Dexter Lord Letters

The Civil War Letters of Dexter Lord

February 24, 1863

Camp Parapet

26 Hospital Feb 24 1863 Dear Brother,

Yesterday afternoon I received your Letter and am glad to hear from your at home, also am glad to hear they are all well. I am well and fat as A pig. Waldo and myself are yet in the Hospital taking care of the Capt. Mack is well and so is Lieut. L. E. Johnson. Good many of our is sick and some 12 or 15 of our Co but I am well as ever. I was sick when we first came but did not do any duty and recovered from it and have been enjoying good Health since. 12 have been sent home and some more are coming 2 or 3 from our Co. Joshua Champion & ( ) have got their papers made out and are having them signed by Maj. Gen. (Row---s) ( ). R. Gorton from our Co must take his discharge. All is quiet around us at present but don't know how soon they will try Vicksburg. Gun Boats are constantly going up the river. I wish the Rebus would come down to the Parapet and fight us. We would give them Grape & (Au----). In regards to the Box I would like it very much, but will make some trouble for you. I have 25 Dollars of my money after paying my debts and Buying what I need. I might have sent some home but I may want it if anything happens. That I should be sick or anything of that kind. Money is a useful thing down here, but I don't spend it foolishly, but I am going to keep mine and if I get a chance to buy anything I can send home. I will try and see if I can buy some molasses, if I can buy it cheap enough I will buy it and send it to you. I am going to make Father a present of a Barrel if I can get it. Write me what Molasses is selling for at home and I can tell whether it will pay or not. In Regards to it being pleasant it could not be any more so than it is now. The flowers are in Bloom and the Trees are covered with leaves, the Orange Tree is blossoming now also the Peach Tree. Its just such weather as we have in August at home.

I am going to send by Joshua Champion some Photographs of our camp & Hospital and you can see where I am this afternoon. Yesterday I wanted a Bird and had nothing except my Rifle and Balls, so in order to get the Bird I took the Ball and cut it in small pieces and put it in my Rifle and started. I got out back of the Ram. and saw some pigeons they were tame. I let go into them and by the grace of god I killed him. I can shoot Pigeons as well as Rebs.

This morning I was out doors and on the (Ram.) there is a Bell, the Boy's said I could not wing it with my Pistol and so I tried it and when I shot the Bell rang. It was a long distance, and lots of Niggers stood around and said "saw you do dat by gum, he rite smart with dat volver, he hit dem Rebs, he got a keen eye don¹t wonder massa run up de road such fellers dat you are come. I am ( ) with my Pistol. I shot a pigon from off the top of our Ram. and that is 2 story. I don't ask any body to shoot for me either my Pistol or Rifle and I can do it.

Henry, this is a long letter and shall write part to Sister Lizzie as she wanted I should write her. Well Henry I just been to supper and had 2 spoonfuls of rice and molasses. I guess Gen. Rauks is going to make Light Infantry of us. Nothing new all is quiet, I send you the Paper written by the 26. I want you to write often and tell me the News. Send me some nick nacks in the Box. Send me 2 pair of Miss Pilgrens stockings, cotton ones such as I bought last spring be sure and send them. I will pay for them we are paid off the 1st of March. I shall send it all home.

Good Bye.

Your Affect. Brother

Dexter My dear Sister, What can I say to you that will be interesting maybe not anything but I will try. 1st all is quiet around us, nothing was like is going on except the Gun Boats are working up the river to Vicksburg, but otherwise nothing exciting. I am enjoying myself finely, this reminds me of Autumn at home when she has with her mantel covered the trees and the ground strewn with beautiful Flowers. It causes me to think of times passed forever. But may I see them this coming Autumn days and we enjoy them at home with Sister & Brother. I am away from you all. Although absent I never forget to think of you. When I return may I see you in Health and also see you settled down in a good home. Then I can come and see you and enjoy a visit. I am lonely sometimes when I think of our Loved one passed away dear sister our loss is his gain. He has gone to that home which never can be taken from him, he sits with the angels in Heaven. May we all meet and greet him there. It was a great trial to me as the comfort of my heart away from home but him who conducts the world must call us one by one as he deems it well. May I return to see all in Health. A verse for Lizzie.

I am thinking Lizzie, thinking
In the twilight dim and gray
Of the Brother who once was with us
Of the loved one passed away
When our dreams of life are past
When the angels cast us upward
May we meet in Heaven at Last

Dexter

Lizzie you must excuse my writing as I am called every few minutes to wait on Capt. he is some better to day, but is very feeble, he sits up just long enough to have his bed made and hardly that, but an in hopes he will recover soon. Col. Selden comes every morning and most every night to see him and tells me not to do to much. He says if I want anything tell him and he will get it. Tell Henry if he want a contraband to make a requisition and I will send one of any description.

Send me something in your letter. I don't care what it is, you must write to me a long letter and don't write on Henry's as it makes them both short. I must soon close and will write in the next mail. Remember me to all. Father, Mother, Sister and Brother. Tell Belle to write me if convenient as a letter is most something from home. Also tell Heber to write me and I will return. I can write often now as I don't drill any and am in a good place to write. How does all the Yankees ( ) in Conn. I must bid you good night.

I am yours Affectionately

Brother Dexter

I send in the paper a mosquito that bit me and I killed him and send him to you for a keep sake. kind Regards to all.

Dexter.

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