Name/Title
Civil War Letter from James G. Young to Parents in St. Joseph, MO, Feb. 5, 1863Entry/Object ID
AM2013.14.2Scope and Content
Civil War Letter from James G. Young to Parents in St. Joseph, MO, Feb. 5, 1863, from Edgardsfield, TN. Young is a Union soldier serving with the 16th Illinois Volunteers. The letter is written while in camp waiting for the next battle.
Father & Mother
I received your kind letter dated the 14th of January day before yesterday and one from may (?). I was glad to hear that all were well I have the best of health all though we have been living in the mud knee deep for the past month I am fatter and harrtier (sp) now than I have been since I enlisted Well I think I can live on any place that any one else can if it is in a hog pen or a negro shanty. The past two or three days have been cooler and cloudy with a light snow. I think there will be another big battle fought down in these parts shortly there has been large reinforcements sent to our men and a large lot of artillery arrived here a few days ago with the fleet There is another fleet on its way here but it has to come slow on account of the rebels The are in strong force on the river below here There is about one years grub hear (sp) now for us and still bringing more There has been a large lot of ? improved small arms that will shoot 15 times with out loading and carry a ball one mile and a half
You kneed (sp) not be afraid of me depriving myself of any of the neserys (sp) of life for I have plenty All I kneed is postage stamps paper and ink and sometimes a little tobacco (sp) and $6 will get them There is five months pay dew (sp) me now day before yesterday some of our boys brought in 300 prisoners (sp) the (sp) was taken in the vicinity of Frankling (sp) the night before there was two rebel officers and one private taken close to town
A grate (sp) many of the boys are getting discouraged that is not the way with Jim my hopes are as brite (sp) to day as it was the day I enlisted It is mostly all the 100 dollar (sp) men that are getting discouraged and I am not one of them I never was bought to fight for my country and if I am kneeded after my three years are out I will not have to be bought then I think that the day is coming when the day will bee ours but it is going to take some time to do it there is nothing like patiens (sp) and to take every thing cool and going on slow and on ? plan
I rote (sp) to Lizzie Wuinn a few days ago and Mr. Harvey (?) rote a few lines to you which I put in the same envelope and told her to hand it to you The old man compliment (?) me very kindly to you I don't know whether I deserve it or not I have been in the service going on 16 months I never have been put under guard nor any (? ? ?) nor have I don (sp) any extra of any kind but this is not the way with most of the boys
I rote a letter to Ema Gray last Sunday I filled four sheets fool (sp) I told her all I could about the war that I could think of I don't know how she will like it nor do I care give my best respects to all of your boys and my love to all the folks at home Charly Wackwith is well at present and getting along fine
Write to Mr. Harvey (?) I know he would like very much to get a letter from you your affectionet (sp) son
James G. Young
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James G. Young