Dated “Washington, Dec. 11^th 1861. 2pp., in pencil, on lined paper measuring 8 x 10”. Exhibits fold-marks and light soiling along fold lines. Else VG, and entirely legible.

Addressed to an unnamed brother, Sproul’s letter recounts the transfer of his regiment from Jersey City, NJ, to Washington, via Philadelphia, and Baltimore: “….We started on Monday as you are aware, leaving Jersey City about 8 o’clock in the evening arriving at Philadelphia about 3 o’clock Tuesday morning where we partook of super & breakfast provided by the City of Phil. Immediately after meals we were seated in the Phil/ Wilmington & Baltimore Cars where we remained until daybreak and then started from there for the sunny south….up to this time every thing had been as pleasant as possible, whilst crossing Jersey we had stoves in the cars which made it quite agreeable so much so that I fell asleep which gave the opportunity for some ill disposed person to take one of my new gloves without even consulting my naturally sensitive feelings.”

Sproul goes on to complain about the temperatures in the “Sunny south”, which were much colder than expected, as was their reception in Baltimore. To wit: “We arrived in Baltimore about 3 o’clock in the afternoon the enthusiasm of the people was certainly much colder than that which we had witnessed on our way. But what tried our patience most was to enter into a lot of baggage cars, just like a lot of Cattle, as many as could crowd in them, from Baltimore to Washington, at night arriving about 2 o’clock.” In Washington, his regiment arrives at camping ground “called Merridian Hill as you will remember the place where some of the first skirmishing was done, within a few rods of General Lee’s residence, it is a splendid camping ground overlooking the entire city and surrounding country….The sights have exceeded my expectations.”

He closes by saying that “You would laugh certainly to see the posture I am in whilst writing this letter,” and that “Wilson is on his feet all right, does his duty like a man, he slept in the Hospital two night but is well. He writes with me in sending our love to yourself and all inquiring friends/ Yours Most affectionately, Jonathan Sproul.”

Jonathan Sproul enlisted in Co. “G”, 31^st New York Infy, in New York City on 5/27/1861.He was promoted to Corporal 6/15/1862, and mustered out 6/4/1863. This regiment, known as “Baxter’s Light Guard,” “Montezuma Regiment, was a two regiment, organized in New York in May 1861. It served at the initial Battle of Bull Run with McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia, and later with the Army of the Potomac through the Battle of Chancellorsville. It mustered out 6/4/1863; during service it lost 68 killed and mortally wounded, and 30 to disease for a total of 98.

Solid soldier letter for New York regimental aficionados. Brief amount of internet research material included.

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