This letter was written by John H. Lewis (b. 1841) of Co. D, 44th New York Infantry (the People’s Ellsworth Regiment). John enlisted at Albany on 9 September 1861 and served for over three years as a private, mustering out on 11 October 1864.
The 44th New York was organized at Albany, N.ew York. It was raised as a tribute to Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, who was killed in the occupation of Alexandria, Virginia at the very beginning of the war. One man would be furnished from each town and ward in New York State, to be unmarried, under 30, with some military experience, and taller than 5′ 8″. The regiment was not mustered in time for the Battle of First Bull Run but they did participate in McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign—most notably at Gaines’ Mill and Malvern Hill. Their others major battles included Second Bull Run, Antietam, Shepherdstown, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Rappahannock Station beforeJohn was mustered out.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Jim Doncaster and is published by express consent.]
Transcription
May 18, 1863
Friend Marthey,
Tis with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along. I am well and hearty and hope these few lines will find you and all the rest of the family enjoying the same blessing.
Marthey, the weather is very warm down here where I am.
Marthey, I suppose that you have heard of the late battle that was fought at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. We got rather the best of the Rebels but lost a good many men.
I would like to see you very much and hope that I will—that is, if God spares my life. I have seen some pretty hard times since I have been a soldier. I have been in 7 or eight battles and come out all straight but once. That was the Battle of Gaines Mill [when] I got struck on the hip with a piece of a shell and it made me a little lame.
Marthey, you tell John to write to me. I wrote to him and you tell him to write. Marthey, I ain’t got much to write to you. All that I can say is that I wish that this war was over now. Do you think of it? You think just as I do, don’t you? I have got 15 months more to stay. That is quite a while. There is a good many troops going home this spring. I wish that it was me.
Marthey, I will have to close my letter for tis getting late and I will have to go to bed so goodbye and write soon.
This is from your old friend, — John H. Lewis, Co. D, 44th Regiment New York State Volunteers, Washington D. C.
Don’t forget to write.
Spared & Shared 22 