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Livingston J. Brooks to Walt Whitman, 21 November 1863

About This Item

  • Title: Livingston J. Brooks to Walt Whitman, 21 November 1863
  • Date: November 21, 1863
  • Creator(s): Livingston J. Brooks
  • Whitman Archive ID: nyp.00152
  • Source: Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature at the New York Public Library. The transcription presented here is derived from Drum Beats: Walt Whitman's Civil War Boy Lovers, ed. Charley Shively (San Francisco, California: Gay Sunshine Press, 1989), 115-116. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Contributors to digital file: Elizabeth Lorang Kathryn Kruger Tim Jackson Vanessa Steinroetter Nick Krauter
  • Cite this page: Brooks, Livingston J.. "Livingston J. Brooks to Walt Whitman, 21 November 1863." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 19 April 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: nyp.00152.xml (TEI)
Dear Friend

Well uncle I1 thought I would scratch off a few lines to you to let you know that I am well at present and I hope the few lines will find you the same I have thought of you many a time since we parted I have been home since then and have got back with the regiment we have had some skirmishing and picketing to do since I got back we came off of picket yesterday and last night we got payed off and to day it is rainey and wet so it quite uncomfortable

you must excuse my pen and ink well I wont write a great deal this time I intended to write to you before but we have been moving about so I aint had time well no more this time pleas answer this soon as you can my love to you

Co. B 17th Pa Cavalry

Notes

  • 1. Livingston J. Brooks, a soldier in Co B 17th Pennsylvania Cavlary, was brought to Armory Square Hospital with typhoid fever. Eventually Brooks recovered and, after a furlough, returned to his regiment (Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection, New York Public Library). Whitman's reply of December 19 is lost (Charles I. Glicksberg, Walt Whitman and the Civil War [Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press, 1933], 140). Whitman noted the case in his diary (Walt Whitman and the Civil War [1933], 149–150). [back]
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