[Samuel Hodgman letter, December 22, 1861, United States Civil War] : electronic edition

[page 1]

Camp Benton Camp Benton (Md.)
Dec 22/61

Dear Mother

It is raining
now and dark as pitch,
yet for all that I can constantly
hear the boom of cannon in the
direction of Harpers Ferry. Harpers Ferry (W. Va.) They
have been firing, at times all
day We do not now know what
it means but probably will in
a day or two. Our forces United States. Army. Michigan Infantry Regiment, 7th (1861-1865). Company I have
been very fortunate lately and
the spirits of the men are very
much raised in consequence
There is no use in writing any
war news as you get it sooner
than we can. We get daily papers

[page 2]
from Washington, New York
Baltimore & Philadelphia and
have money to buy them. We
get our mail every day, or night,
rather. We have been building
barracks for the last few days
and have them nearly finished
We will move into them to
morrow. Each Company has
six rooms 16 feet square. One
is used for the 7 Sergeants &
musicians- one for a kitchen
and four for the rest of the
Company. They are all built
together- of 16 foot logs- and
have old fashioned dutch fire
places so that one chimney
answers for two of them
We shall get along very comfort-
ably. We have just got our dress
suits. They look very well.
The weather has been very
fine for the last few weeks

[page 3]
We have had little or no frost
till within a day or two.
Prof Lowe Lowe, T. S. C. (Thaddeus Sobieski Coulincourt), 1832-1913 is within a half
mile from here with his
balloon. He goes up several
times a day to see
what is going on in Secessia. He don’t
tell everybody what he sees
so we understrappers don’t
know much about it.
We have heard from Mrs Reeds
box. It is at Adamstown. Adamstown (Md.) 12 mile
from here. We shall probably get
it soon. I received Frank's
letter last night & one from
Capron. Give my love to
Father & the boys & Hattie
Nenie & all the "relations"

Your affectionate son,

Saml C. Hodgman Hodgman, Samuel Chase, 1831-1900

I have not heard from the money I Sent.1 1.1

Notes

• 1 1.1

  This last sentence is written in the left margin on page 2.