Dated “Camp Griffin, January 1, 1863.” Addressed to “Dear Father.” 3 pp. in ink on unlined paper. Exhibits fold-marks, else VG.

Henry Cooley was a resident of Brattleboro, Vermont, mustered as a private into Co. “C”, 2nd Vermont Infantry, 6/21/1861, who died of disease, 1/11/ 1863. His 2nd Vermont was mustered in Burlington in June 1861, engaged at the first Battle of Bull Run and was present at nearly all major battles of the Army of the Potomac [including Gettysburg, where it was engaged in repelling Picket’s Charge]. Mustered out July 15, 1865, the 2nd VT lost during service 224 men killed or mortally wounded and 175 by disease for a total of 399.

In this letter Private Cooley wishes his father a happy new year and hope she is getting “along this winter. Is it hard times up there this winter?”, going on to say that “we have not had any snow but once and that was off in a half an hour.”

Cooley goes to write about possible English intervention in the war. As flows:

England talks like pitching in now. I should rather she would wait til we punish the rebels but I think she will get handled rather roughly if she tries it by now. Our Regt. is pretty healthy by now. There is hardly any sick but the recruits. I am well now and weigh 147 pounds…

You told me to keep my courage up. It was never better since I have been here. We are not what we was when we left B. The boys had as life fight as not.

Solid 2^nd Vermont Infantry camp letter. In protective sleeve.  [JP] [ph:L]

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