Letter from NY 152d Regiment - October 1862

Letter from the 152d Regiment

Chenango American, October 9, 1862

Herkimer Co., Oct. 6, 1862

Eds. American:  You have undoubtedly expected to hear from me before this, and you would, had not "changing scenes and circumstances" deprived me of the complete control of my own actions and inclinations.

You have probably learned that I am not going in the Syracuse Regiment.  Yielding to the wishes of friends and my own feelings I enlisted, shortly after leaving you, in the 152d Regiment, from Herkimer County, and with the fate of that noble band of patriots my own destiny is now linked.  Our camp is situated on a high piece of table land overlooking several thousand acres of as rich and fertile land as the Empire State can boast of.  Since our tents were "pitched," the weather, with the exception of two or three days, has been beautiful, and that with the magnificent scenery around us has made camp life, thus far, romantic in the extreme.  A more contented and happy "lot of boys" you can not find, than the soldiers of the 152d Regiment.

Last Friday we received orders to march on Friday next, the 10th, but I hardly think we will get off before the first of next week.  Our Regiment received and accepted an invitation last week to attend the County Fair held at Mohawk, and a fine time we had. The men behaved like true soldiers, and though liquor was sold on the ground, only two soldiers were seen to be intoxicated.  We think this fact speaks well for the character of the Regiment. We are, one and all, eager to get down in "Dixie."  The spirit of patriotism burns brightly in old Herkimer County.  Men and money are poured forth like water.  Many of our towns give three hundred dollars bounty; among them Fairfield, Newport and Little Falls. The county gives fifty, which with the Town, State and United States bounties makes five hundred dollars that each man gets who enlist in any of the towns I have mentioned; so you perceive old Herkimer is not behind her sister counties in liberality and patriotism.

You will hear from me again, as soon as our Regiment arrives in Washington.

Yours, truly,  J.L.T.