Browse All Letters (449 total)

Fort Hamilton May 10th 1863. My Dear Wife: I suppose you are safely at home and now pretty well recovered from your long and tiresome ride. The sight of dear Sella and Frank I imagine was enough of itself to make you forget your fatigue, to say nothing of the many other dear ones who were anxiously expecting you. I would have given almost…

[January 20, 1863?] Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois telegraph. O'REILLY LINE. ALL COMMUNICATIONS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. The following dispatch was received at this office. From Hamilton, Dated Jan 20, 1853/4. To Mrs Augustus Bruen, Started at two Bridge down came back up tomorrow, L.B. Bruen

Fort Hamilton Jan. 14th 1863 My dear One; Your letter of the 11th reached me this morning, after I had been longing for one since Sunday. --- I am troubled at what you write about Frank. Don't leave him if he is not perfectly well, for I fear you will be compelled to hurry back to him again if you do. I have no doubt he will miss you more than…

Monday Morning Jan. 12th 1863 Dear Augusta: Yesterday afternoon Capt Lay and I went over to Flatlands. We got there just in time for dinner after a tedious and muddy ride. We found the *hinuhard* as pleasant as usual. Mrs. K and I had a good talk of course. We came home a little after dark. I had tea, and afterwards had a turn of qualmishness,…

For Hamilton Jan. 8th 1863 Dear Wife: I am going to send you fifty dollars herein, whether I write a letter is another thing. Dick L had a card party and I was kept up by it till nearly two. As I got up at my usual hour, you imagine I feel like a stewed witch, from loss of sleep, but nothing else, I assure, unless from the cold water, for I…

Sunday Jan 4. 63 Fort Hamilton I came very near commencing this letter "Sir", but recollected myself in time to begin with My dear Wife: But before I proceed I must read over your letter to answer categorically whatsoever questions you may have propounded. The first is a piece of impertinence, and puzzles me to decide whether it should be…

Fort Hamilton Jan. 1. 1863 My dear Wife: It isn't exactly Jan 1st, for I have just looked at my watch, and it says 1 o'clock, notwithstanding I mean to write you a letter, or so much thereof as I may be able to do before I become sleepy. Last night I retired at midnight or a little before, but after sleeping two or three hours I got awake &…

Fort Hamilton Xmas 62 My dear Wife: I dont when I have spent a more dull and mopy Xmas. I got my dinner at Mrs *Marks's* being invited by Capt. Putnam. There were but three at the table, no 3 being *Lt Kineman*. The dinner was pretty fair, only the turkey had a slight gamesome flavor that you would not have enjoyed. The rest of the day I spent at…

[1862] Fort Hamilton Dec. 23. This is pretty near Xmas, my dear, but I afraid it wont bring much fun for either of us this year. I don't know but I may go up to the city then and on New Years day to see how they do things in Gotham, but I am not certain that I shall do so much even as that. Your note reached me yesterday, but as you have not…

Dec. 18. 1862 Dear Augusta: It is now very near fifteen o'clock, but as I am not sleepy I propose to scribble till I am. This is the marriage anniversary of Capt. Lay, and I have spent the evening with them, that is till one o'clock. Mrs. McE. was there, her husband and Piper. We talked, ate hickory nuts, drank cider and played cards until the…