CIVIL War Northampton 37th Massachusetts Wounded Soldier Hospital Letter
An Original Civil War soldier letter from an older soldier, Private Lewis F Stockwell, age 42 of Northampton, Massachusetts, dated Dec 26, 1864 at "Chestnut Hill USA Hospital Philadelphia Pa", to Mrs H. Hoxie- he reports he has enjoyed a first rate Christmas dinner ot turkey, oysters, mince pies, ice cream,, we ate in the kitchen,, "the table was half a mile long", the ward is numbered 150. He says he will not send this letter" until I get one from you", and reports some of the regiment has gone to Petersburg. He seems to have ended the letter mid-sentence, then on page 2, Tuesday Dec 27th he continues reporting- Turkey for breakfast, bread butter and coffee.
He says the snow is gone but it was first rate sleighing. "I have a cold as do all the men here",, plans to go to the paint shop to see the boys including 2 from our regiment.
He reports that 10 of our regiment and 6 of our company have gone to the front. He says " all sorts of Deviltry going on all around me", Dinner is done and dishes washed- boiled mutton for dinner with pepper sauce. The boys at the paint shop are Playing Cards, Miss Tolbert says it is the Devil's work, "she is a maiden lady and one of the sisters of the hospital, as faithful as the day is long".
He closes the letter and again wants one from home, please give " my respect to all". 4pp ink, w postal cover addressed to Mrs HB Hoxie, Northampton, Mass, and Phila cancellation. Age wear, stains, Overall VG. Comes with a typed transcript as his penmanship and spelling are not the best. Comes w service info- enlisted in the 37th Mass with his brother David and 2 nephews.
He died in 1915 and is buried at Northampton. The 37th was a hard fighting regiment with serious losses at Gettysburg, The Wilderness and Winchester.Chestnut Hill Hospital also named Mower General Hospital was one of the largest army hospitals in the US. General Orders and other imprints. All items are unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic and in the condition as described.
I have been a longtime member of the Company of Military Historians, the New England Antique Arms Association, the Ephemera Society of America & the Civil War Veterans Historical Assn. I SELL ONLY ORIGINAL ITEMS. PLEASE READ DETAILS OF THE ITEM DESCRIPTION. I TRY TO DESCRIBE ALL ITEMS ACCURATELY.