Spencer, George A. (fl. 1862-1864) to his mother
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00653.21.01 Author/Creator: Spencer, George A. (fl. 1862-1864) Place Written: Fredericksburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 November 1862 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.1 x 12.7 cm. Order a Copy
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Head quarters 1st Brigade 2d division
7th Rgt R I Vols
Camp Before Fredericksburg
Sunday Morning Nov 23 1862
Dear Mother
I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same we have been here before Fredericksburg 3 days. the Rebels occupy the city they have destroyed the bridge so can not get across the river some of our boys have been talking with the Rebel pickets they wanted to trade tobacco for salt and coffee tell father I was on picket at Sulpher, Springs the rebels were within a half a mile of us all night. when we were going in in the morning our Co had just got across the bridge and up in the road when whiz come a piece of rail road iron over our heads, we loked round to see where we had been on picket. the Rebels had a couple of guns planted and they begun to pitch shell and rail road iron at us pretty lively one of our companys that was way behind skedadled and kept coming up one by one but our battery got one of there 20 pounders to bear on them and they left double quick. we lost two men one in the battery and one Waggoner - we did not fire at all. we have fared very well for about 3 days since we have been in camp. I dont like to keep sending for money mother but we all need some when we are marching we expect to march every day Mr. Peckam is well. he sends his love to his wife and says he would rather be to home and live in a Hog sty than to be out here we slept in the mud and water for three nights, it was raining right through our tents all the time. Ike Manchester is going to have his discharge he is sick the doctor says he cant live out here Mother Ann's brother is sick he looks as if he had the consumptioon Jim Hoar is well and all the rest of the Bristol Boys
from your son
G A Spencer,
P.S Jim says tell his Mother to send his boots as quick as she can as he is most bare footed and put some paper in the boots legs. send mine too Mother - when Ike Manchester comes home I am going to send my watch home by him if I can get a chance and you can have it if you will send me some money in a letter by mail. I cant get it by express now we are on the move so
From your son
G A spencer
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