The Civil War Letters of Galutia York
All of Galutia York's letters are formatted as they appear in the actual
letters.
March 5, 1863
Quarantine
March 5th 1863
Dear Father and Mother
it is with much
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 feeling better now than I have
been for the past 2 or 3 weeks my
cough is better but my southern
shits stick to me yet they begin
to make the bones lay close to the
hide but I hope this will find you
all well and in good spirits.
we have been having most a mighty
muddy time down hear but the mud
is drying up now we have had to
wade through mud and water half
way to our knees everry time we
went outdoors for anything and
stand in mud 6 inches deep to
cook our victuals. but I hope we shall
get out of this hole before long
the report is that we shall leave
hear on the first boat that comes up
the river large enough to carry us
the boat that brought us from
Fortress munroe started for N.Y.
last Sunday morning Uncle Steve
came down hear to see Jud last friday
and stayed untill sunday he is
well and fat as a hog Jud is well
Steve said Dan was tough and fat
and as black as an indian they expect
to go into battle everry day their pickets
shhot at each other everry once in a
while our reg. is going on into texas
in 2 or 3 days I expect they will have
fun there. the report is that our men
have taken Vicksbirg a place about 150
miles above Neworleans if they have
they wont have to fight much more
down in this part of the south
Oh I must tell you what Uncle
Steve said he said that he was
verry sorry to think Jud didnot
go home from the Chesapeake instead
of comeing down hear he said it would
be the best thing he could do would
be to take the first steamer for New
York after he get to the reg I had a
good mind to tell him what aunt
amanda told you to write me about
his comeing home or about my
not letting him come home
I must tell you about Juds mola
sses that he made the other day he
had about a teacup full of sugar he
took it and melted it and it made
about a teacup full of molasses he put
it into a bottle and told me to use
it as freely as I was a mind to
(I think I could have used it pretty
freely there was so much of it)
well he finerally sat down and eat it
all up befor night and kept telling
me to get a dish to have some.
I should think it was about time
that I received a letter from you that
is if my first letter went strate for
it has been a long time since I wrote
the first letter after I got hear Fulford
got an answer from a letter that he wrote
to his woman since he has been hear
he got his letter last friday. and I have
been watching for one from you ever since
but it dont seem to come yet Ther was a
man died hear last night with the small
pox there haint been any new cases lately
but there will be some cases of the fever
before long if we dont get out of this hole
oringes are plenty hear yet they are worth
1 dollar a hundred how much is aples worth
a bushel I wish I had all of the good ones I
could eat Pa write me the price of provisions
when you write what is labor worth up
there this summer does warren work his place
this summer or does Lewis work
you know the report was that Lewis
had bought it who works lukes place
this summer. be you going to set any
more hops this spring how are you
comeing out for hay and grain this
spring be you going to have enough
how does the stags look yes and all
of the cattle you see I want to know it
all I feel rather inquisitive to day well
I have wrote about all that I can think of
this time so I must close write as soon
as you get this and be good children and
keep your nozes clean untill I get home
to see to you this from your ever loveing
and affectionate son Galutia H York to
Zebulon T and Lucy F York. good by for this time
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Last updated 31 March 2000