1864 CIVIL WAR Soldier Letter 17th VT PETERSBURG VA Trading w/ Rebs on Picket

Description

Civil War soldier's letter, 3-1/2 pgs, approx. 5" x 8", dated
"Camp Near Petersburg, Oct. the 11, 1864"
, from John C. Thomas, Co. A,
17th Regiment Vermont Infantry
, to a friend.
The writer of this letter, John C. Thomas, was from Pittsfield, Vt.. He was mustered into Co. A, 17th Vermont Infantry on Aug. 24, 1864, and mustered out on June 2, 1865.
Great content, writing of having a "hard fight", and of hearing the cannons "howling" as he writes this letter. He writes of trading newspapers with the Rebels when on picket, and of their formidable breastworks, boasting that if the Rebels
"show their heads in a line of battle, we will cut them down as fast as they can come."
Includes (spelling corrected):
"Oct the 11, 1864
Dear Friend Parmeter,
As I was at leisure and haven't wrote only 3 letters, I thought that I would write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and alright. I tell you Fred, I am a darned good fighting man when everything is quiet. I like it so well that I am going to enlist for 3 years in the Navy...
We had a hard fight a week ago last Friday...We lay right in front of the Rebel lines and we expect a fight every day. They are fighting on the right today. The old cannons are howling pretty smart. I can sit in my tent and hear them.
I wish that you could be here for a little while. I would like to see you.
I came off from picket last night. The Rebs are very quiet. We exchange papers with them and they had better be fair. If they don't we will give them Hell. We have got a fort and a line of breastworks and about 40 cannons planted on them and some 10 acres of slash fell, so they can't charge our works, and if they show their heads in a line of battle, we will cut them down as fast as they can come.
You must write to me soon and tell me how you get along and how Anna Lizzy is. There is in our Co. 13 men and Co. K is detached to Fair Haven on duty and our Regt. is very small and I think that we shall be sent home to recruit this winter.
No [more] for this time. I will tell you how to direct your letters: the 17th Regt. Vermont Vol., Co. A, Washington, D.C.
This is from your friend,
J.C. Thomas
Good By."
Very Fine.
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