Wilson Nevyus to Peter Nevyus, 5 March 1865
Dauphine Island Ala.
March 5th/65
 
            Dear Brother
                                    I received yours of Feb 7th in due time and I was glad to hear from you again So I will try to answer it now I am well as useul as wel as the rest of the Boys of Pulteney we are having very good times here now the weather is mild and pleasent with onse in a while a shower but as it is all sand it is dry as soon as it stopes raining the 22ed was a day of Jubile with the 161 they had a wrestling mach for $5. a sack race for a galon of whiskey a drill mach for $11 and game of foot ball. it was rather a damp day but things went of very well considering the weather / then they got up a mach in the Brigade to drill for a prize and we have bin drilling most all week to prepair for it it was to have come off yesterday but as the Brig Commander was sick or some other caus we did not drill but played ball all day the offisers had a game of foot ball the right wing against the left they wer divided and the Mager and Chaplain was on the left the Dr and Adg on the right. and such a rough and tumble I never saw before. the Partys was 10 rods apart the Coln took the ball in the center and gave the signel and then they all started to kick it the mager kicked it first and sent it a flying then back it came again and when one went to kick it some one would trip or push him and some times there would be half a Dozen in a pile and others kicking / and chaising the ball. the Mager and Lieu Gibson came in contackt two or three times and most every time they would boath fall but the right was to much for the left. then to wind up the Coln had us com out and drill on the perade ground on double quick and wound up with Dresperade So the day pased of very pleasent with the 161 and I hope it was enjoyed at the white house as well and things pased off as smothe with Uncle Abe as it did with the Com here I had the good luck to be detailed to drive ambalance again So I expect to drive mules in a few days.
 
You see there has bin a regular break up and turnover with us lately we belong to the 3ed Brig 1st Division and 13th Army Corps way down in alabama. and it looks as thou we was going out on a tramp / soon for the offisers have had orders to turn over all thear tents and take purptents as well as the privits but then I cannot tell which way we will go yet. they have the rumer that Richmond was vacuated and Lee was badley whiped and that Charleston had surrendered and Mobile is expected to fall soon and the 161 will be home soon
 
                                                            So I will close
            Pleas my give my best wishes
            to your Wife and I will send
            a few flowers chansed to pluck
            to day              From your True
                                    Brother Wilson Nevyus
                                                Co A 161st NYVol
                                                            New Orleans
                                                                        La
7217
DATABASE CONTENT
(7217)DL0527.04595Letters1865-03-05

Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Alcohol, Animals, Drilling, Fall of Richmond, Money, Recreation, Robert E. Lee, Rumors, Weather

People - Records: 3

  • (1680) [writer] ~ Nevyus, Wilson
  • (2426) [recipient] ~ Nevyus, Peter
  • (2460) [associated with] ~ (?), Martha L. ~ Nevyus, Martha L.

Places - Records: 1

  • (1882) [origination] ~ Dauphin Island, Mobile County, Alabama

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SOURCES

Wilson Nevyus to Peter Nevyus, 5 March 1865, DL0527.045, Nau Collection