City Point and expected to go to Annapolis, Md.

 

            My health is good and (needless to say) I have a good appetite, as some of the boys who furnish me in bread can testify, for I commonly eat my days ration of bread at two meals, but there are plenty who dont, so I can get bread enough.

 

            I hear that they have begun discharging troops in the Army of the Potomac, but dont know when our turn will come. I hear that our Division has been transferred to the 10^th A.C. if so it will probably be sometime before we will get Discharged, for the 10^th Corps are going to be distributed around through the states of North & South Carolina & Georgia until they can get civil law in force.

 

            There is considerable talk about their enlisting men to go to Mexico to fight the French, but I rather think my “love of adventure” is’ent strong enough to tempt me to go, for I have “been through the mill” once & dont care about any more on my plate.

 

            Jule Knapp is here and is well. Jack Grant is rather unwell, & has been for some time. he was offered his discharge but would not take it because he wants to come home with the Regiment.

 

            All the trouble I have now is the scarcity of tobacco, and by that I have found one use for Niggers. that is, every time one comes along we just freeze on to him & make him disgorge all of the “Vile weed” in his possession, for it’s all the way we can keep ourselves in tobacco.

 

            The Paymaster has got about $175. of our money & I guess he means to keep it, for the talk about getting it has all died away.

 

            I have not made up my mind yet what to go at when I get home, but there is one thing I shant go at. that is farming. I will close now but will write again soon.

 

                                                                        Your Affectionate Brother

                                                                        Silas Doolittle

                                                                        75^th Battalion N.Y.V.V.

                                                                        Savannah, Ga.

 

7.50 P.M.

 

            As I did not put this in the office yet, thought I would write a few more words.

 

            There are a good many Rebel officers & Soldiers around Town. they look ashamed, just as if they had been stealing sheep & been caught at it. Poor Devils.

 

            There is another rumor around camp that we are going to be paid this week, but I dont put much confidence in it, for they have fooled us so many times.

 

            I receive a letter from Miss O. Spencer the other day. My love to Mother and Phebe Anne. Good night.

                                    Sile

 

            I dont go to the Theatre anymore because Guards (?) are too plenty.

 

“now isent that queer?” T.J.

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