Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892 to parents
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09355.034 Author/Creator: Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892 Place Written: Brandy Station, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 December 1863 Pagination: 8 p. : envelope ; 19.5 x 11.7 cm. Order a Copy
Has not received any letters from them, but did get two newspapers. Now has time to read the papers, a luxury that he did not have before. Can even read at night sometimes when they get candles, "which we do have given [to] us sometimes." Drew rations for up through January 1, 1864 yesterday. Got, among other things, beans and dried apples. Also got a good amount of fresh potatoes and soft bread for 3 out of the 5 days. Will eat hardtack for the other 2. Has heard that a box is on its way from Northampton for a Christmas dinner for the company. "We are very comfortable in our log houses." Got a can of oysters the other day. Christmas this year "was the dullest Christmas I ever saw." There was no sign that it was a special day. Officers, as usual, used the holiday as an excuse to get drunk. Captain Bliss has officially gotten discharged; he is leaving tomorrow morning. Will not shed a single tear over his loss, for he did not have a single friend in the company. "No one regrets his going, only we should all be pleased to have him kept in the service as long as we are in some other company." Many men are reenlisting, "and they all seem to feel that the war will be closed in a short time." Will wait until his time is out to even considering reenlisting. Will not think about it until then. Sid and Elisha are both well. Asks them to give his love to everyone back home. Written at Camp Sedgwick.
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