Headquarters of the 7^th Regt NYHA.

Ft Pennsyvania March 16^th 1863

 

                        My Dear Friend.

                                                            I guess you will think that I have forgotten to answer your letter But I am happy to inform you that is not the case we have had so much stormy weather lately that I have not found time to write stormy weather makes a great deal of extra work such as cleaning and blacking boots, shoes &c and brushing clothes which has to be done just so, and no other way, and I have had no news to communicate. / We have had a week of freezing weather the ground is froze quite hard where the mud was 18 inches deep it will bear up a loaded wagon now. Yesterday afternoon it hailed at night it snowed this morning it was about 4 inches deep. it moderated and cleared off to day

 

            I received a few lines from Susan a few days ago they came in Elias’s letter

 

            I am much pleased and interested in the enigmas you send me. I like to solve them

 

            I wish I had time / to construct one to send for you to solve perhaps I will get a chance one of these days.

 

            My Wifes Cousin from Saratoga County was down to see me last week he has gone out to the front.

 

            I am well, and in good spirits. I carry the mail yet. With my best respects and kind wishes to you and all enquiring Friends I will close this barren letter. from

 

                                                Your Friend

                                                            Stephen R Whitney.

 

Write again soon as convenient, and confer a favor /

 

There is what I think to be a solution of the enigma you so kindly sent to me. I readily guessed “the person” I would Love to see and the first attempt I made to solve the enigma I put down the name of  M r s  O r c e  l  i   a    W  h    i    t   n   e   y—

                                                1  2 3  4 5 6 7 8 9 10   11 12 13 14 15 16 17 letters

The State is Maine,                                         M

The article of food is Rice,                             R

To be timid is Shy,                                          S.

The vegetable product is Oats,                       O

The General^s name is Reno,                           R

The aminal is a Colt,                                      C

The name of the tree is Elm,                          E

The liquid is Lye,                                            L

The substitute for water is Ice,                       I

The part of the body is the Arm,                    A.

The river in Europe is the Weser,                   W

The ancient measure is a Hin,                        H

The mans name is Iman,                                 I

            “To be continued”                  Turn over /

 

The metal is Tin,                                             T

The part of the body is the Nose,                    N

To do wrong is to Err,                                    E

The name of the college is Yale;                    Y—

My 7=4=9       is a kind of fish                                   Eel

My 8=12=14= is a scriptural name                            Lot

My 3-2-11 is the noise of an animal                           Mew

My 1=9=10=14=7=13 is a river of Saxony                Elster

My 5=12=10=4 is a flower                                         Rose

My 1=3=10 is a river of Europe                                 Ems

My 6=8=2 is a measure                                              Ell

My 9=7=15 is a city of the Chinese Empire              Leh

My 8=4=1 is the sirnames of 3 celebrated generals   Lee

My 10=15=12=14 is made of metal                           Shot

My 11=15=6=7=2= is part of a wagon                       Wheel

My 12=11=9 is a bird                                                 Owl

My 13=4=10=14 is needed by all mankind                Rest

My 14=15=1=3=6 is a subject                                    Theme

My 15=12=8=14 is a county in Mo.                           Holt

My whole is Elmer E Ellsworth

SOURCES