Soldier's Letter, Civil War - December 1861 - Dickinson Guards

 Oxford Times, December 18, 1861

Letter from 89th Infantry N.Y.V., Dickinson Guards

Washington, D.C., Camp Shepard, Dec. 9, 1861

Thinking the Friends of our soldiers who left Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] would like to hear something of them, and the inconvenience of writing in Camp would not permit them all to write very soon, I take the opportunity of writing a few lines informing our friends something of our situation.  We left Elmira last Friday about sunset, left on the train for Williamsport, marched through Baltimore, about 2 o'clock Saturday night, a distance of three miles. We were greeted beyond our expectations, the Stars and Stripes waived on both sides and on the road.  I think the inhabitants sympathize for the Union.  We reached Washington on Sunday 3 P.M., being on the road two days and nights. We were rather tired when we reached camp, it being dark before we got our tents up.  The boys thought it rather tough to eat dry bread and salt beef, and sleep on the ground. They began to think they fared very well, while at Elmira, after all.  They used to grumble there sometimes, but they did not know when they fared well.  Though we shall soon get things straightened, and have pork, beef, rice, coffee, potatoes &c. and cook it ourselves to suit our own taste, of course.

It looks rather queer to see the inhabitants dressed in summer clothes, making garden, and setting out plants.  The weather is very warm here, as warm as our warmest days in June. We have our coats off, fixing our camp ground.

Our camp is on a high piece of ground or hill, which overlooks so beautiful a tract of country dotted with tents as far as the eye can reach.  The east branch of the Potomac is just beneath the hill. Arlington Heights is seen in the distance. We can hear their cannon frequently.  Our boys are all in good spirits. There is no Rebel camp within fifteen or twenty miles of us.  Everything looks warm like about us.    Horses and baggage wagons are moving in every direction.  It is talked that there will be an important movement in a few days.  The Railroad is guarded by our soldiers from the Penn. line to Washington, to watch the track and see that no trick is played on the soldiers passing through.

Yours &c., T.B.H.

P.S. Friends wishing to send letters to the Dickinson Guards, will direct to 89th Regt. N.Y.V., Washington, D.C.