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 the 50th NY Vol Engrs
Near Popular Grove Church, Va
January 15th, 1865Dear Parents,
It was our turn to receive a letter from you last night but the mail must have failed to connect for we received no letters. We are all well and lazy as ever. Dinner is finished but the dishes are not washed. I tell you butter and honey makes our dinner relish tiptop. Today is sunday and we have had no duty to do since nine o’clock then we had Co. inspection. Our Co. has been getting out timber for a fort for the three last days and we find work enough to do nearly evry day when the weather permits. There are smal details from each Co. at work building chevaux de frieze to be used somewhere along the lines. I don’t know exactly where. Every thing is very quiet in camp. The wood is getting scarce the fire is low and the weather is chilly besides someone has carried off the last paper. There now hasn’t in a peck of trouble and I can’t think of any news to write about but I suppose I mst try to fill up this sheet some way or another so here goes …
—————————————————————-
E Pluribus Unum
Please write soon to your soldier boys
Charly and Daniel and now will close for this time. Those long lines are dispatches can you read them. Please burn them so that they won’t fall into the hands of the enemy.
I remain you affectionate son
Chas W. Personious1
***
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 12, 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 15). (Letter to his parents). Personius Brothers Letters (CL 105, Box B, Folder 38). Booth Library, Chemung Valley (NY) Historical Society, Elmira, NY. ↩