Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
XI.1.2.2019.029.49 |
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 from his station in Washington D.C. and informs his brother that his troop is being sent to the front. Hazzard does not want to go back to the front, he talks about his experience with warfare and his lack of desire to see it again. He hopes to be able to honorably avoid seeing battle, but if he cannot do it honorably he is willing to go and get revenge for the injury he suffered at the Battle of Gettysburg. He makes sad claims that it might be his time to die in battle, and that he does not want to leave his wife widowed so soon after getting married. Hazzard is only eighteen days from his discharge date and hopes he will not have to return to the front. After talking about his own feelings, Hazzard explains the energy in the camp as men rush around sending things to the front and getting ready to potentially go into battle. The business, Hazzard states, is how the soldiers keep away their anxieties, fear, and sadness. |
Dates of Creation |
April 27, 1864 |
Date |
April 27, 1864 |
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: No 5 Washington D.C. April. 27th 1864 Dear Brother I recived [received] your letter of the 25th and I am sorrey [sorry] that you have been sick, and I hope by this time you have are intirley [entirely] well. This leaves me in verey [very] good health at present. And Nellie and Mother and all the folks was, well the last I heard from them which on the 19th of April [April]. and I expect a letter evry day [everyday] now from some of them. I spent a day with Tom Baliey not long agoe [ago] and he was taken sick the next day and he was verey [very] sick for a week but he is getting better now. I have not sawr [saw] Long Jim, for some time, but he is well. I expect by the time you get this my Regiment will be in the front as thay [they] say we are to goe [go] front, for my part I do not want to goe [go] in to a battle now [page break] as I have only Eighteen Days longer to stay, and I shall try to keep out of a fight if I can. but if I can not get out of it honorble [honorable] I shall goe [go] in with a good hart [heart] and try to get Revenge for Getteysburg [Gettysburg], wound and it may be my turn to get the finishing dose of Reble [Rebel] Lead but I have heard manay [many] a ball sing around my head so I do not fear them now. And I do not care about leaving Nellie and causing her to become a widow so soon but I shall have to take my chance along with the rest of the boys. Thear [There] is goen [going] to be some Sharp fighten [fighting] shortly. and I hope our forces may be crowned with victory. And then I do not care how it goes with me. The Strangers that are in this city think thear [there] is goen [going] to be an auful [awful] time for evry body [everybody] is runing [running] [page break] hear [here] and thear [there]. Soldiers are verey [very] buziey [busy] sending things to the front. but if the same pepole [people] could only see the army as it is at present all in a bustle prepearing [preparing] for the comming [coming] strugle [struggle] thay [they] would goe [go] crazey [crazy] and think the Rebles [Rebels] was acctuly [actually] comming [coming] upon them in a moment. for it is a grand sight to walk from camp to camp and see the boys all talking and jump-ing around as merrey [merry] as can be for thay [they] do evry thing [everything] to keep of [off] all fear and dismay. I shall have to close by Sending my Respects to you and to Ann and all the folks. and I hope to hear from you soon no more at present I remain Your Brother Thomas. D. Hazzard Turn Over [page break] Good Night Direct to Me Comp. [Company] "H." First. Regt [Regiment] V.R.C. [Veteran Reserve Corps] Rush. Barracks Washington D.C. write soon kiss all the children for me I a allways [always] number my letters now You will find this is numberd [numbered] at the Head of this letter TDH I will get my Discharge on the 15th of may-the day upon which i enlisted [Alexandra] [Nams-ky] [AAml] Lassoffsky |
Extent of Description |
1 leaf, 10" by 8" |
Relation |
Show Related Records... |
Condition |
Fair |
Condition Notes |
Overall, letter is in fair condition. This sheet has one vertical fold down its center. It has two horizontal folds splitting it into equal thirds. There is general discoloration throughout the sheet. This discoloration is more pronounced along the fold lines and edges, especially on the front of the page. Between the horizontal folds, on the left side of the front page, there is dark discoloration that nearly obfuscates the writing. There is also a small tear on the left side at the edge of the lower horizontal fold. |
Legal Status |
Owned by The Union League Legacy Foundation. |
Multimedia Files |
Click here to view the full transcription of the Hazzard Family Letters Collection. |
People |
Hazzard, Thomas Hazzard, Joseph Hazzard, Ann Hazzard, Nellie |
Search Terms |
Battle of Gettysburg Hazzard Family Collection Veteran Reserve Corps Washington, D.C. |