Based on these letters, James Laird did not have much occasion to hone is writing skills before the war. After enlisting. he, like many others, found it necessary to practice and develop his somewhat rusty skills. Despite the mis-spellings and grammar, these letters conveys a great deal of pathos and meaning. These letters stand as a prime examples of an honest soldier's best heartfelt expression of emotion to friends and family. I have tried to preserve James Laird's idiosyncratic spelling and grammar where ever possible. I have, however added punctuation, and capitalization for clarity. Any other deviations from his original letters are my fault alone. Words or passages that I had trouble deciphering are marked in blue.
In the course of the next few weeks, I will be adding the remainder of James Laird's wartime correspondence. I am extremely grateful to his descendant, Ralph Laird for making these letters available on this website.
September the 5 1862
Der wife i now rite a few lines to let you know that I am in good health and John Walls the same, thank god for it. We got to washington on monday then we march 10 miles up the potomet, stop there until fridy, march 3 miles further. Now we are camped 20 from the ename don’t know what will be next. Der wife last night our camp was all out wachin the ename so we came in this morning all rit we have got no pay yet but as soon as I shall get it send it home. Der wife I offen think of you and my family and grandmother and fulton and family and Mr. Duncan and wife. All my frends my wish not forgeting my shopmate tell things. We are waching the rebles. I saw 5 reble was taken by the north. I spoke to them they said we might fly to the moon as to beat them. But I don’t think that what I have seen since I left Detroit could fill a big leter. No more at present but your husban
James Laird
Direct your Letter to James Laird Company E 24 Regt Mich in Washington, D.C.
wasiston sep 21 1862
Dear wife I receved you letter and was very happy to hear from you . Sory of your sicknes but hop this will find you beter and hop to find Tom and John and grandmother well. Grane I would like to see you all again. I have better hop now than when I left Detroit. You want me to tell you we had some hardships for to weeks, but what was that to me. I am in the very best of health and hop this will find you all the sam until I come hom. I think that wont be long because since we came her they have pick up carrage and are driving the rebels back very fast now. News this morning 20 thousand ribles kiled and wounded. We get the news every day. We are 4 miles from wasinton on a fin hill campet ther and fuscing (?) up all nise the same us we were going to top some time ther is 5 in a tent. John Walls and I stick together as and brother and will do as long as we are her, I told the captan about the alderman. He told me you are intiteld to 12 D a month and he has no rit to say a word toward you, all he has to do is to pay you. You go to Deakn Stewart and se what is your rit and have it. I would have rot souner but I was buse all week. I was out choping wood to days and to days driling and one day caring water and one day and night on gard and on satearday went to the river to wash our cloths so se we are not lying dowing nothing. I have got a nise glengare sow (?) with lens fro (?). I sould like to get it hom to tame. I am first rate want for nothing thank god for it. John Hogan is well. I send my best love to all your F family Elce and husban. No more at present but remains
your husban until
Deth
We have got no pay yet by as soon as I get it you will know. I saw william kid(?). Der wife rit soon.
columber (?)
wasinton distreet set 28 1862
Der wife I received your leter 24, was very glad to her from you and Tom, John, grany and all the rest. Dear wife I don’t intend to forget you until Death. You are the sam to me now as the first day I got you. 4 weeks since I left I wrot you last sunday and a nother to Fulton since so this is the forth. Know with regard me was never in beter health in my lif. We get plenty to eat and plenty to by but very dear 5 sent for a small pies of ches. 10 sents for a small plug of tobaca. Every thing the same for wesky we get none. Send nothing to I send for it for I have some money yet. With regard wood that is a good plan. Get in a buber (?) flour and tea and suger and every thing you want to yourself, Tom, and John and granny comfortuble this winter. With regard to water you cants want if it be my luck ever to get home be the best plan to get in the water for it is to much for you to cary. You say something about a machin. I think you better let that alon this winter yet. With regard to the war being over I don’t know but we are in marching orders. When we get the call might be to night mit not be for sometime. With regard to dreal and marching I stand it fine. Ther is a good many seak. We have fine weather, very cold in the morning but when the sun get throu it is very warm. John Walls is a good comerad. I am going to seec (?) to get my likeness taken after I rit this. I have more to rit but tim is short to day carring wood and water for the cook to day and to morrow will be on gard. We have to dow all thes things in rotation. We go to the wood the same but I don’t shop much. So then my Dear wife no more at present but remenes your affection husben.
James Larid
I trust my life to god willing to spair my life. Very to get home to see you all agin. My love to inquiring. Let me know how my sester mrs. Dunken is getting on and tell gran that am dowing well. I like my companions. No pay yet. As soon as I get it will send it. Writ soon.
wasington set 29 1862
Dear wife I now set down agin to rite you a few lines to let you know tht we have got the order this morning to get all ready for marching to Mcllaing armme. To day rashing (?) so we got the day to ourself. I went got my liknes taken with all my heart rather it was my self but I trust god for my life if he is willing. I hop to see you all agin if anything go wrong with me I hop that god will strenen your …….
We cary nothing but our guns and banket and forty round of cotrege and canten and to days provisons. All our cloths to be sent by tge wagn so if we have good luck the cornellwant to see us dis rite when we go to ritchmond. We expect a hard fight befre that. I thought it best to let you know what we expect. I hop you will get this . I will rit you as soon as I can again. Your husben
James Laird
recevee the likeness. Let Tome see it and ask if he nose it. Dear bety my Love.
Fredreck, state of mareland Oct 5, 1862
Dear wife I now ly down to rite you again. I rote you last sunday and monday with my likness. I hope you have got it as I told you that we were going to leave. We left on tuesday morning, half past 6 oclock. Came in to wasington at 8 oclock. Ther was that many wating for the cars that we had to stop all night. We got the cars next morning for fredreack. It is 40 miles by road, but 90 miles by railway so we was all day on the cars. When we landed John Walls and I stood gard all night. Next morning we march a mile out the city on to the campground. This is a nice field, a fine site of ground. This is the place ther was a great deal of fiting a week ago, but the site is put back. So we are in marching order again for sharpsburg as soon as we get it. We have got to march this time it is 22 miles . Ther is a railway passes by our camp. Ther are tenting(?) shouldger (?) by thousens for harpers fere. and leesburg and we go to sharpsburg.
Dear wife the way I rit with a pincel is because we have all in our napsack and it is in wasington so we have nothing but what is on us. We went down to the river yesterday and took of our shirt and socks and wash dried them and put them on again. We wont get our cloths until we settel down for winterquarter we don’t know where that may be yet. The same time I rite this I her preaching and singing salins(?) we have a minister. Dear Beaty I enjoy the very best of health thank god for it. I hop you, Tom, John and grandmother is doing the same for you may believe that I would like to see you all agin. That shall be a happy metting. I hope to drink a good cup a tea with you yet as I get no tea hear. I have now taken diner, pis of salt bif and 3 craker we get no soft bread now. But I cant complain. I get plenty and well liked by the offisers. I expect a letter from you everyday besides one from Brother Fulton. No more at present but remens yours affection husban James Laird. I touled you all about this in the last letter. John Walls is well and expects a letter every day. My best love to all frends and not forget to let me about misess Dunken for often I think if you. All we have got small tents now. Every to cary ther on tent. Can put it up at night and take it down in the morning. I will rit soon agin.
Camp harms near sharpsburg
state of mareland October the 9 1862
Dear wife I receive you letter to night and was very happy to her from you and very glad to hear of John getting so strong(?) not forgeting Tom cas if health at present god willing time will pass when we shall a cas that time will son be. We left fredrack on mondy got her on wenday it was very hard marching very warm and dusty but not march hard we are now in the field wher a great deal of fiting was doun 3 weeks ago. Ther is a great many wonded rible in the same field with us. One died yesterday and one to day. I seed 5 arms and 2 legs lying on the ground. They wer cut of the rebils. They say as soon as they are better they will fit with one leg. We are now in given bregard and hokers corr. Tell fulton ther is a great deal of good land hear and a pety to so much lying doing nothing. It is a afull thing pepal at home have no idea ther is wagon driving all the time with provison to the soldeurs 2/4/6 horses in the wagon. Ther is a great many smells her.
My Dear wife I sent my likness I hop you have got it. Ther is no word of our pay yet. Give my best love to Fulton and Jean and famly and all enquering frends. Kind love to my children(?). When you rite be sure to let me know how elce and how greene is. I am un the very best of health, thank god for it. No more at present but your affectionet husban
James Laird
Tel grany I get no hoeny (?) here. Rit son an le me know what they give a month. My pen is bad.
State of mereland
Oct the 18, 1862
Camp harms near sharpsburg
Dear wife, I received your 2 letter on the 16. Very happy to her from you and that you got the liknes I told you about. My health is better and yesterday the colnellmarl took us to the place wher the batel was foth 4 weks since. It is 3 miles from wher we are. It was a great batel. I sead one group 180 rible in besides graves all over. John Wals got his money and I got the shire of if. Him and I is like Brothers since we left and hop be the same until we come home. Tel mis wals that ther is no chance of getting a likness her but we expect to go from her soon and if we get in a place wher it can be got, he is going to get it and send it home. If I can get a better one I will take it and send it. Do not disstres yourself is being bad of, because we are not. We are well of and never was in better health and I am 132 ponds which never was before. Thank god for it. I told linge(?) he got a letter that day. You cant the letter regard. We expect pay very soon now but send no money untill I send for it. John Hogan is corperal. Tell Fulton that I have seen a great deal of land since I left. Some good land and some not very good, but I like this part of the country. It is healthy place. You can see hills and mountain her. Tel Jean that I have not shaved since I left. I feal sorry of Jean seknes but hop she has waned Bella. It seem strang to me no word of elce in the last letter. I want you to (?) let me know in the neset letter and let me know how ganey is kepeng because I think of all evry day. Tel all the boys that I am in good spriets. We get no Drink her but when I come home I will have a horn with them. I hop that you and the to boys is in good health at present and yous yourself and them well until I com home.
No mor at present but remens loven husban until Death
James Laird
Camp Peniman Bakerville
state of mereland Oct 23 1862
Dear wife I answered the last letter and take the plesur of riting you agin to let you know that we are on marching order. We march 7 milles on monday and taking with us (?) 3 day provisons we might get the word in a hour. Our hole devisins us going now, that is hoker devison. We don’t know wher we may land. It is the openyon that we will see a fit very soon now. Thank god for my good health and I am in good sprits and pray to the lord what may befall me and if be the lord will that come throw it thank the lord and if I be shot thank the lord. If I die I die for te cause of the contry. I pray that the lord may look to you and send a Belssing on you that you may never want. Be kind to the little boys and grany because Dear wife you are the same to day as the first day I seed you. The love to you I never lost. Dear I want no money yet. You have more need of the money at home than I have her. I can live on what I get and for tabaco I can get her yet. We have felt the want of our napsets because we have cold nits and morning and this same day is a very cold bloy day. I am setting on the field riting this because I am on gard to day and tak the plesure of riting you at my relef. I would be the beter of my over cot to night but cant have it but we expect our napset soon. I have got the to par of socks that grany wove and shiv in the napsets and the cap that I should like Tom had it. I think he would like it. Der Beaty I kep up my heart and stil have hop to see you agin it shall be a happy metting. John Hogan got word tole [ line missing] I will rit get chem door at Mr flour and got 15. I think I would pay nothing on the lot until I come home but do the best you think it will ples me I wold put in the water because you cant do without it. John Wals is well he don’t rit til he get a ancer he wonder at me riting so much. But I frl happy when I get letter a joy to you. I hop that John is better and to her about Elce grany because I love you all send my love to enquiring frends. No more at present but rems you husban until death James Laird
Oct 29 1862
Camp ner Harppers
fere state of mereland
Der wife I receive your leter last night and was very happy to her was well as this levs me the same. Thank god for it. Dear we marched las sunday and reaned all day we camped at night but could not ly down because it to weat and could so we mened a fireds and stood around them all night wated for morning it was the hards day and night we had yet we was halfway up to the nees in mud and water and it was very cold but we started on monday it blue very cold wind all day. Camped ay night sleep very well then up on tusday morning march agin that day was a fin day. Now we are going on to day. Tel Fulton that I have trevel as much land I suppose wood do him good to se. Ther is some very good land her it is very good to get your shed fix my dear. Get you wood sawn and splet and evry thing you want at. Keep your self comfortable for winter for you wont have me this winter. I think get in the pen stock. We expect our pay next week my dear. Son as I get it I will let you know we are not so bad as you think ther is no yous or men spending to much her and I have a wife at home. Tel all my frend to keep out solgeren as long as they can we have the plesur of joining the ragalar arme for 3 or 5 yers. I hear our cloths is at herperfery wating on us. Hop that Jean is beter. Tel her that I think I have win the bet this time. I hop to her of Elce wellfare. Fulton we will have the bly meet when I come home. I have good hope of coming home. No more at present but your James Laird. Writ soon.
State of Mareland Vargani
November 2 1862
Dear wife we have been marching every day last week and now in the woods close to our enamy. We expect every moment the word to march. We have just now got speech from our Cornell and ended in a prays from the pastor. We have got our cloths now and you talk about senden more but my Dear I have got more than I can cary send nothing. And I have got no pay yet if any thing be fall me you look after it. Ther is 3 month pay and the bounty that will healp you along. But not that I want any thing to befal me because I have as loving a wife and children as any man left Detroit and if it be the will of god that com throu this I shall come to you happy. But if not I shall not Bee a cowerd for I came for the contrys cause and shall live or die for it my dear I don’t know what I would give to see you, Tom, and John and grany and all the rest of the family because I love you all. Now Dear wife if this be the last keep up your heart at lest try for the sake of the boys, for love them and you. I know you will bring them up well and mind them of their father. I am luking evry day for a letter. I got the to you sent and one since. I remember last fridy night 6 yers well. I was at the postofoc with you. I wish I was with you know but I will kep up my heart and do my best and leve life to god so if it be his will I shall com throw. We have fine wather I send bester lover to you all. Tell James hear that it is a hard life the times of war sholdgren but I expect to come and have a horn yet. No more at present but remens your Dear beloved hisban. Rite again.
James Laird
John Wals love to you.
State of Vergeane, Brook
station November the 8 1862
Dear wife I receive your letter on the 5 and the to doler was very Glad to get it. Dear Bety I am very sory to her of anything wrong with you. Hop you will go to the docter and not wat to long because if anything go wrong with you I don’t know how I would feal. I would tind it my blam. Happy to hear of John better. Hop Tom and grany is well and the rest all well. I hop to meet you all in Detroit son. We are going to be paid to day up to the first of November that will be 36 Do and 04 sents. Cornell is coming hom. I will send what I to spair with him. We have cold wather frost and snow her. We are on marching orders agin. Dot no wher we are going to stop. This winter but it is time to settle down. I got a rober blanket par of pants and shoes. I have all I want at present. Send nothing more till I send for it. I hop you have got woud and other thing to keep you comfortable this winter. I don’t think ther will be any passe this winter for the boys. Tell mis walls John send his money the same way. My Dear thank god that am in the very best of health ther was one of com g men bured on satterday, a wife and one child in Detroit. I felt sorey ther some very sik yet. No more at present but remens yurs affection husben James Laird.
I will rit soon. My hand is cold. My ever loving wife.
Camp near warinton state of
vergena No the 16, 1862
Dear wife I received your letter this day and was very happy to hear from you and this leaves me in good health. We are still in this camp since I rote you last but don’t know how ling will stop her. We have to be redy in a momon warning to march. Ther are 3 hundred lying around her. It is a sight to see the camp fires at night we keep fires on all night. We have good wether her yet but cold night and morning. I don’t know what to say about this war. Some think that ther will not be much more fiting until the new congree sits. They think that will try and sitaled without much more fiting and if not ther will be hard fiting. But my dear I hop they will settel it because and let me hom to you and my to boys. Tell Fulton I have seen a great deal of good land all through mereland and now good throu vergena and all lying wast we see very few pepol except a old pepol and som dark people. We burn up all the fence rails so many people can son burn up a great many rails. Ther will be a great deal of work to fence up all the farms. As soon as the wheter breks her they say that we will not be able to march so we will have to settel down soon. I have not got any pay yet but as soon as I get it, I will send it home for I no you will do the best but I want you to keep yourself as comfortable as you can this winter. I hope to be with you next winter if god willing I mind on you and Tom, John evre night. Give my Love to James Hear not to come as long as he can. I don’t know the tast of wisky. Did you pay mcfarlin(?). I wish you have. Thid (?) is the cornell boy. No more at present but remens your husben James Laird. My love to Jean and Elce and I will never forget grany Fulton. When I com home we shall have the filled Clymet (?) Tel Elce to her bottle.
Dear wife Love to you
camp state of vergena No the 23, 1862
Dear wfe I received your letter just now and was very glad to her from you. Sory for John, hop him better by this time. Dear wife I rote you last sundy and have not time since we march on mondy all day and was very tired but rose up on tusday and of agin. On wesenday.had a short march and on thursday. On fridy had no march. On saterday ,arch 5 mills and now lying her in a larg feld ner brook station. We may stop hear a few days but don’t know. Might go away to morrow. We are getting our rahing again. My Dear Love I am in good health at present. Thank god for it. I am in good hope of hetting hom yet, so keep up your heart and when that come I take time to tell you a good deal of what I have seen. We have got no pay yet and don’t know when so I am very hard up for tobak. Some think we would not be pad until after the new year. I think my Dear wife I would like you would send to doulars as son as this reach you. If I had money to day I could got tobak now. I have not a smoke. Tell Tom I have plenty to eat to day but not a smoke. I feal very bad for smok ask Tom if he will go for tobak to his papa. I send my Love to all frends. I have still mind of grany my kind Love to her. No more at present but remens yours husban.
James Laird
Until Death parts us. Let me know if you been Down the shop more.
State of vergene near Brook Station
Disember the 1 1862
Dear wife I just receive your letter. Was wereing very much to hear from you and John, not forgeting Tom and greny. Glad to her John getting betting. Sory about Elce. Hop to her of Elce being by the next letter. Lik to know how Fulton is getting on if he is getting plenty of work. I her ther are hard times. Dear wife I got the parsel never wasas Glad in my life when I seed the tobaka. I sat down and had a good smok. Tell Tom it was swell(?). I have his cap yet. I will send it hom soon. The mits is jes the very thing because we are garding a railway now. On day and night on an day night of. That is better than marching. I thing we will hav this all winter they are paying now. We expect our pay to morrow if I get it I will rit soon agin I am going to get a oilcloth blanket per of shoes and per of pants. Just as well to draw them from the government send no more til I rit you. I don’t think ther could be no pases this winter but think I will be home next summer all together so keep up your hart my Dear. I trust in god to meet you and the boys agin. I saw James Lynden he is 5 mmill from me. Tell his wife that he got no letter this some time. He had tobako that day. I got a letel bit from him it was good. We are getting plenty to eat now. This railway go to richmond. we hold one part of it and the rible a nother part of it. Ther is a great talk of setteling war this winter. I hop so. This leave me in the very best of health. Thank god for it. John Walls is well and rit the same tim. Give my kind Love to Jean it will soon be the new year and I will not be with you but I hope you will missd me. My love to all. I am very proud of what you have sent. It is a nis pip. No more at present but remans your affectionet husben until Death.
James Laird
Send a few stamps.
state of vergina camp on the march
Dis the 10, 1862
Dear wife I rote you on mondy so we march on tusdy and was paid on tusday night 11 clok. We got up on wensday morning march untill non so we stops her untill 2 oclock in the morning so I rit this in the wods. We are going acros the rever ner frefrikberg. Ther is a larg arme of the ribles. I don’t know what to be dun, but I will rit soon agin. I got 36 dol and 40 sent. I paid the suterd 3 dol. I sent home the check 24 dol, when you chang it have giverment money for it. I have a 10 dol bil. When I get it ching, I will send more if I am spaired. We are to be paid evry to 2 month so that 1 of Jan. We was paid from the day we listed. I got no more time. I hop your better and the boys, greny, rest are all well.
To sents to Toms John. No time to rite.
James Laird receive the chek
Mrs James Laird
Detroit, Mich
Tomson Street.
Novemer (Actually December) 15
Dear wife I rite this few lines to let you know that I and John Walls is still all rite yet. Thank god for it. We are now in the Batel feald 3 day lying under our arms. Satterday was a aful day. Grap and shell flying in among us all day. One of our men wounded at my sid at night. I seed 5 men drop, 4 killed. Mr. Berel was one of them sunday we stod in lin of Battel all day. At nightlay rit down our gun by our side to be redy, but was not called till morning so we are on lin Battel to day stillkeppy ground. We are on the left. We are supporting our battry it is very quiet to as yet the rit and senter driving them. Cant say much more at present but keep up your hart and trust in god as I am douing. I sent 24 dollar chek. I hop you have got. I have 10 Dol in my poket, would send some of it but don’t know what might happen. Might get wonded and ned some it. My Dear wife we get grat prase for stantin Brave. My Dear wife I wise it was over because I would lik if it be go will to spare me for all my hart is in you and my to boy and greny. Tel her I am all rit. Love to all frend. James Laird
I have got no words from you since that letter with to Dolour.
I seed one man head Blown rite of not far from me.
Fredrekburg Vergene
Disember 16, 1862
Dear wife thanks God I am Stil alive yet Dear wife I receive your letter this morning and was very glad to get it to hear how you was because the las word you was not well. Glad to her you getting better and the Boys well and granmother because I think on you all evry day and pray for you all evry night the best way I can and thank God evry moring for sparing me a nother day. I suppose you have hurd all of this. We been forment the ename now since last thursday. We cros the rapahanat rever on ponton Bridge but so we lay upon our arm up till last night after it was dark we was order up to march rit away, kep very quit, So we march of came this side of the rever, form lin of bartle. The left wing is all moving. I dont no what it is for. They say the rit and senter is driving them. It sems the left to strong for us but I wish it was over because I am tired of this way of living, lying out all nights in the open field.
My Dear wife, I woud rather be at home, workend hard but I will have to put up with it now to see what is to be down. If it is the lord will to spare me I thank him and if it is the lord will to take me away, I am prepare to die but would give all I have to see you.
My Dear I have no more to say but I get the to dol and John Walls got all his things. His glases fit him well. receve the flours bils back. You did well to thing that you want my.
My Dear wife, I have no youse of anything her. If we settel down, then I will tell you what I want. John Hogan lost all he had. I lost pant drescok, the napkin I got from grene. If you send anything, I cant cary it. Give all my frend my Love. mind me to mary handere. I shal rit son agin because I like to rit evry day now. I hope you have got the 24 dol I sent. No more at prent but remens you affectionanet husben James Laird
Mir Birel told me about Marget Giles going to get mared to days before he got killed. I seed him fall. I was the third file from him. It is a wounder ther was not a great deal more killed, My Dear wife, Give Mis Hogan her line.
Fredreckburg vergeane Dis 18 1862
Dear wife take the plesure of riting a few to let you know that I am well hopping this will find the you the same and granye. Tell Tom John that papa would like to see them now. We are marching order agin don’t know where but think ther will be more fitting this winter. I hope so so I should like they would settel down for a while. I see on chance of a pass this winter if the be, I will come home if get one. The rible is on one side of the rever and us on the other. Some of our Boys went over and seed them. They are lik us. Would lik to see the war over but wantgin in and I think will be very hard whip them by fitting now. My dear wife I ent got much more to say at present but send me to pair of soks and one hankerchief that all I want at present. My shirts is good yet. I sold one pair of soks for one Dol and lent one pair so send on more then what I send for. I send my Love to all enquiring frens wis you all a happy crisomess. If god willing to be with you by the next. I thank god I have got a 10 and a 5 of chang send them home to the Tom John all the chang I got 10 Dol yet will send some 5 Dol as soon as I her of you getting the 24. I want to do all I can for you. That was allways my way. I hop you are keping well. Tel me if any thing rong with and not forget granmother. I still keep hop of seeing you yet my Dear. Your husban untill Death.
James Laird
Socks of yourn on making. Walls is well.
State of vergean
nerbelplans Dis 24, 1862
Dear wife I received your letter last night and was very glad to her from you. I was very unese. I Dreamed 3 night about you all at home I thought ther was something rong so I feel my mind releve. If I was a single man I should be happy all that trouble me is you boys and grany. I think of you evry day my Dear I never ben sik to go the ospetel. Hop to god never will in the arme. If I do get sick I will rit. I cannot rit have frends will rit for me ritaway. So beleve no report so I was in the fit cam out of it all rit fell sory of losinit. We have be marching backward. Think we will settle down for a lettel while but don’t know what to dun now. My Dear glad you have got the money our chaplan and leftenent John linet is on the way home. John linet is coming to see you. I sent 5 doular with him. I hop you will get it to hold. the new years to Drink my health as I not be ther. Ther is no youse of sending me anything but what I send for. Dear wife if you keep up your sprits as well as me, I will feel happy because I still think I am to com hom yet.
I am very glad that gane is come hom. Be good to her the 5 Dol you get give grany one for her new years gift. I sent a letter10 sent and a 5 to the boys. John Walls is going to rit to day he is well. John Hogan is well. Sent his money the sam way. My Love to Fulton and family and one of my Dreams was that I was home and a great deal of fun was going on and thought Jean and I was in bead together. Love arche and family. Love to James Kace and wish him a happy new year. The same to you and all my friends. You kep yourself comfortible as you can and I will do all I can for you. You may depend oupon that now this leve me the very best of health. Hop this will find you all the same. My hand is cold. I will stop and rit again my Dear wife your husban tru until Death.
James Laird
When I went in the batel feld I thought of you and the boys. Tell Tom and John I should like to see them, my Dear lettel ones. Send a few post stamp. No more paper at present, I have some.
Camp esebell, whit ock church
ner Beall plans vergene
Dis 29, 1862
Der wife I receive your letter last night and was very to her from you. We are settel down her expect for winter, but don’t know. I expect you havegot 5 Dol from you leftenet John Lenet. I senet with him. He said he would come and give it to you. The captan went home to he never paid us the to dol for enlesten but we are to be mustered in tomorrow for to month pay. So I expect to send more money soon. I will send all I can spair for that is my delight to do all I can for you my Dear wife. We had no crisoms and expect the same at the new years. I have not tasted drink over 3 tim in 3 months. I think more of you than pay to Dol for a pint of wisky. It take a good deal to keep me in tobako, but I cant want it very well. Ther was a man teling me they were tring to stope yours pays at home. Tel me If you get your pay every month. I sent Tom cap with the mail. It dontlook so well as when I bot it. Ben all round with me. I send 50 sent in this to pay for it. My Dear don’t think of much to day but I am well hop this will find you all the same, if god willing. I hop to be with you next newyears. John Walls, John Hogan is well. Give my Love to all frends. I don’t forget grany. My Dear I have mind of the last newyear I hop you will forget that. Since I left I have be haved well don all my duty and never ben in no faullt so of corce that give you great plesure. Give Fultom my best resepects and give Brch(?), Elce and James Flear. There is some going to get a pas but many nor at present. Your affection husban until Death Dear wife.
James Laird
If ther any of the 50 sentsleft give them to Tom to by candy and Dividit with John, Elce, Bell, and Fulton, to give them newyears all some. I though it not so I send one a nuf Doul (?)
Jan the 10, 1863
Dear wife I receive you persel to day and was very proud of it. The boots my Der was to big. But do not regrait about them for I sould them for 8 dol. Beter that than lost them. I am sory about lettel Fulton. Be carful abut the boys my Dear. I am loking for a leter from you. I am in good health at present. Thank god for it. Hop to find you all the same. Not forget grany. Hop she will make(?) the soks I rote for when you send them send a bottle of ink in them.Your husben James Laird
Send post stamps.
camp Isabella wensday
Feb the 11
My Dear
We left monday. As you will see in the leter we have got hom agin at 2 oclock, just in tim. It is on a heavy rain agin so them that releved us would not have so good a time as us. My Dear my mony is done, but as our seteler is her and I have got 2 Dol that well serves me I think til I get my pay. Do not any til I send for it. Dear wife, the arme of the potomit is all dividit into core so they are shipping them all down south and this Bregade has doun somuch fitting before we came in to it that we are going around washington to gard but don’t know when. There is a rumor roound the camp that corbell morrow don’t lik it. He want to go in the Batel feld. We think he want to get gernerls hefe(?). But we are well plesed in this Bregad so they say he canot tak us out without we lik. We think if he want to go he can go hisself and we can get another cornell. If we do other duty it is just as well afor us to get it as another regment. I have no more at present but rement you affection Husban until Death.
James Laird
I am in the best of health. Hop to find you grany, Tom and John the sam. Pen is bad.
March the 26, 1863
camp Isabell Aerr
Bellplans landing state
of virgeana
Dear wife I received your letter last night wich you rot on the 15. Alleways glad to her from you all. glad theBoys is getting Better. Sorry to her of grany and sory to her of you not very well my Dear. Also sory to her of Jan not getting round. Hop Elce is Better and hop this will find you all Better. My Dear this leaves I ame in good health agin, Baty. Thank god for it, and I thank god for his kindness to you all at hom toward my absence. He is a merseful father to us all.Dear wife I received a letter last sunday night, 22 of march which you rot on the 4 of February and 4 Post stamps in it saying you pais 18 shilling for a par of shoes. I geas you have hard tims at hom. We have planty her of the kind that. It is tell tom on Pies Fr papers her. Baty mak one for the Boys to keep your hand in tham. Great talk of a forward movement. We are to cary nothing But one shirt and one Pair of soks. So if we have anything more we have to send them to wasinton so they are sending of all they have. But I have nothing to send except my over cot or blanket so I have sent my wollen Blanket. I think my cot Better for cold night stnading gard. The offesers is to lukout for 10 days provisions. When we get the order to march it may be some time. But if we get the order soon I will rit be fore we start. Now with regard to J. Hogan we don’t know what to think, The Boys think he is playing his gam prety wel. He got 15 days with a grat favour to see affter his house and lot and this 25 days and no word of him the Boys are very much down upon him for douing the like. I am sory to say that I cant com hom fo some time yet. But I think my self by september the ribles will be plaid out and if I am alive I will be home. Now I shall just tell you what think I would rather Die for the cause I came for is to come home a coward ar be caled a Disarter. But I have good correge and put my trust in god and if it is the will of gof that I am spaired I will be home and well have a talk over it. Walls is well he got a letter last night. My Dear keep up your hart as as you can. I am in good health at present. Kind love to frends.. No more at present. Your affection Husban
James Laird
Love to you and grany. Remember Jame Baty. No pay yet, they say next week.
camp ner the enemay
state of virgena May 8, 1863
Dear wife I received your letter of garret on wenaday after comminh of the battel feld. My Dear I am still in the land of the living. Thank god very kindly for it. Was a great battle but you will her all about it in the paper. We crosed on the left on April and on may the 2 got order to cros and march all day and got in the battel feld on the 3, sunday. That was a aful day. We stoped ther till the 5 of may. On thursday night at 10 oclock when got order to march and cros the rever, so we thought ther was something wrong. It was raning very hard and very much so we hab hard time of it, so we are lying close to the enemay and the word is that we are to cros agin in a few days but don’t know what is to be doun. But I trust to god if it is his will to spair you and me a lettel longer we spend a happy night together yet, my Dear.
John Hogan said you was all well and he did not go to carre. He told me he got the money from you so that is all at past yet. I said nothing to him about it yet. Dear wife I am not in a way of riting to day so I will cloce in sending my Love to all frends. I sent 50 D with the captan father. I hop you have got it an yousit and do all you can fout yourself. I am very sory for you, but I hop the lord will have merce on you and the boys and greny, and I trust my soul and Body to him to see what is to turn out of this for it is a aful tim. No more at present, but remens your affection Husban DeathJames Laird
My Loving wife til Death.
Summit Hos. Aug 8th /63
Dear wife
I will write a few lines to let you know that my arm is doing vearry well now. I wrote you on the 30th of July stating that I got my furlough but could not het transportation to get home, so I worte you to send me money to bring me home, but have go no word from you yet. I you have not got the letter send the money as soon as possible for the furlough will soon run out. I wrote to you for sixteen dollars. If you got the letter & and the money is on the way, you needent answer this. I am anxious to get home now for theare is no pains in my arm now and it seams like a Gar’l (?) hear now. Give my compliments to all enquiring friends. No more at present.
From your Husbad J. Laird.
Summit House Hospital, Sept 14th /63
Dear wife
I received your telegraph dispatch last night. I thought it best not to telegraph back as my furlogh runs out too day. All I can do now is to wate till I get my pay which will be in about three weeks and then I will try and get annother furlough. I send you these few linesto let you know that I havent received the money you sent. I am vearry much disapointed. I told the man that wrote the letter for me to tell you to send the money by express.
Write as soon as you get this for I am vearry anctious to get word from you, my arm is doing verry well now. I can carry it in a sling . Give my best respects to all enquuiring friends. Good By
J. Laird.
P.S. I have found out lately that if I had went to New York as soon as I got my furlough, I could have got transportation theare. I had money to carry me that far then, But I cant do it now. Good By.
Dear wife have not got a stamp to put on so send a few more. Not many at once. My Dear I should like to see you agin. ______ _______ we know _____ ____you got ________ with the _________ing and if __________ is a alive We don’t know when we get any pay.
sory of mis walls beng seek. Hop this will find her better. John has rot last he is in good health. John Hogan is well. I am very proud by Tom got his cap not for the worth of it but I carre it all…..
These letters are courtesy of James Laird's descendant, Ralph Laird, RalphJOANATC@webtv.net Used with permission
Last Updated: 12/25/00
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These letters are © Copyright 1999 Ralph Laird