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.
February 17th, 1865Dear Parents,
I received yours of the 8th [of February 1865] yesterday and was glad to learn that Mother’s health was improving and that the rest of the family was well. It found me and my family all quite well though my oldest boy and myself are still troubled with our colds. The little ones are real tough and healthy. I wrote you day before yesterday [February 15, 1865] and gave you all the news I could think of and I have not heard any since so this letter will be rather a dry affair. I an afraid but I suppose it is my duty to write as often as I can or have leisure to write and to day I will have little to attend to as I did not have to go out with the boys to make gabions. The Non Coms staid in camp and are to inspect them when they are brought in.
I see by your letter that you are having lots of snow and thank fortune we are not troubled at all with it and I am really glad of it for I don’t think us poor fellows could stand it very well with nothing but holey stockings and government brogans on our feet and only a blanket apiece to cover us nights, still if I was home I should improve the sleighing without a doubt and some of those young ladies up there would have more than one fine ride and you would not be for plaguing me long about being an old batchelor of twenty five.
Jimmie has been down to the Yellow House and had some photographs taken and they look well. He got four of them and they cost two dollars. Sergt Ingalls has gone to Fortress Monroe to have his shells teste so we will soon know whether they are a failure or not. I can think of nothing more this time so I will close hoping this will reach you before the rebellion squashes.
I remain your affectionate son,
Chas W. Personious
50th NY1
***
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: January 15, 1865 Charles Personius
- LT: February 19, 1865 Charles Personius
- LT: March 16, 1865 Charles Personius
Source:
- Personius, Charles. (1865, February 17). (Letter to his parents). Personius Brothers Letters (CL 105, Box B, Folder 38). Booth Library, Chemung Valley (NY) Historical Society, Elmira, NY. ↩