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Song of the Soldier

Selected for Mother and Sister.

I shine in the light of god/This likeness stamps my brow, Through the shadow of death my feet have trod...

GLC02751.41

Elegy for Sereno Wright

Serano is in heaven/And pain can never reach him there/No sickness comes to those who breathe that pure delightful air.

GLC02751.42

to Unknown

Clark is well now. He has sent some of his money. He has started taking the medicine Rosetta sent.

GLC02751.43

[Collection of Sereno A. Wright, B company, 24th regiment, Connecticut, infantry] [Decimalized .01- .49]

Collection of a soldier in the 24th Connecticut Volunteers who died in Louisiana. Includes 43 letters, 3 envelopes, 2 wedding announcements, 1 funeral annoucement and 1 calling card. 34 of the letters date from 1862-1863, and the balance are family...

GLC02751

to Mother

He complains about the 200 Irishmen that have joined them. They get into drunken fights. He hopes they will remove the Irish companies soon. It will be his turn to go on guard soon. A couple of people are sick.

GLC02751.03

to Mother

They left Middletown and are now in New York. They were on a boat briefly where they received their state bounty. They are camped near the Centreville Race Track.

GLC02751.06

to Sister

They had a nice Thanksgiving and he enjoyed the food. They marched to South Brooklyn the next day. Written aboard the "New Brunswick"

GLC02751.09

to Mother

People are now beginning to get seasick. The wind has been harsh. The food is awful. They landed on an island. The assistant cook died. Written aboard the "New Brunswick"

GLC02751.12

to Mother and Sister

They left Ship's Island and are now bound for New Orleans. They passed by large plantations where they saw "darkies." The darkies looks happy to see them but the whites are not.

GLC02751.15

to Mother and Sister

He is having a good time and has never felt better. He thinks he will get used to camp life. He hopes he can come home tomorrow.

GLC02751.01

to Sister

Last night a drunken man from one of the companies was arrested. He was put in the guard tent. He put up such a fuss they had to take his musket away from him.

GLC02751.04

to Sister

They have been getting settled in and have pitched their tents. They haven't been drilling very much lately. They got their muskets but have not used them yet.

GLC02751.07

to Mother

The day after Thanksgiving they were given marching orders to get to the South Brooklyn ferry. They are now on board the New Brunswick. He had to sleep on a very narrow berth at first. They have been eating hard bread and coffee. Written aboard the...

GLC02751.10

to Mother and Sister

They landed at Fort Jefferson. Recently he had the best meal he had since going to sea: soup and soft bread. He describes the coconut trees near the fort.

GLC02751.13

to Mother and Sister

They had inspection first thing in the morning. He talks about what different kinds of food are worth around there. He tells the story of a skirmish between cavalry units.

GLC02751.16

to Mother and Sister

They received orders to go to New Haven where he expects life to be much harder as they will have to stay in tents. He describes his daily routine. They have a dress parade every night and drill 4-5 hours a day. General Mansfield was killed in...

GLC02751.02

to Mother

Rosetta came to visit him. He got a special pistol and had his name engraved on the butt of it. He does a battallion drill every day now.

GLC02751.05

to Mother and Sister

They have set up their tents quite nicely with a stove and the right hay. The food is not as good as it was before but he is getting fat off it.

GLC02751.08

to Mother

They sailed later than expected. There has been no seasickness so far. They see porpoises one day. A Capt. jokingly snapped his pistol at an orderly thinking it was not loaded but it was and wounded the man. Written aboard the "New Brunswick"

GLC02751.11

to Mother

They are on Ship's Island. They don't know where they're going next. Maybe Mobile or Texas. The rest of the regiment is reported lost at sea. There are rebel prisoners on the island.

GLC02751.14

to Sister Rosetta

There has been a movement of the army. They cut off supplies to the rebel batteries as they intended. They are under marching orders but may not go anywhere for a week or so. He talks about the cost of food. He has had to sell his pistol just to buy...

GLC02751.29

to Sister Rosetta

He thanks her for the medicine she sent to ease his diarrhea. He comments on the expedition Gen. Banks has been leading from Berwich Bay as one of the most successful of the war. He describes the Rebel prisoners.

GLC02751.32

to Mother and Sister Elmira

Clark joined the regiment and shortly afterwards became ill and was taken to the hospital. He went to visit him and when he got back he found George Platts waiting for him. He is glad he now has a friend to keep him company.

GLC02751.35

to wife

He has recovered enough strength to write. Everyone had to be moved because it was deemed unsafe to stay where they are. Serano is very weak and he asked to be detailed to take care of him. To help with the move he gave Serano some whiskey. They were...

GLC02751.38

to Mother

He had diarrhea but drank some gum tree bark and is feeling better now. They caught some freshwater lobsters. There is a rumor that Vicksburg was taken by their forces but no one really believes it. He shot his gun on a Sunday and feels guilty about...

GLC02751.18

to Mother and Sister Elmira

He contracts the measles and is taken to the hospital. Some of the men have died from the measles. But he is sure he will get better.

GLC02751.24

to Mother and Sister Elmira

Gunboats and troops are now operating against Port Hudson. Everyday he is gaining strength but his blood is now out of order and he caught lice while in the hospital. He refers to Newell as one of his best earthly friends.

GLC02751.27

to Sister Rosetta

They got on a boat going away from Baton Rouge. He is sick of the war. The possibility that it might end soon are getting bleaker. He has no money to spend on good food.

GLC02751.30

to Mother and Sister Elmira

He has been taking the medication that Rosetta sent and he thinks they have cured his diarrhea. He mentions Newell's death again. He also talks about the food he has been eating lately.

GLC02751.33

to Sister Rosetta

He got sick again and was taken to the hospital where he lost his mind for a while. He kept thinking he was at home or on his way there and would get out of bed to leave and then the nurse would put him back into bed again. Surprisingly, he got well...

GLC02751.36

to Mother

He talks of how honorable Serano was and how his life was taken much too soon. He will pray that god spares the life of her other son.

GLC02751.39

to Mrs. Eunice Wright

GLC02751.45

to Sister Rosetta

He tells her how he contracted measles. His friend Newell also has the measles so they have been keeping each other company. George came to visit.

GLC02751.25

to Mother and Sister Elmira

Several gunboats managed to pass up by the rebel batteries and will eventually cut off their supplies. They haven't been paid yet but he keeps hoping they will soon. Watrons has been promoted to 2nd Lt.

GLC02751.28

to Mother and Sister Elmira

They have had a very successful expedition, driving the rebels back and capturing a great many prisoners. The food has improved greatly and they are doing their own cooking. He doesn't know when they will be paid so he asks for money.

GLC02751.31

to Sister Rosetta

He tells the story of how the Lousiana Belle was fired into by a guerilla band. The pilot had to leave the pilot house because it became too hot. Then the captain ordered the negroes to push the boat ashore.

GLC02751.34

to wife

Clark writes to his wife about the death of Serano. He appeared to recover for a while but was then taken ill again and after a night of suffering, died.

GLC02751.37

to Mother

He went to church today for the first time in a while and enjoyed it immensely. He says there is little religious feeling among the troops. They are stationed by an old negro cabin in which 2 crippled men and and one woman live.

GLC02751.17

to D.L. Platts

He informs him that Newell has died. Sereno spoke to him on his deathbed where he said his sickness was a providence of god.

GLC02751.26

to Mother and Sister

They are east of Baton Rouge now. They've found a lot of sugar and molasses where they are. There are inspections every day. He saw Frank Leslie's Illustrated paper in which there was a sketch of them driving the rebels out of Baton Rouge.

GLC02751.19

to Mother and Sister

He heard a good sermon from the chaplain about a soldier who recently died. In other news he is on fatigue duty so he is spared inspection. His tent mate is sick.

GLC02751.20

to Sister Rosetta

When they first landed, they scared 300 rebels and Frank Leslie's paper shows a good illustration of them driving the rebels out. The city of Baton Rouge is pretty much destroyed. He hopes they capture Vicksburg.

GLC02751.21

to Mother and Elmira

Lately they have been living good. The rations are more than enough. The cook house was recently inspected. The Colonel got sick and was taken to the hospital.

GLC02751.22

to Mother and Sister

There has been some fighting. Deals have been attempted. There was a proposal in which they said they'd give them the rest of the state if they gave them back all their enslaved people. It is rumored that the water where they are is poisoned since...

GLC02751.23

For Emma (A Calling Card)

Other side reads: Remember thy creator?

GLC02751.49

Wedding Announcement for Carrie Wright

GLC02751.47

Wedding Announcement for Lydia Wright

GLC02751.48

to Mrs. Elmina P. Scranton

He has enclosed a pictured of all the Wrights.

GLC02751.44

to Mrs. Elmira P. Seranton

They recently moved where there are beautiful views. She has included a photo of the whole family.

GLC02751.40

Funeral Announcemnet for Zachary T. Wright

Died May 13th, 1892.

GLC02751.46