Gustavus Gould 17^th Vermont

March 9th 1865

Camp near Petersburg, Va.

Dear father, I thought I would write you a few lines this morning to let you know that I am well. I received your kind letter this morning and was glad to hear that you and the rest of the family was well. I got the letter and that paper, every thing was alright. There ain't much news to write this time, every thing is quiet here now. We are under marching orders, expect to move soon. We have been ordered to pack up and be ready to move at a moment's notice a number of times, so we had to lay on our arms all night. But we don't go yet.

Four men deserted from our Regiment this week. The Rebs are deserting over here fast. Frank Hoyt* and Wilder** have got here. I don't think of any more this time, so I must close, good morning kind father.

Accept this from your son and write often.

Gustavus Gould

Gustavus Gould

Residence Montpelier VT; 
Enlisted on 2/24/1864 as a Private.

On 3/3/1864 he mustered into "E" Co. VT 17th Infantry He was Mustered Out on 7/14/1865 at Washington, DC

*Sgt. Franklin Hoyt was 45 years old when he mustered into Co. C of the 17th Vermont Infantry on March 2nd 1864. He had previous service in the 13th Vt. He was WIA at North Anna "shot through the lung" on May 26th 1864, and mustered out in June '65. He built houses after the war.

**Pvt. Artemas Wilder enlisted on Feb. 23rd 1864 into Co. E. He was later promoted to Sgt. Major before mustering out on July 14th 1865.