Here we have a four-page letter handwritten in period pencil by a soldier of the 9^th New York Cavalry, Thomas W. Callahan. He writes of the happenings of the regiment during the Winter of late 1862 into early 1863, discussing skirmishes, men wounded, killed, and a captured Rebel. Although Callahan isn’t the best writer, he certainly expresses his personality in this letter when he says that he and his boys were in the thickest of the fight, and he certainly should know, he was there after all! Interestingly, Callahan talks about McClellan being appointed commander of the army, but it was really Joseph Hooker who was offered the command. The full transcription is below.

The letter is written on lined paper with an embossed seal on the top lefthand corner. Pages measure 8 inches by 5.5 inches. There are fold lines present from when the letter was originally mailed but these are strong and no tears or weaknesses are present. No tears are otherwise present. The letter is clean and in stable condition.

Thomas W. Callahan was the son of Irish immigrants, John & Mary Callahan. At his time of enlistment in October of 1861, he was living with his family in Dunkirk, New York on Lake Erie. Callahan spent his time with the regiment until he was discharged in September of 1864 by Special Order. Post war, Callahan worked as a mason and lived in both Broome County, New York, and in Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York. Details on Callahan’s life were somewhat murky, so more research is necessary to fill in the gaps.

The 9^th NY Cavalry is a hard-fought regiment, seeing action at more than 140 battles and skirmishes. Most notably, the regiment served in Buford’s Cavalry at Gettysburg. The regiment saw action at Brandy Station, the Wilderness, Yellow Tavern, Trevillian Station (where their colonel was killed in action), and Deep Bottom. They were then transferred to General Sheridan’s command of the Shenandoah. The regiment saw action across small towns in Virginia until the war’s culmination at Appomattox Court House, which the regiment was present for.

Alcock, Virginia

Thursday, January the 30ed 1863

Dear Father & Mother

I take this orrpurinity  To adress you these few lines hoping to find you in the enjoyment of good health as this leaves me in at preasant thank God for His kind mercies to us all.

Dear Sir i recived youre kind letter in due Time and i was glad to heare from you i wrote a few lines in aunswer to let you know i recived youre Letter i also recived youre paper also and i am much obliged to you for youre kindness it is now winter heare wee had a Big snow storm it snowed For 18 houss it fell about one Foot deep wee are encamped neare the Warringtons [pike stricken out] and Fredrickburg Pike and on the extreem Rite of our armey wee are about [3 stricken out] 6 miles From craborcherd and about 8 miles from the Rappahanack River wee was out scouting 3 days ago and run into about 1 one hundred rebel Cavalry and had a short fight wee had one man killed his name was Mike Hagan wee had 5 wounded wee lost no men taken prisnors wee killed two rebels and took one prisnor He belongs to the 4 Virginia Cavalry Better known as the fames Black Hors Cavalry wee drove them a cross The river our horses suffer badly for the want of forage the roads is very bad the mud is axel deep I am glad to heare that you have got a Job but i think That your pay aint enough considerind the Times

Wee have recived the Sattesfying news that Genral George B. McEllan all true men honor his Fare fame and hard earned Name is to be Commander of the United States Armey you ought to heare the Boys Cheree and hurra when wee heard The news i tell you as old a man as you are it would make you take youre Cap off and chere with the rest of us. I will tell you one thing wee can whip the Rebels any wheare on a fare field But wee neaver Have fought them yet without The Confederate Troops outnumberd ours or was entrenched our Regment fought 4 of theare Regments at Berreyville and whiped them i was theare and know it to be a fact and if i do say so my self I was rite in the thicest of The fight and cheared the Boyes on and the D.K. Boys [fowled] wer all in the front Rank wee lost one of ours number and I tell you wee miss him i was recomended by Capt. Godrich for promotion For good Conduct on that day oure camp [don?] all the Hardest fighting on that day wee have the prase of all our staff officers and the thanks of Genral Stalth But I must now bring this to a close by sending you all my Respects and love while i Remain youre Son as Ever

Thomas W. Callahan

i will write a longer one next Time write soon

P.S. Send a few Postage Stamps

[CLA][ph:L]

Inquire About SOLDIER LETTER – THOMAS W. CALLAHAN, 9TH NEW YORK CAVALRY