Lucy Curtiss, Warren, Conn., May 29, 1864

Lucy Curtiss, Warren, Conn., May 29, 1864

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Sources

United States. Army. Connecticut Artillery Regiment, 2nd (1863-1865)

Cold Harbor, Battle of (Virginia : 1864)

Lucy Curtiss writes to her brother Homer on the eve of the Battle of Cold Harbor about not being able to get any news about his regiment.

1864-05-29

(at top upside down) Love from Mother
Warren Conn
Sunday eve May 29th, ’64

Dear Gub,
Your letter of the 24th just
arrived last Friday and as any
news from the 2nd CVHA is
in great demand just now
I read some portions of it,
omitting the romantic, aloud.
At the P.O., to an admiring
audience, while a brisk shower
was transpiring without. We
can get no information from
the main body of the 2nd since
their arrival at Fredericksburg.
Mrs. E. Shepherd hears from her
Fred frequently but he was left
behind at Belle Plains, on business
similar to yours, I should presume
he has sent Em. packages and
bundles from there to the tune
[page 2]
of an $8.00 express bill. I wonder
if Miner, Austin, H. A. etc. have over-
taken Grant yet. If so we shall
hear exciting news before the close
of the week no doubt. I do not
wonder that you wish to be with
them but we are about and well
satisfied with the present
arrangement of things.
Fannie started for North East last
Monday, since that time Ma and I
have been sole occupants of our
house, company excepted, and
nothing has been heard from Fannie.
She has gone out into the world
to seek her fortune, and is probably
too much engaged in her search to
stop to write home, though I
should think she would want to
use her new pen occasionally.
By the way weren’t we surprised when
we discovered Austins beautiful gifts
[page 3]
where we expected to find bundles
of old letters written by ourselves,
with possibly a book or two, and
we hoped also for a letter from you
and then, sure enough, it was, good
as new, though bearing a somewhat-
ancient date. We are certainly
very much obliged to you for
the share you had in the trouble
of shipping that package, you even
intimate that with some such
aid as you gave we should never
have received it. Many thanks to
you. For the rest, I will soon write
to the Madisters, and not burden you
with messages to him. I do not
know how readily letters reach the
Rgt. now. When you write again
please tell how to direct them.
Aunt Miranda wishes you to open
the bundle she sent to Miner by
Mr. Camp, take out and appropriate
[page 4]
the maple sugar concealed within
then send back the shirts as Miner
will not want them to carry
around with him. I allow your
arbutus letters to be romantic,
highly so, I suppose you could
not even guess who so kindly
remembers our wandering Luke, if so
probably would not mention it
aloud. O’no, assumed hand writing
without doubt, no means of ascertaining
definitely the fair (dame?). We have
not received any “Chronicle” lately
so conclude that you reprinted
and did not send it or else
it has been lost on the road.
Have I acknowledged the receipt
of the Co. D Memorial? I forget. Well
it came all safe with your name
picked up among the Lts. as
large as life. It looks well on
paper certainly. I do kindah
wonder how you would look with
decked out with all your new fixin’s
Well, if you live and prosper I shall
hope to see you strut into our kitchen
so gayly bedight in about 16 months.
Capt. Wadhams sword came into our P.O., + I
saw it the other night. Frid. I sent it up to Mr.
Stones, don’t see why he should. Lucy

ALS