Item No. 4317733

In this April 1862 letter, Private William B. Lundie of the 1st New Jersey Volunteers, Company I, writes to his friend David T. Eckerson in Weehawken. Lundie discusses the regiment’s march from their camp at the Fairfax Seminary to Catlett’s Station and back, as well as their plans to board transports bound for Yorktown:

We have had some marching this last 8 days. We left our old camp at seminary on Friday and took the cars to Bristoe Station, 2 miles beyond Manassas Junction. We camped at the station all night. Next morning we marched to Catlin Station. We stayed there 4 days. We left Catlin’s Station at 12 o’clock Sat and started for Fairfax, and arrived there at 9 o’clock after marching 20 miles. We had to start next morning at 4 o’clock for Alexandria. After marching 19 miles, we arrived pretty well played out in Alexandria, & what sore feet we have. We are going to Yorktown. I believe we go aboard the transports tomorrow or next day.

“If it was not for the marching so far with the knapsacks,” he writes later in the letter, “it would be bully.”

Lundie also makes inquiries about things going on at home. “Just let me know when you are going to pick Cranberries and I will come home and help you,” he jokes. He further kids Eckerson in a postscript, writing, “Dave, I want one of your sisters. Are they all engaged? Just let me know if I have any show.” He closes, frankly, “Hump is scarce around here.”

Lundie’s record in HDS indicates that he reenlisted in 1864 and was wounded at an unknown place and date, and was discharged for wounds in July 1865. Two years after writing this letter, his friend David Eckerson would join him in Company I, enlisting in March 1864.

The letter was written in pencil on four pages of a bifolium letter sheet featuring the patriotically decorated portrait of General George B. McClellan. Light foxing and toning. Creased at the original folds. The full transcript appears below.

Camp at Alexandria
April 13th 62

Dear Friend
Dave, I have just received your letter dated 10 and was happy to hear of you all being in good health at present, as this leaves us all in same enjoyment. We have had some marching this last 8 days. We left our old camp at seminary on Friday and took the cars to Bristoe Station, 2 miles beyond Manassas Junction. We camped at the station all night. Next morning we marched to Catlin Station. We stayed there 4 days. We left Catlin’s Station at 12 o’clock Sat and started for Fairfax, and arrived there at 9 o’clock after marching 20 miles. We had to start next morning at 4 o’clock for Alexandria. After marching 19 miles, we arrived pretty well played out in Alexandria, & what sore feet we have. We are going to Yorktown. I believe we go aboard the transports tomorrow or next day.

There is nothing of importance around here at present. I will write as soon as we reach our destination. How is your Sister Beck getting along? How is Mary? I am going to get in the wrong bed again when I come home. Is Solomon going after that girl in Weehawken yet? She must have hurt him very bad this winter. Just let me know when you are going to pick Cranberries and I will come home and help you. Give my Love to your Sister Adiline and Beck. Also to your Father and Mother, your Uncle Jacob, and Aunt and Family, Mr. & Miss Everson and Family, Jacob Day, Walt Day, and all inquiring friends, and accept the same from your friend
Wm Lundie

P.S. Dave, I want one of your sisters. Are they all engaged? Just let me know if I have any show. I often dream of being home, but I wake up and find myself under canvas. If it was not for the marching so far with the knapsacks, it would be bully. Give my Love to all the boys in the shop. I am tired as Blazes and I am going to bed pretty soon, so I will conclude by bidding you all a kind goodnight.

Excuse my writing. Please answer this soon. Hump is scarce around here. The boys wish to be remembered to all.

Direct to Washington instead of Alexandria.