Archive Record

Images

1 of 1977

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Metadata

Catalog Number

XI.1.2.2019.029.21

Collection

Hazzard Family Collection

Object Name

Letter

Title

Letter from Thomas D. Hazzard to Joseph H. Hazzard

Scope & Content

Thomas Davis Hazzard writes to his brother detailing his life in the Union Army. His company, at this time, was stationed along the Potomac River and keeping watch over the bluffs. He shares with his brother the view off of the bluffs and how he can see for miles from their vantage. Hazzard recounts how happy he was to receive a package from his mother with tobacco, food, and candy. This package offered relief from the lack of food he was experiencing. There is indirect mention of a Union victory in Kentucky, which may refer to the Battle of Mill Springs.

Dates of Creation

January 22, 1862

Date

January 22, 1862

Notes

This letter is addressed to "Brother." All of Thomas D. Hazzard's letters are addressed to "Brother," in reference to Joseph H. Hazzard.

The full transcription of the letter is as follows:

Camp. of. [Veidet] Duty. on the
Potomac. Md. [Maryland] Jan [January] 22nd
18/62
Dear Brother
I take my pen in hand to drop you a fue [few] lines and to let you know that i am enjoying good health. at present and hope this may find you and your famile [family] all in good health
I would have writing befor [before] but i had no post stamps or no money and was far from camp and could not have bought one if i had money. and i just caught a fellow with 2 post stamps and no paper so i give him 4 sheets of paper for one. We have been out from camp sence [since] last Monday week and it has been raining and snowing evr ever cence [since] and i am on duty evry [every] other day and night. upon a high bluff on the potomac [Potomac] watching the movements of the Rebles [Rebels] and watching the signals and evry [every] night it taks [takes] a sergent [sergeant] and
[page break]
3 corprals [corporals]. and i wish you could onley [only] see the high bluffs and the deep Ravines wich [which] ruscs [rushes] like this V and of all the slipping and sliding you ever sawr [saw] wold [would] not be aney thing [anything] to compear [compare] with this. from the f bluffs we can see for 10 and 15 miles. i supose [suppose] one of the bluffs is 200 feet above the potomac [Potomac] and the other is about 150 feet high. Thear [There] is plenty of whild [wild] ducks on the potomac [Potomac]. and plenty of Rabbets [Rabbits] and game on the hills arownd [around] us.
I am worred [worried] becaus [because] i have not got paid yet and i know mother wants money. she has not sent me a letter for some time and i think she has nearley [nearly] forgoten [forgotten] me. Last Satuarday [Saturday] a week i received a box wich [which] she sent me and i was glad to get it as it had some tobabcoe [tobacco] in it. as we have to ues [use] the leafe [leaf] tobacoe [tobacco] wich [which] is green and it is
[page break]
aufull [awful] stuff and she sent me a pear [pair] of gloves and 2 shirts and 2 pear [pair] of drawres [draws] and 2 pears [pairs] of socks and a nest wich [which] all will be of conesidble much uese [use] to me and the grates [greatest] treet [treat] of all was a chicken and a nice duch [Dutch] Cake and a good pie. a pound of Butter and little siss [sis] sent me some Candeys [Candies]. And you may bett [bet] i was glad to get such a treet [treat] as that.
We had nothing but Coffee for diner [dinner] to day [today]. this morning i had one slice of bread for brakfast [breakfast] no meet [meat]. so you seet see we do have some hungrey [hungry] times once and a while. But we expect to be releved [relieved] on next monday [Monday] and goe [go] back to camp again. i hope we do. To day [Today] we hear of the Defeat of the Rebles [Rebels] in Kentucy [Kentucky] and that 2 or 3 Generals was killed. i wish thay [they] wold [would] give us a chance to give them
[page break]
a nother [another] brush. you wold [would] lafugh laugh to see our men laying down befor [before] a large fire behind the bluffs and wake up in the morning with an inch or two of snow on them. And some wants te [to] bet 10 dollars to 5 that we will be home by 4 of July but i think we will be home befor [before] next Chrystmes [Christmas] at least i hope to be i will now drawr [draw] to a close by sendin-g my love and Respects to you and A Ann and John Barrey. kiss little Johney and the little girl for me

I remain Your Brother
Thomas. D. Hazzard

Direct as befor [before]
P.S. wright [write] as coon ascoon [as soon] as you can and let me know how you all are. and if you can sent me 2 or 3 post stamps
Good By [Bye]

Extent of Description

1 leaf, 11.4" by 7.375"

Relation

Show Related Records...

Condition

Good

Condition Notes

Overall, letter is in good condition. The sheet has five vertical folds. One splitting the page in half, two about an inch from either side of the center fold, and two more half way between the center fold and the page's edge. There is about an inch tear at the bottom of the central vertical fold. Each sheet also has two horizontal folds across the page, splitting the sheet into equal thirds. There is some discoloration along the fold lines, especially on the front of the sheet. Some of the ink appears to be slightly faded.

Legal Status

Owned by The Union League Legacy Foundation.