January 3, 1865
Title
January 3, 1865
Subject
From George Murray to his parents, dated 03JAN1865. Received the stockings, papers, gloves, and magazines sent to him. Rebels launched a surprise attack the morning of 31DEC1864, but were pushed back and suffered heavy losses. Had hardtack and coffee for dinner New Years. Mustered for two months pay and now owed for four. In pencil on lined folder stationary, embossed mark at top. Faded and stained along the center fold and p4.
UNIT ASSOCIATION: 114th PA Infantry
-Information provided by the courtesy of the National Park Service
UNIT ASSOCIATION: 114th PA Infantry
-Information provided by the courtesy of the National Park Service
Description
Headquarters Army of Potomac Jan 3rd /65
Dear Father & Mother.
I received your letter of the 30th and was glad to hear from you as it seemed a great while since I had heard from you. I suppose it was because the mail came so irregular as the boats could hardly get down the river from Washington. I believe the mail comes from Baltimore now. I received the stockings, paper and gloves the gloves were not the kind that I wanted but I think that I can make out with them. I have received all of the magazines but December. It is snowing hard outside tonight. We had a snow squall a few days ago. The Johnnies were going to surprise the world New Year's but it has not come to pass yet on the morning of the thirty first they tried to relieve our pickets but they did not succeed. Our men were too wide awake for them. They drove in our videttes when our men opened on them and drove them back to their own breastworks again they lost very heavy. It is quite comfortable in my shanty tonight. I have got a big fire in the fireplace and it makes the place hot so that I have to keep off in the far corner of the shanty. I am in good health. I was on guard the last day of the old year, and the first of the new. Genl. Meade is in Philadelphia on a visit. Genl. Parke is in command temporarily. I had hard tack and coffee for dinner New Years. We have been mustered for two more months pray they now owe four months pay. All of the Bustleton boys are well. Write soon and tell me all of the news.
Your son
George Murray.
-Transcript provided by the courtesy of the National Park Service
Dear Father & Mother.
I received your letter of the 30th and was glad to hear from you as it seemed a great while since I had heard from you. I suppose it was because the mail came so irregular as the boats could hardly get down the river from Washington. I believe the mail comes from Baltimore now. I received the stockings, paper and gloves the gloves were not the kind that I wanted but I think that I can make out with them. I have received all of the magazines but December. It is snowing hard outside tonight. We had a snow squall a few days ago. The Johnnies were going to surprise the world New Year's but it has not come to pass yet on the morning of the thirty first they tried to relieve our pickets but they did not succeed. Our men were too wide awake for them. They drove in our videttes when our men opened on them and drove them back to their own breastworks again they lost very heavy. It is quite comfortable in my shanty tonight. I have got a big fire in the fireplace and it makes the place hot so that I have to keep off in the far corner of the shanty. I am in good health. I was on guard the last day of the old year, and the first of the new. Genl. Meade is in Philadelphia on a visit. Genl. Parke is in command temporarily. I had hard tack and coffee for dinner New Years. We have been mustered for two more months pray they now owe four months pay. All of the Bustleton boys are well. Write soon and tell me all of the news.
Your son
George Murray.
-Transcript provided by the courtesy of the National Park Service
Creator
George Murray
Date
January 3, 1865
Files
Collection
Citation
George Murray , “January 3, 1865,” Slaughter-Murray Papers, accessed April 17, 2026, https://slaughtermurray.umwhistory.org/items/show/49.