Letter dated 19 August 1865, from Silas Doolittle, 75^th New York State Volunteer Infantry

 

                                                            Augusta, Ga.

                                                            Aug. 19^th, 1865

 

Dear Sister,

            I just recd your welcome letters of July 25^th & Aug 2d, and was glad to hear from home once more, for I had not heard before in about 2 months, but was sorry to hear that Mother was unwell but and hope she will soon be better.

 

            You will no doubt be somewhat surprised to hear from me in this part of the state, but I will explain how it happened.

 

            We left Savannah Monday, July 24^th, for Hawkinsville, about 200 miles distant, which after some delay in crossing rivers, etc., we reached Aug. 5^th. we had been there 2 days when the order came for the 75^th N.Y. to report to Macon to Muster out of the service. we left for Macon, 50 miles distant, on the 9^th  and arrived there on the 11^th, but could not muster out there and were ordered to report to Savannah and muster out there. so on the 13^th, we left Macon by R.R. and arrived at Atlanta, a distance of 103 miles, the same night. next morning started for Augusta, 171 miles distant, and arrived here the night of the 14^th (My 22d birthday), and here we are yet, waiting for transportation to Savannah. Our Officers are now at Savannah making out the rolls, & the boat is here that is going to take us, but there is a sand bar Just below the city that boats cannot cross in low water, but the water is rising now slowly and I think we will be able to start for Savannah by tomorrow morning. it will then take about a week or 10 days to make out the rolls & muster out, then take 4 or 5 days to reach New York. we will then go to Syracuse to receive our final Discharge and pay. and then—we are free men! so you need not look for me home before the 13^th or 15^th of Sept.

 

            My health is first rate and I am blacker than any Indian. we have marched about 25 miles. I was tough all the way and did not fall out once. Some of the men would be healthy in the morning and be dead before night from sun stroke. I was rather unwell one day on the march from Hawkinsville to Macon, but the thoughts of Home kept me up, and the next day I was as well as ever.

 

            I sent a box of things from Savannah the same time I wrote the last letter, but you did not say whether you had recd them or not.

 

            I have had all the water mellons I could eat for the last six weeks, and peaches, no end to them. I have seen some peach orchards with no less than from 500 to 1,000 bushels of peaches in. the inhabitants feed them to their hogs and make cider of them, etc.

 

            perhaps you had better not write until you hear from me again, for it is uncertain where I shall be. Hoping soon to have a personal interview, I will close by subscribing myself now as,

                                                                        Your Loving Brother

                                                                        Silas Doolittle

                                                                                    I wrote this on the head of my drum.

 

I may possibly be in York State by the 1^st of Sept.

SOURCES