Editor’s Note: This item is part of a collection of letters from New York engineers written while their units were at the Siege of Petersburg. Researcher and Engineer enthusiast Dan O’Connell generously donated all of the items in this collection for use at The Siege of Petersburg Online. These transcriptions are copyrighted by Brett Schulte and may not be used without my express written consent. I do not have images of these letters so some errors could be from transcription or in the original.
Camp of 50th N.Y. Eng’rs
Near Poplar Grove Church Va
Jan 12th 65Glorious News
We still live, and not on Hard-Tack alone for that Box has come at last. It came up from City Point yesterday but they could not be given out till this morning for they got in rather late last night. but you had better believe I was around early this morning and got the box and had it open before daylight and found every thing in good condition. Daniel & I have been reckoning up what the articles would cost if they had been bought down here of the Sutlers but we could not well estimate the value of the Dried Fruit or Cakes but according to our judgement there was thirty dollars worth besides the dried fruit and in return what can I do or say for all this. Thanks Thanks but that is no pay for all your trouble, toil and thoughtfulness, love and devotion. aye a tear starts in my eye. all feelings of love and duty to Parents are not gone or become hardened by absence of time, though a soldiers life hardens him to almost every thing else in nature.
I received yours of the fifth and sixth [of January 1865] last evening. it found us in the enjoyment of good health. Tell Pa I think he had better come down here with Uncle Depuy this winter for it will be impossible for any of us to get a furlough. There are none giiven this winter, only in very urgent cases. If he comes he must take the cars at City Point and come up as far as Warrens Station. from there it is only a little over half a mile to Camp. Most any one can tell you where it is. Passage free from City Point.
It is nearly noon so I will close for this time.
Ever your affectionate Son
Chas. W. Personius1
***
Other Letters Written By Charles Personius at the Siege of Petersburg:
- LT: June 10, 1864 Charles Personius
- LT: June 18, 1864 Charles Personius
- LT: July 18, 1864 Charles Personius
- LT: July 24, 1864 Charles Personius
- LT: August 8, 1864 Charles Personius
- LT: November 7, 1864 Charles Personius
- LT: November 18, 1864 Charles Personius
- LT: January 15, 1865 Charles Personius
- LT: February 17, 1865 Charles Personius
- LT: February 19, 1865 Charles Personius
- LT: March 16, 1865 Charles Personius
Source:
- Personius, Charles. (1865, January 12). (Letter to his parents). Personius Brothers Letters (CL 105, Box B, Folder 38). Booth Library, Chemung Valley (NY) Historical Society, Elmira, NY. ↩