Carpenter N. Wright, age 18, enlisted November 17, 1861 at Berne, NY, so serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. I, 76th New York Volunteer Infantry, November 19, 1861; died of chronic diarrhoea, December 15, 1862, at Fairfax Seminary Hospital, Va.
Albert Wright and his wife were married January 1864 by Squire D Wright and lived in Berne, NY. He had eight children living in 1867 when he filed a pension claim.
The following letters were found in Albert Wright's pension file at the National Archive in Washington, D.C.
Letter head has a picture of the US Patent Office and the sitting lady liberty at the top of the first page.
Washington City
febuary the 11 1862
my dear father
i now take my pen in hand to inform you that i am well at peasent and hopeing that thees few lines ma find you all the Same i like it well here at preasent i am a little home Sick here but i hope to meet you all gain if not at home i will in heaven above write and let me now if george drawed that money i drawed 7 1/2 dolars they talk of Sending us home agin they have had a good manny fights around here at preasent we have had a good manny Sick ones here Write how all the are at renslearville emmeline and all the rest tell them that i am Well at present and hoping to find them Same tell them that i like it Well here at present We are on the ground Where the first batle was fout i can See the potomac from our tents i can see the Capital from our tents there is about 70ty thousands Soldiers encampt around us Write as Soon as you get this if you please direct your letter to Washington City D.C. 76 rigement Co I NY Sate Volunteers to C n Wright care of Captin John E Cook
The letter head has a picture of a soldier standing guard with his gun and bayonet next to a flag overlooking the capital.
Washington City
febuary the 14 1862
my Dear brothers and Sisters i set down to write you a few lines to day and tell you that i am well at present and hoping thees few may find you the Same lines i have got my gun and my Sword then look at that picture above here the you can See me all dreesed up tell me how george is getting along tell how emmeline is getting along now write as Soon as you get this from Carpenter Wright
i have Sent 7 letters i have not got one yet Send me Some postage Stamps direct your letter to Washington D C 76 Regemenet Co I in care of Captin J Cook to C N Wright Albert Wright
fort massachuset
feb 27th 1862
My Dear father i take my pen in hand to inform you that i am Well at present and hope thees few lines ma find you the Same i ben encampt five miles from Washington to guard fort massachusets i like it better all the time Washington is a hard looking place the mud is about a foot deep We have a new kernell We have throwed the other one out of his office i Wish you Would Write a litle longer letter next time Tell how all the folks are in bern and how the Wether is and so fourth tell mother that i am a laftin tell an that She must not Study any more develtry tell tild that old abe lincon Wants her to make Some Speeches for him tell bill and all that there are lots of litle darkys out here direct your letter Washington City D.C. 76 regement Co i in Care of Captin john e Cook Write as Soon as you get this Tell george that i drawed 8 and a half and he Was to draw 11 and a half tell him tha i told Captin about it and he would se about it
Washington City
March the 1862
my dear mother i set down to Write you a few lines to let you now that i am not very Well at present i have been very Sick but i am a getting better i hope thees few lines ma find you all enjoying good health dear mother i hope to meet you all again if not at home i ma in heaven above We Will draw our money this Week We are encampt 6 miles from Washington to guard fort Massachusets i Will have my likeness taken as quick as i draw my money twelve of them on paper and send all of you some i Would be pleased if you Would Send me them sock and Some maple Sugar i do keep up good Courage i Want to now how all the folks are on the hill Write and let me now how george is a geting along i Want to now Which to takes the land or the money i think i Will be home the first of april Write and let me now how mag is a getting and albert and William and mary lib and all the rest tell rachel She must Write more than She does you must Send me Some post marks if you please
my dear father i Will Write you a few lines now tell joslet that he and William Cornel is great Cowards tell them that the City Wenches Want hirt them tell them not to be Scart quite yet Write and tell how the Wether is there Write and let me now how all your Sheep gets along and my Sheep to Write and let me now how all your Sheep gets along and my Sheep to Write and tell What a horse team you have got is george a going on his farm or not tell him to Wait till i get mine then he Will See a farm Worth having now get up Side of his ----
i have ben in the fort i like it Well here and i think homer likes it Well heare he is as Wedeawake as an owl i Would like to have you Send me Some pie and cake tell mother Will Send her the money to Send them here with letters Send them in a box and Direct it the Same as to Washington Send them on express train tell her that She can have that 11 and a half dolars that She Wanted direct your letter to Washington DC regement 76 Co i in care of Captin John E Cook to C N Wright
April th 5 1862
Camp Massachusetts
my dear father i Set down to Write you a few lines so let you now that i am Well and like it Well here at this fort and i hope these few lines ma find you all in good helth and all in good helth and all the rest of the folks in bern it is Warm and pleasant here they have ben planting Corn and potatoes down here i Would like to hear how ale Shells folks gets along espesily malinda Shell i herd that She Was very Sick indeed i received your las and Was glad to hear from home it cheers me up So tell george and rachel emmaline to Write to me and all the rest tell them that i like it Well here and Would like to see them all it is with pleasure that i Write to you all i dont expect to ever to be in a batle but i Would like to be in one good Stiff brush i Would peck Some of the rebels on the head island number 10 is ours after ten day fighting i have plenty to eat and that is good fresh beef pork beans and rice potatoes coffee tea Sugar molasses bread crakers that is all i am geting very fat and pudgey my dear father i Wish you Would Send me a dolars Worth of postage Stamps and When i draw my money i Will Send ten or a teen dolars home to pay for it it is So Warm in my then that i cant hardly Write Some more about the Stamps i cant get none for they haint none to get holt on tel george that i Was paid of in new york and i only got 9 dolars and a half and he Was to draw 11 and a half the Captain Said he Would Se that it Was made all Well the next pay day that Will be next Week a monday or tuesday the officers likes me Well this is all at present from C N Wright to Albert Wright
to mage give this picture Co. I 76th regement New York State letters to Washington in care of Captin John E Cook
Camp Massuchusetts
April th 10 1862
My dear father I received your letter the last night and Was glad to hear from you i am Well and am enjoying good health and I hope these few lines i got four Stamps in my last letter from home you Say that the boys has a dog ma find you the Same health I made a mistake above here tell rachel to Write to me if She Will I gess you are lazy or you Would have tapt the Sapbush and made some Sugar and Sent it to me the Snow is about a half a foot deep i heard that you had now neighbors on the Cloverrock in abes old house I think it is george and his duckey i think he Will have War enough time he is through With it We do keep our Was Woman yet i have not drawed my pay yet i expect george has rouster and a pay i espect he WIll drive business now Who did you hear that from that i Was maried i do remeber old dad With his deviltry he is always Studling develtry ever Since he Was young that is all at present from C N Wright to Albert Wright you can Write on the other half and Send it back
head quarters fort Masachusetts
April the 11 1862
my dear father i set down to Write you a few lines to let you now that I am well at present and hope thees few line ma find you the same health tell Albert and William say i Wish that they Was out here they is three or four little boys here in Camp for Captins Waiters this is from your son C N Wright to Albert junier direct your letters to C N Wrigth Co G Washington D.C. 76 regement Co I in Care of Captin John E Cook this is for Albert Junyier and all the rest
head quarters fort Massachusetts
April the 14 1862
my dear father i Set down to Write you a few lines to let you now that i am Well and hope thees few lines ma find you the same i Wish you Would Send me my himbook and Cornelius likeness and george tell george to Send me Some papers that they get there tell uncle morgan to Write to me and all the rest of them Write and me now how all the folds are in bern and westerville i have Wrote one letter to emmeline and have not received anny yet but i hope to i have Wrote five letters to Rachel and have not got eny i Will have to Write to you how i fair her it is first rate i have plenty to eat and to drink that is of the best kind i have to Stand on guard every other third day it is pretty hard in the night When it rains and it rains about evry othr day tell joseph perce that he must take good Care of the girls and keep one for me tell joseph not to hirt the rooster groth While She is to young for it mite spoile her from ---- tell him he is a Coward and darsent Come to the War To day I am on gard i think of having a good time with the rebels and how i Will make them scamper over the Stone Wall and through the brush heaps This is all a lye i be hanged if it aint i gess i Will give you anough develtry this time old dad thare is lots of rebels around here anneyhow i bedamed if they haint But thay dast not Show it if they did we would lite on them like a thousand of brick evry one of us Tell Charls Bradley to Write to me.
head quarters fort Massachusetts Camp Casey
April 17, 1862
my dear father i take my pen in hand to inform you that i am Well and hope these few lines and find you the Same i am in good health and prosper Well and like it Well to be a Soldier the grass looks green and nise i haft to go on dress parade at 6 o'clock this after noon I have been drilling all the after noon it makes the Sweat roll down my face i have not drawed my money yet but i aspect it forelong it is With pleasure that I Write to you my Dear father and i hope it Will be the Same With you to day i am on guard the trees looks green and nise the talk is that We are a going to manasas futher down South and i hope you Wont Wory about me for i Will take Care of my self the best i now how the Chery trees is all in blossem and it looks pleasent here this is all at present this picture is for mage this from your Nelson Wright to his affectionate father albert Wright with pleasure
Letterhead has a picture of a Bayonet Charge at the Taking of Fort Donelson at the top of first page.
Camp Doubleday
May 19th 62
my dear mother i take my pen in hand to inform you that i am and in good health and like it Well and hope to return home before long it is With pleasure that i Write to you how do you like my picture that i Sent you i am sorry to say that i have not got any money to pay my Washing bill after this and i Want you to tell george to Send me ten dolars if he Will be so kind as to do it Would please me very much i haft to pay five cents apiece for Washing now i Will tell you how much i haft to pay a piece for Washing pants 12 cents Shirts 5 cents jacket handkerchef 5 cents apiece Soks 5 cents a piece drawers 5 cents piece and So on We have got orders to march down towards richmond on the 21 first of this month i am ready to go and fight for my Country as a good Soldier of the Cross We fair god here the Captin buies milk for us ever morning for us this to from C N Wright to his mother
Direct your letters the Same as before no more at present Send me a letter once and a While
Letter head has a picture of a woman saying goodbye to a soldier in uniform with musket and bayonet, under a tree, with a town in the back ground.
may the 21 1861
my dear pa i take my pen in hand to inform you that i am Well and hope you are the Some i have moved from Washington to frederickburgh and they say that the rebels are not more than two miles from us they Shoot our pickets ever once and a While i like it Well down here We are in generals Mc dowels division i haft to Sleep on the ground We are on guard at the rapahannock river We have moved every day for a Week it is about 1500 miles from Washington Where We be tell mother that She can have all that money and Send me 10 dolars of it in the next letter too fine Shirts and too corse Shirts and a pair of over halls and Some thread i dont get anough to eat i all most Starved did you get them pictures that i Sent you Send me george picture to me and emmelines musent forgit to Send that money in you next letter Send me a little Sugar butter is 90 cen per lb Salt is 30 per lb Send a pair of Socks to me homer is Well i have see him a goodeal Since i have ben gone direct your letters the Same from C N Wright to Albert Wright
fredericksburgh virginia
june three
my dear father I take my pen in hand to inform you that i am Well at preasent and I hope thees few lines Will find you the Same i received your letter the 27 and Was glad to hear from home and to hear that you Was all Well We are encampt a mile from the collage We expect to have a battle fore long
We have to drill four hours in a day too in the fournoon dress a parade at 1 pm We have to Stand guard too hours on and four of for twenty four hours the rapahanock river is not fare from here the cars dont run fare from here i go down every day to the depot have drawed Some more clothes the boys are all fat and robust
We have had a nise Shower here this afternoon they Say that We are a good regement to drill We have had high water here it took of one pontoon bridge of and one rail road brige canale brige i read my bible Sundays and try to be a good boy i Want you to write as how the folks are at home and emmaline to and rachel and the rest
Write as Soon as you get this from Carpenter Nelson Wright to Albert Wright Direct your leters the Same only put my name the first
fredericksburgh July the 3, 1862
father and Dear mother i take my pen in hand to improve you that i am very sick at present but i hope to recover that you Could hear the prayers thar i Send up to heaven for your Sake and for my brothers and my Sisters dear father and mother i am travling home to he abeing above This letter is Short but Sweet Write how all the folks are i Want you to Write and tell me how Mr Warner i tell him We dont have no meeting here no more at presant from C N Wright to Albert Wright
Envelope addressed:
Mr Albert Wright East Berne Albany Co. NY
frederickburgh
july 4 (1862)
dear father i take my pen in hand to inform you that i am Well and hope thees few lines ma find you the Same the docter Said that i had a touch of the yellow feaver but i got it broke i got that money that you Sent me and Was glad to get it i have got all your letters and Was glad to get them Send them Shirts as you get them made and a letter With them We exspect marching ordrs every day to go to richmond We have a new Colnel W F WainWright i like him Well i dont ever expect to ever See home again that is if i go to Richmond and So good by C N Wright to albert Wright
Send me too dolars more if you Will Write as Soon as you get this this is for William Albert now a few lines to them be good boys and mind your parents till i come back
fredericksburgh
July the 6th 62
my dear father i take my pen in hand to inform you that I am Well at present and hope these few lines ma find you the Same it is With pleasure that i Write to you you must Write oftener or i Wont Write to you anny more i espect to march to richmond before manny days to fight for my cuntry Write as soon as you get this from C N Wright to Albert Wright
direct your letters the same
Camp opposit fredericksburgh
July the 15 (?) 1862
my dear parents i take my pen in hand to inform you that i am Well and hope thees few Will find you the same What about them Shirt be you a gonna Send them or not i haint got but one Shirt i received your letter the 2nd of july and Was glad to hear from home and to hear that you Was Well homer is not Well he has not done much duty for a month this is all at preasent from C N Wright to albert Wright
tell William Cornwell to Write to me Where is mary northrop now to Work i just Come in from picking beries i have ben out in the country a mile or so
monday october the 6 1862
Camp near Sharpsburg
my Dear Father i take my pen in hand to inform you that i am not very Well at preasent i have been Sick for a month in that time i have not done anny duty and i hope thees few lines Will find you all Well and healthy and in good Spirit i releived your letters and Was glad to hear from home every time
i have not ben in anny batle yet the first time the regement Stoped they did not exspect a battle So soon and i Went up to a house to get Something to eat and before i got back they Was in it thick and heavy i Was out on Skirmish we lay and three days under fire of the Canon the Shells and canon balls a rolling around me they is about so left in the regement they Was 100 and 50 When We Left albany i Want you to Send me Some Stamps if you Will for i cant get none down here i Want you to send five dolars in money if you did now how i have to Sufer for the Want of Something to ear We draw nothing but hard crekers and coffee and a little frsh beef and the docter Wont let me eat any of that a Dear father and mother and Sisters and brothers and friends if you Could only hear the prayers that i offer up to god for you and all the rest i Want you to write how all the neighbors are and all the folks around there is if you have not got that five dolars you to george and get it tell him to be kind to all So the bible Says the tears Starts in my eys as i Write this i Wishs i Was home once more to eat a good meal of victuals no more at preasent direct your letters the Same i am So Weak that i cant Write no more in this letter from Carpenter N Wright to albert Wright
Camp near Sharpsburg
October 11, 1862
my dear father i received your letter and Was glad to hear from home and to hear that you Was all Well and in good health i am very Sick and have ben for a month i am hardly able to Write this letter to you to you Said you Sent me a coupll of Shirts how did you Send in a paper or a box i Wil Send them Checks in your name Write and let me Weather you draw the money bounty and all if i Should get kild and never return if they Wait till the 6 months is up an draw 48 dolars if 6 months you draw 32 dolars Write how all the folks are in bern an renslearville give my love to all the boys and girls Write as Son as you get this from C N Wright to Albert Wright
this is for the boys to Write after and girls a b c d e f g h I j
William gay Wright Albert junier Wright Emme june Wrigth Mary lysbeth Wright little marget Wrtight how I think of you
A Western girl Who had just given her lover a kiss exclaimed dog my cats if you havent been taking a little old rigold pass
a lie always needs a truth for a handle to it the Worst lies are those Whose handle Is true and Whose blade is false suck your cares in as small a Space as you can So that you can Carry them yourself and not let them among others
Whats that asked a Schoolmaster pointing to the leter X its daddys name no you blockhead its X taint X neither its daddys name for i Seed him Write it many a time this is al of that at present direct your letters to C N Wright Co I 76 regement NYSV in care of Captin John E Cook
Oct the 25 (1862)
Camp Near Bakersville Maraland
dear father I now take this present opportunity of Writing to you to let you know that I am not very Well yet I received your letter the 23rd of October and Was glad to hear from you the Wether is a getting pretty cold hear We have nothing but Small Tents yet I got them two Shirts that you Sent to me and Was glad to get them I got that money in a letter you Wanted to know Wether I got them four letters I got them all you Wanted to know What my Sickness is I have got the direah and pain in my head and pin on my heart and a feaver With it you Wanted know Whether I can draw more than five dollars in a month or not I do not know Whether I can or not you Wanted to know Wether I cant come home on furlough I dont beleive I can now for there is none granted yet there may be Some this Winter and then I Will try to come home if I can I got them 2 dollars that you Sent me I Wish that you Would Send me four more if you Will so that I can get bread and things that I can eat I can think of nothing more at present Write as Soon as you get this From your Son Carpenter Wright to his affectionate Father good bye
Letter head has a patriotic symbol at the top of the first page. A woman pointing to a soldier with the words ONWARD in large type.
Camp near Allexandrie
novemb 27 1862
dear father i take my pen in hand to inform you that i am not Well yet i am very Sick i am getting my discarg and i Want you to Send me teen dolars as quick as you can i have not enough money to come With i have not done any duty for a three month rap it as good now Send it as you quik as you can from Carpenter Wright to Albert Wright
These letters were transcribed by B. Conrad Bush, 1940 Reading
Road, West Falls, NY, 14170; e-mail Bushresear@aol.com;
from original letters found at the National Archive, Washington, DC.
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- Last Updated May 27, 2001