Description

Description: This 3-page, rambling, run-on letter from Darius Vasbinder to his friend, Perry Smith, captures the soldier’s state of mind. It was written from McClellan Hospital, Nicetown, PA on Nov 23, 1863. Vasbinder served with the 105th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry which was at Gettysburg only a few months earlier.

Vasbinder is well but “lost” and “alone.” He doesn’t know if he will be sent back to his regiment and is “sertain [sic] that I shant [sic] make much fuss a bout [sic] going back as  . . .  the Dutchman says I have my Duty to Do here at the hospital I have to register the passes &c. . .”  He says if he ever got out of the service, he would never confine himself again “for that length of time.” He mentions the relisting of older soldiers and the “furlough of 30 days to go home” that seems attractive to him. He asks Perry to “take good care of the young ladies.” He adds, “the soldiers are rejoicing very mutch [sic] over the Election I presume the copperheads must be pretty low . . . when I was home I could not stay . . . as they were sutch [sic] copperheads I done all I could to show the old man the rongs [sic] of his voting, for woodward but . . .  woodward was a democrat and he would vote for him no matter what he was . . .”

Signed and written on 8” x 5” ruled ivory laid paper. Has an accompanying transmittal envelope with 3¢ Washington stamp. Item #AM00375

Condition: Mailing fold lines with ½” separations at edges repaired with archival tissue/tape. Quite legible and generally in very good condition.