George W. Pease
Co. H
75th New York
“Now I will tell you what I think about a single man that goes to war. I think he stands in great danger. He stands in great danger of losing his sweetheart and then he stands in danger of losing his life….” George W. Pease, Louisiana 30 Jan. 1863
Camp Stevens–January 30, 1863
Friend Frank–
I take my pen in hand to answer your kind letter or attempt to answer it. I received yours bearing date the eight of January and glad was I to get one from you and to hear you were well at the time you wrote to me, and I hope when these few lines reaches you, the will still find you enjoying the same good blessings of life.
You said in your letter that you went to a dance New Year’s and you wished that I was there, but you don’t wish so more than I do, for I have got sick of war, for it is one thing over and over and not a very fine thing at that. You said Rhoda was to the dance. You say she has got a new Beau, but I think by what you say that Levi don’t fancy him very much. Now what will poor Charley do when he hers of that he is off in the army a fighting for his Country and by the means of that, loose his Sweetheart. Now I think when he hears of that it will nearly kill the boy.
Now I will tell you what I think about a single man that goes to war. I think he stands in great danger. He stands in great danger of losing his sweetheart and then he stands in danger of losing his life. So you see, by that, he stands in great danger now. I will stop writing the dangers of a Soldier’s Life and let you know that we have had a fight with the Rebels. It lasted one day and it was a hard fight too. We had six killed and twenty five wounded. We whipped them out! We took 40 of them Prisoners and they burnt their gunboats so we would not get them.
This is all the news they is to write of any importance and I would write more about it, but you will see an account of it in the papers before you get this news. I will tell you what enagement was you say you think I am bad for not telling you. No I will tell you. You remember when we went up to John Richardsons to eat maple Shugar? When we came back, you told Aunt Rhoda that we was enaged don’t you remember? That is the engagement. Now I have told you what it was and you wanted me to remember it and I have now. When you write to me write all the news there is around there for I want to hear them all. You must excuse this bad writing, for I wrote this in a hurry. So now this time, write soon.
Mr. George W. Pease, Camp Stevens, New Orleans…from George to Frank, Kelloggsville, Cayuga Co., N.Y.
Read the Pease biography and letters: 10 July 1862 | 17 Dec 1862 | 30 Jan 1863 | 18 Aug. 1863