1862 October 15 New Creek, [W] Va.

             Camp Jessey [sic]
Oct Tuesday 15th 62
Dear father I now sit
down to answer your
kind letter of the tenth
which I Received today
and it found it all
us all well and contented.
I had a letter from Thomas
yesterday and they was
well I was sory to hear
that there was so much
sickness there I think that
you have more sickness
there then we have hear
but I hope they will
all come Right again there
has only thre died out of
the Regt yet there is some
that is very sick But
I think they will get

[page 2]
get better in a short
time there has not
been any fiting done
hear yet. But we have taken
quite a number of prisoners
there was one about
a week ago that come hear
from Jacksens arrmy and
gave himeslf up and he
went Round hear like
a gentleman for to or thre
dais and then left for
the Reble army again
but he did not git very
far before he was catched
and fetched back and put
in to the gard house and
he was striped and get
fifteen lashes and what
nixt they will do to him
I do not know but I do
not think he will be very

[page 3]
apt to git away
again for some time
I was down at the gard
house yesterday when
there was one of the
prisoners mother came
to see him and the expre
sion that she made I think
that I will alwais Remember
ater she had talked to
him for some time she
told him that the most
thing that she came for
was to see if she could git
the horse back again
and when she said that
I see that the tears started
in his eyes he did not
expect to git of again
for he had been paroled
and had not been exchaing
ed and it is likley that

[page 4]
he will be shot the old
women seemed to care
more for the thorse then
she did for her son I do not
know as I blame her but it
seemed hard to me to hear
such a thing I was sory to
hear that you have so many
theaves Round there I wish
we had them hear and we
would show them some of
the soldiers tricks there must
be a band of them going
round to pick up what
they can find you must
write as often as you can and
if you write as good a letter
every time as you the one that
I got to day I will be satisfied
I think it was the best letter
that ever I see it was just
such a one as a soldier
like to Read there is not
any of us but what will
take your advise as far
as we can good By form
your loving son
              Robert Hill

Robert Hill  106th N.Y. (St. Lawrence County Regiment)

MSS 11176