I believe this letter to have been written by John Carr (b. 1823) of Urbana, Steuben county, New York. John was a journeyman carriage maker in the 1860 US. Census. In this March 1862 letter Carr states that he has gone to work for the Brundage family who were farmers and grape growers in the Urbana-Hammondsport area south of Keuka Lake in Pleasant Valley [see banner image].
Carr wrote the letter to Clark H. Bronson (1844-1907), the son of Jesse S. Bronson (1802-1863) and Lucy Amy Thayer (1810-1883) of Urbana, Steuben county, New York. Clark enlisted on 13 January 1862 as a corporal in Co. F, 78th New York Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Cedar Mountain, Virginia, on 9 August 1862 and paroled. He was discharged on 13 February 1863 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for disability. After the war, Clark earned a living as a grape farmer in Hammondsport.
TRANSCRIPTION
March 14, 1862
Much remembered friend,
Hello Clark, good evening. How do you do and how is the state of affairs with you? I am well as usual and crotched end down and all of the folks in this vicinity. Mag is not very well at present. Your folks are all well. Believe your cousin James Thayer is dead—so [your brother] Ike told me the other day. Tom is sick. Old Beauregard has got the shits &c.
I have not much to write to you this time. I went to my work to E. Brundage’s the first of March. If it awful lonesome here since you went away but we will put up with it and live in hopes to hear that familiar voice once more. If we do, we will renew our welcome friend[ship].
It is dull times here now. Do you remember the night we went to Wheeler [Steuben Co.] and stopped by the log house but did not go in. Clark, I got your letter this week and it got miscarried and delayed so I thought I would write to you. You must look out for your Orderly Sergeant, Wm. Wright, ¹ for he has got the breaking out, so the boys told me the other day to H[ammonds]port. So beware. Don’t tell him where you got the news. The boys has all got it that slept with him. I seen Cal two weeks ago. She was well and all of the rest of the family. I send my best wishes to you and all of the rest of the boys but you in particular.
Write soon, soon, soon, soon.
From your friend, — Johne Carr
When you [are in] some fight, think of a friend you cannot see for he ought to be with you.
[to] Clark Brunson
Goodbye.
¹ William Wright was 21 years old when he mustered in as a sergeant in Co. F, 78th New York Infantry. He was promoted to Orderly Sergeant on 1 August 1862. Like Clark, he was taken prisoner at Cedar Mountain on 9 August 1862 but paroled. He accepted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant on 1 January 1863 and was wounded in action at Chancellorsville on 3 May 1863. He later served in Co. F, 102nd New York Infantry.
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