This Civil War soldier letter was written by Emor Young (1823-1869) of Glocester, Providence county, Rhode Island, to his wife, Martha P. (Gleason) Young (1826-1882). Emor served as a private in Co. C, 7th Rhode Island Infantry but spent much of his time detailed as a cook and baker for the regiment. During the Battle of Petersburg, Va. in July 1864, he served in a military hospital in City Point, Va., for several weeks.

In the 1860 US Census, Emor was enumerated in Glocester and employed as a “lumberman.” In the same household were his wife Martha and their two sons, Edgar M. (age 12) and Frederick (age 8).

Mortality records indicate that Emor died at the age of 45 while employed in a cotton mill. The cause of death was attributed to typhoid fever.

TRANSCRIPTION

Lexington, Kentucky

November 7, 1863

Dear Wife,

I now take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well and hope this will find you all the same at home. I have received two letters from you—one October 28th, one November 1st, and two newspapers. One was the Pat and the other the Cincinnati Times. Where they come from, I cannot tell. There was no name on either of them.

I have no news to tell you for you can see the papers. In one of your letters you sent me an extract taken from a Richmond paper to prove the continuance of this war. I shall now send you a paper with the speech of Hon. E. W. Gantt of Arkansas. I want you should read it carefully. In the article you sent me you must remember it was right from the heart of rebeldom. It is nothing more than could be expected from such a source and this is from one of their own men and so you see how he feels about the war.

I must tell the boys that I have received letters—one from each of them, I was glad that Edgar has concluded to take up with my advice about drilling with the rest of them for they will tel him anything to get him fast. Then he cannot get away. Tell Fred to mind and not get hurt with his rifle and tell him to tell me how much he has caught in his snares this fall.

You want to know if Nathan or Amy has wrote to me. Neither of them has wrote yet. In your letter you wanted to know if Henry had wrote to me. He has not but I had a letter from Emily and she said that he was going to write to me soon. Perhaps I shall get one from him by the time you get this. The mail is going now. Goodbye. — Emor Young

COMES WITH A COPY OF ALL TRANSCRIPTS AND TRACKING..PLEASE LOOK CLOSELY AT PICTURES TO DETERMINE CONDITION..THANKS FOR LOOKING..BRANDON