Letters of  Private Tartellas Dutcher

Tartellas "Tart" Dutcher, age 19, enlisted October 1, 1861, at Middleburg, NY, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. I, 76th NY Volunteer Infantry; deserted, on march near Pratts Point, Va., January 20, 1863.

His mother, Maria, lived with Tart prior to his enlistment. He worked as a farm laborer and she took care of the house. Her Husband died November 16, 1849. The other children had left the home by 1861. They were: Henry, Nathaniel, Hedstrone, Hellen and one other daughter.


September 18, 1862

that i take this opertunity to write these few lines to let you now i am well at present and hope that these few lines will find you the Same. i receive your letter with much pleasue and was glead to here from you.

We have been on the march agane in hote pursute of the enemy. we have an army now after the enemy of 4 hundred thousen and we have a brave little leader ho we can put our truste in. that is George macclellen and we will now the next time i Write to you.

we hante got our pay yet and dont now Wen We Will gite it. i have got sik monts pay due me that is Seventy ate dolers. the rebes was in Warrington about -- houres before we got there and then they found We Was a comeing they took legs and lefte and if they had a staid We Wold of Warme there cakes nicely for We have gote jeste the tules to do it with.

it is giting praty colde here now it snode here yesterday. So Dear mother i Will Close it is with grate plesure that i Write these few lines to you to let you now i am Well and hope you are the Same. you Wanted to now if Charley rite had got his lil charde. he has. you Wanted to now if i had herde any thing --- (words missing) ---

you Sed you Wish i Ware there to Werke for you. i Wish i Was but Wishing dont do now good So far from home. the holer boys is all Well. i Wante to now quit Jake Stiner thinks about draftomg So i camt Write

(The above letter is not signed and may be incomplete.)


Sharpsburg Oct 10, 1862

Dear Mother

I will take this opertunity to write a few lines to let you know I am well at present and hope that this finds you well ---- since i receved your letter if you keep --- (letter written in pencil and unreadable for remainder of first page) ---

i Will Send you thiry dolers geste as Sune as i git my pay and meby more. i got the postige Stamps and they come good for i did not have any to mail my letters with. our mail only gose out twice a week. i want you to write in your next letter how Johns folks gits alonge. i want you to tell John folks i want to here from them if they dont from me. the holow boys is he well --- henry teater he has gote a fowl mouth. tell tuch i feal sirey because he has got a Sore leg.

mother i often think of you how you git along and many times i wish i was with but wishing does no good So far from home. if it had of dun any good i wold of ben there long ago. that i want you to writ back when you get my letter.

yours Truly Tart

Saying good by this is from your Sun Tart Dutcher to his mother write as Sune as you git this to write to me as often as you can and i will try and do the Same give my best respect to all of my friends and tell them i wold like to Se them all very much we have Some very harde times and Some harde batels Sense we have ben here ware we have lost a number of our boys and yet God has Spared my life till this present moment So i Will close my letter your son

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 December 24, 1999