Two Civil War Letters - 17th Vermont Infantry, Sneaking to Petersburg in Dark !

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
Co. E, 17th Vermont Infantry
This Civil War soldier letter was written by Gustavus Gould (1843-1910), the son of Joseph Gould (1812-1901) and Lucinda Sanders (1821-1910) of Montpelier, Washington county, Vermont.
A post-war picture of Gustavus Gould
Gustavus accepted a bounty and mustered into
Co. E, 17th Vermont Infantry
on 24 February 1864. He mustered out of the regiment on 14 July 1865. After the war he returned to Montpelier, married Mary H. Adams (1848-1917), and resumed a career as a carpenter and as a farmer. The family never understood why he committed suicide in 1910. He was found hanging by a hitching rope from a rafter in his barn.
Transcription
Addressed to Mr. Joseph Gould, Montpelier, Vermont
Camp near Petersburg, Va.
February 12th 1865
Dear Friends at home,
I take my pen this morning to inform you that I am well and hope you are all the same. I received your kind letter this morning. I am glad to hear from you so often. We moved here yesterday morning. We have moved about two miles to the left of where we was. The order came about 1 o’clock that night for us to pack up and be ready to march at any moment. We got ready and started about 3 o’clock in the morning. We moved in the night so as to conceal it from the Rebs. The whole Army of the Potomac is on the move now. We found very good quarters here. They are good log huts. We was busy all day yesterday repairing them, Four of us tent together—Frank Taylor and two other fellows tent with me. This is a good place but I don’t know as we shall stay here long. Our duty is not near so hard as it was in the fort.
Tip has gone to the hospital. I think he will get his discharge. I hope he will for he has got a very bad foot indeed. You say O. H. Smith is a going to look into that case. I want you should have him put it through if there is any chance and I don’t see why there ain’t chance enough.
Well I don’t think of much more this time so I must close by wishing you all good day.
Please accept this from your son, — Gustavus Gould
I found that dollar and 15 cents in the letter alright. Tell little Romme and Elsia that I am much obliged for that little sum they sent me. Tell them I will make them a nice present when I come home.
Camp near Petersburg
February 12th 1865
Dear Brother,
I will write a few lines to you to let you know that I am well and hope these few lines will find you the same. You wanted I should write if I would buy you a knife when I come home. I will buy you as nice a knife as I can find if you will be a good boy. I suppose you  are a speculating in hens as much as ever. You must get so you can buy you a fat cow and go to butchering. When I come home I guess I will go in with you partnership. Then we will roll a large wheel.
You wrote that you had been buying you a lamb. How do you make it with him? You must write all about your trades. I like to hear about your trades. I have got to go on picket tonight so I must close by wishing you good health and prosperity.
Accept this from your brother, — Gustavus Gould
Please write soon as you get this.
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