Chesterfield, Richard T. – July 7, 1861

Michigan Civil War Collection Letters


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/chesterfield-richard-t/
Regiment: 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Battles Mentioned: Falling Waters, West Virginia Historical Figures: Washington July the 7th, 1861 Dear father and mother i take my pen in hand to wright you those few lines hoping to find you in good helth as it leaves me at present I expect you have been thinking about me very often because i did not wright before but you must know that a solders life is not like it is at home some times we stop in one plase a week or tow and some times not more then a day so we keep moveing all the time i could tell you a great deal of nwes but i have not got the time to wright it now we have pased through Ballimore i herd that it was reported back to mineral point that we had a fuss coming throug Baltimore if any and said so it aint true we have had [ ? ] fighting to do yet and i dont ecpect we shal i heard there was a fight about 25 miles from where we are now incamped and they took 1 thousand rebels presinors out of four thosand men the took all there arminiton tents and every thing so i think old Jeff felt pretty bad if i am not mistaken the first wisconsin regiment was in the battle they only tow men kiled [ ? ] many wounded i dont know but i guse not many i think that old Jef is in a devilish ticklish place and one that he would like very well to be out of you must not place much confidence in newspaper reports now we are just crosed over on the vergina soil and we are incampted about seven or eight miles from Washington City we stoped in washington one day and me and bill grant took a walk through the city and every third man we met was a niger i could wright you a great deal about the buildings of the city but i have not time please to wright me a letter as soon as you get this you must be very carful how you direct the letter or els it will not reach me tell all the news for we dont get any papers down here very often my ankel is sore again and i cant drill tell me how Sam and Jim is fore i think of them very often give my respects Alexander Hefferran tell him that i am in vergina amongst the Nigers and there many amung them that there lip’s are like to gunks of beef Please to wright very often Direct your leters to Richard Chesterfield Co I 2nd Wis Vol Arlington hights neer Washington City, D.C. You had better let Alexander Hefferran Direct your letter because he undersands more about it then you Your Afectnont Son R, Chesterfield