Editor’s Note: The Soldier Studies web site (http://www.soldierstudies.org) collects and publishes letters written during the Civil War. Owner/editor Chris Wehner was kind enough to grant me written permission to publish a selection of letters from his site which focus on the Siege of Petersburg. Look for letters to appear here during the 150th anniversary of the Siege of Petersburg and beyond. These letters may not be reused without the express written consent of Chris Wehner. All rights reserved.
Camp near Burmudy Hundred,Va1
Dear Parents
I will pen a word to day if I can find anything worth mentioning. The B. boys are all well as usual. Horace is out now on fitique duty. John P writing now; he is well, and in good spirits; he sends his respects to both of you Father & Mother. Thomas P also on fitique to day. Clough also on fitique duty. It is pleasant and fair to day. We had a drill of an hour this morning from six untill seven. I saw our old Maj. yesterday. Maj. Duncan he is now Col. of a negro regt2. Ebber Emerson is Chaplain in the 7th [NH] he is well and the same as when in N.H.
We have got to have an inspection pretty soon; so I shall have to get ready I suppose.
We have had our general inspection. Inspected by Capt. Ripley of our regt. he is on the Genl’s staff so are Adgt. Bryant & Lieut. Sturtevant.
We haven’t heard of the other four Co’s of our Regt yet. I understand that they left New Orleans the night that we did if that is so I am afraid that they have seen trouble.
July the 27th 1864
I will pen a word this P.M. as I did not get a chance to finish this yesterday.
We were called out on a line, last night at three. It is the practice here to do so for they have been attacked twice at that time in the morning. We stood in line until about sunrise then we are dismissed. It is pleasant; and fair to day. The C. Boys are all well at present.
Whitaker had some good baked beans for us this morning. They are good baked in the ground. In deed they are!
There is no news here of importance that I know of. I want you to send me two dollars in your next I don’t expect that we shall get payed off this some time yet and I don’t intend to starve nor go hungry, to save a cent. It is hard enough to soldier at the easeyst. I cant write any more this time; so good by. Give my love to all.
Write as soon and as often as you can. From you son.
Daniel C. Currier
PS Direct to Co. I 14 Regt. NH Vol, 1st Brg 2nd Div., 19th AC Fortress Monroe, VA
PS I will just write a word, and put it in to the envelope for I have got it sealed up I just received a letter from you in it I found two dollars and four postage stamps. You said that you hadent hurd whether I received that three dollars that you sent me before. I wrote you about it some time ago, well I did get it I guess I got most of the letters that you write me, you said that you had written five since I left Baltimore, well I have received four. I got one dated Jan. the 30th and this is dated Feb the 13th so if you write once a week I have not got the one between these two, but I recon it will be correct after a while
D.C. Currier3
Source:
- Currier is obviously referring to Bermuda Hundred, where portions of the 19th Corps spent July 21-31, 1864, before being forwarded on to Washington, D.C. and then to the Shenandoah Valley to participate in Sheridan’s 1864 Valley Campaign. ↩
- Colonel Samuel A. Duncan became Colonel of the 4th USCT and by this time commanded the brigade to which the 4th USCT belonged. ↩
- Currier, Daniel C. “Camp near Burmudy Hundred,Va.” Letter to “Parents” 26 Jul. 1864. MS. Camp near Burmudy Hundred,Va. This letter appears here due to the express written consent of Chris Wehner, owner of SoldierStudies.org and may not be used without his permission. All rights reserved. ↩