Clapp, George (fl. 1839-1892) to Parents
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09355.074 Author/Creator: Clapp, George (fl. 1839-1892) Place Written: Petersburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 June 1864 Pagination: 6 p. : envelope ; 20.3 x 12.4 cm. Order a Copy
Attached to this letter is a poem titled "Another Brave has Fallen" that was cut from a newspaper. Yesterday's letter dated the 24th was actually written on the 23rd. Did not march last night. Had heard that the Rebels were massing for an attack on their lines, but the attack never came. At daylight, however, there was some "sharp fighting on our right." Would like very much to receive a package from home, but tells them not to send it with a man home on furlough. As soon as they find a camp, "I will give you some good long letters all about this campaign." Has kept a daily record of events in his diary. "We long for a rain" to get rid of the dust on the roads. It gets in everyone's "hair, nose, lungs, and clothes." His pants look gray from the dust. To clean his shirt, he takes it off, throws it in a mud hole, and puts it back on "so I call it a clean shirt once a week." Not surprised that they could not find William Knapp's body. Captain Smith of the 28th Massachusetts was wounded. Ed Wade came to see him the other day, but he was gone when Wade arrived. "General Grant and Honest Abe visited us a day or two ago and stopped at a house where we were for a few minutes." They both drank from a soldier's coffee cup "as well as if it was from a cut glass goblet." Sends his love to everyone back home.
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