3rd York Artillery CIVIL WAR LETTER - Fighting Just Ceased At Raleigh, NC
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:144605 |
CIVIL WAR LETTER
Pvt. James Fox (1841-1917) was born on 13 July 1841 in Camillus, Onondaga county, New York. At the time of his enlistment in Co. G, 3rd New York Light Artillery on 3 September 1864, he was a resident of Memphis, Onondaga county, New York. His parents were John Fox (1795-Aft1855) and Elizabeth Fitzgerald (1810-Aft1865), both natives of Ireland who came to New York State by way of Canada. James’ military records indicates he was a participant in the Battle at Kinsto...n. He was discharged from the Battery on 20 July 1865. James was married in 1891 to Louisa Emeline Littig (1860-1910).Mentioned throughout these letters are James’ siblings, Gerald D. Fox (1830-1916), Richard (“Dick”) Fox (1840-Aft1910), Ellen Fox (1844-1932) and Thomas Fox (1847-Aft1965). These letters were all sent to Helen M. (Oderkirk) Fox (1837-1921), the wife of Gerald Fox. Helen was the daughter of Lyman B. Oderkirk (1813-1895) and Philinda Rema (1816-1902). Though most of the letters were written by James Fox of Battery G, 3rd N. Y. Artillery, a handful of them were written by Helen’s brother, Perry H. Oderkirk (1836-1906) of Battery D, 3rd New York Artillery.Ellen Fox married Allen Wright (1838-1904) on the 4th of July 1863. Richard Fox married Julia Almeda Timmerman in 1870.
TRANSCRIPTIONCamp Battery G, 3rd New York Artillery
Raleigh, North Carolina
May 23rd 1865Sister Hellen, I received yours No. 19 last evening and it found all the boys well and enjoying themselves the best they can which is not very well at present for there is not much to enjoy unless it is hardtack and coffee of which we get all we want and to spare. Three of us have got 35 hardtack and a big chunk of salt junk for dinner and supper.I received a letter from B-ville along with yours. I have received but four letters from you since I have been here and one from Ellen & Mother. You think I have forgotten you or have not answered all your letters but such is not the case for I have answered every letter that I have received and written several. Besides, it takes a letter from 30 to 40 days to go from here while they come in 8 or 10.We all four batteries lay here all together yet and I guess we will till we are sent home which I hope will be soon for since the fighting has ceased, it is very tiresome, While the fighting was going on, I did not want to go home but now there is nothing to do—only stand guard once a week with nothing but hardtack, salt horse, & coffee for breakfast, salt horse, hardtack & water for dinner, coffee & hardtack for supper for a change, and I tell you it is dull and no mistake.Perry is well and as lazy as ever and I am more so than ever. There is no talk of going home yet and I can’t give any kind of a guess how long it will be. I have made up my mind to stay till my time is out and then I will not get disappointed, that is certain. There is no talk about pay and I do not think we will get paid till we are mustered out.Does Ellen keep my watch running or not. She wrote me once that it run bully. I have wished a good many times I had with me three months & 9 days more. Then I will be out of my apprenticeship in the Army.So the Home Guards have to drill? They will find themselves very much mistaken in that if I know my business and I think I do, I am not so green as I was before I enlisted. Capt. Holcomb will have a nice time getting us to drill. He will find.Give my respects to all. How does all the girls get along? A kiss for Mary. Never mind the girls. I will kiss all of them when I get home. All the Memphis boys send their respects.I am out of stamps and can’t get any here. How does Mother get along? Gerald, Dick, Jule, Ellen, Allen, Tom and all everybody? What is Tom doing? Is he in the store? If you feel dry, go down to Jules and take a drink and I will settle it. I never indulge but if I was there I would be tempted to take a drink, I think.— JamesTERMS$3.00 postage in the United States. We accept Paypal. Postage combined for multiple purchases. Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise will pay a much higher postage rate!For International buyers: We are now using eBay's Global Shipping Program. We had too many packages sent via the post office go missing. So we believe this program will be safer for us - and for you.We're members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions). Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog. We've been selling on eBay since 2001. BID WITH CONFIDENCE.
00079
Pvt. James Fox (1841-1917) was born on 13 July 1841 in Camillus, Onondaga county, New York. At the time of his enlistment in Co. G, 3rd New York Light Artillery on 3 September 1864, he was a resident of Memphis, Onondaga county, New York. His parents were John Fox (1795-Aft1855) and Elizabeth Fitzgerald (1810-Aft1865), both natives of Ireland who came to New York State by way of Canada. James’ military records indicates he was a participant in the Battle at Kinsto...n. He was discharged from the Battery on 20 July 1865. James was married in 1891 to Louisa Emeline Littig (1860-1910).Mentioned throughout these letters are James’ siblings, Gerald D. Fox (1830-1916), Richard (“Dick”) Fox (1840-Aft1910), Ellen Fox (1844-1932) and Thomas Fox (1847-Aft1965). These letters were all sent to Helen M. (Oderkirk) Fox (1837-1921), the wife of Gerald Fox. Helen was the daughter of Lyman B. Oderkirk (1813-1895) and Philinda Rema (1816-1902). Though most of the letters were written by James Fox of Battery G, 3rd N. Y. Artillery, a handful of them were written by Helen’s brother, Perry H. Oderkirk (1836-1906) of Battery D, 3rd New York Artillery.Ellen Fox married Allen Wright (1838-1904) on the 4th of July 1863. Richard Fox married Julia Almeda Timmerman in 1870.
TRANSCRIPTIONCamp Battery G, 3rd New York Artillery
Raleigh, North Carolina
May 23rd 1865Sister Hellen, I received yours No. 19 last evening and it found all the boys well and enjoying themselves the best they can which is not very well at present for there is not much to enjoy unless it is hardtack and coffee of which we get all we want and to spare. Three of us have got 35 hardtack and a big chunk of salt junk for dinner and supper.I received a letter from B-ville along with yours. I have received but four letters from you since I have been here and one from Ellen & Mother. You think I have forgotten you or have not answered all your letters but such is not the case for I have answered every letter that I have received and written several. Besides, it takes a letter from 30 to 40 days to go from here while they come in 8 or 10.We all four batteries lay here all together yet and I guess we will till we are sent home which I hope will be soon for since the fighting has ceased, it is very tiresome, While the fighting was going on, I did not want to go home but now there is nothing to do—only stand guard once a week with nothing but hardtack, salt horse, & coffee for breakfast, salt horse, hardtack & water for dinner, coffee & hardtack for supper for a change, and I tell you it is dull and no mistake.Perry is well and as lazy as ever and I am more so than ever. There is no talk of going home yet and I can’t give any kind of a guess how long it will be. I have made up my mind to stay till my time is out and then I will not get disappointed, that is certain. There is no talk about pay and I do not think we will get paid till we are mustered out.Does Ellen keep my watch running or not. She wrote me once that it run bully. I have wished a good many times I had with me three months & 9 days more. Then I will be out of my apprenticeship in the Army.So the Home Guards have to drill? They will find themselves very much mistaken in that if I know my business and I think I do, I am not so green as I was before I enlisted. Capt. Holcomb will have a nice time getting us to drill. He will find.Give my respects to all. How does all the girls get along? A kiss for Mary. Never mind the girls. I will kiss all of them when I get home. All the Memphis boys send their respects.I am out of stamps and can’t get any here. How does Mother get along? Gerald, Dick, Jule, Ellen, Allen, Tom and all everybody? What is Tom doing? Is he in the store? If you feel dry, go down to Jules and take a drink and I will settle it. I never indulge but if I was there I would be tempted to take a drink, I think.— JamesTERMS$3.00 postage in the United States. We accept Paypal. Postage combined for multiple purchases. Please wait for me to send the invoice, otherwise will pay a much higher postage rate!For International buyers: We are now using eBay's Global Shipping Program. We had too many packages sent via the post office go missing. So we believe this program will be safer for us - and for you.We're members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society.We only sell genuine, original letters (no copies or reproductions). Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog. We've been selling on eBay since 2001. BID WITH CONFIDENCE.
00079
