Description
Really neat 4 page letter from Richard Parks of the 127th New York Infantry. Richard would join the regiment, known as “The Monitors”, in July, 1862 and would serve until June of 1865. He would pen this letter while encamped at Coles Island in April, 1864. Great content in this letter. The first page is in regards to a fellow soldier and friend who fell ill following his enlistment. He writes in part that he hopes his friends health will improve so that he may do good service and return to civilian life with pride “when this cruel war is over”. The remainder of the letter is in regards to soldiering in the field and going into battle. He describes being raised in the middle of the night by bugle and drum to meet an enemy’s advance with the colonel shouting “Forward!” with soldiers laughing and joking as they charge into the face of death. “Shell will come tearing and screaming over head and someone will remark that we was having music tonight and another will want to know who had been disturbing that Sesesh owl”. In another instance he remarks, “A bullet will come whistling along through a man’s cap lodging in his knapsack and he will cooly remark that was a well meant Johnny, try it again”. The humor of the letter quickly fades however as he describes the aftermath following the excitement of battle. “But the worst of it is after the fight and when the excitement is over and we have to look after the killed and wounded, then is when the soldiers feels the horrors of war.”. Richard continues, “he finds some of his comrades as strong and well as he was a few hours before, silent in death and others wounded and mangled in every shape and form. Then he is heartily sick of war, but in a little while it wears off and he is as careless and lighthearted as ever”. Really great content giving you insight into the life and mindset of a veteran soldier. This one is written on regimental letter head as well with an embossed stamp reading “127th REGT N.Y.S.V MONITORS” with the imprint of a monitor ship. Outstanding letter!
