"I don't think they care a dam whether I get killed or not ... "

[?IVIL WAR LETTER] 4pp. Fort Runyan, Aug 20, 1861 Patriotic letterhead with George Washington red, white and blue "Liberty shield." 5x8". Poignant letter from a lonely soldier, whose name appears to be Aldren Hebert (?) writes to his brother with an aching in his heart for letters from home: " .. .I have written about a half dozen times to our folks and have reseved(sic) no answers from any of them but I have come to the conclusion that they little care whether I ever come back alive or not and I don't think they care a dam whether I get killed or not ... but when I see other boys in the same company get their letters and they ask me why I don't get any from my folks, it makes me feel bad ... the way (the folks) talked last winter you would suppose that they would do all in their power to help the poor soldiers butinstead of helping them they turn right against them and say just like a thousand others let the damn should go to hell after laying on the ground getting wet and cold with half enough to eat and putting up with every inconvenience they can think of and perhaps get killed in the end what comfort can we take in this world to undergo all this troubles ... . . . you wanted to know what the matter was with the mutiners I they contended that their time was out and just walked up to the capt and gave him their arms and traps and told him they would not do anymore duty ... had a good deal of swearing and loud talk ... I should not be at all surprised if a good many deset in the regiment before long I we have got our new clothes they are bright-blue pants and dark blue coat with a fatigue coat ... " Fort Runyon was a large bastioned earthwork constructed in just a few months before in May 1861 to protect the Long Bridge over the Potomac. Its perimeter was about the same as that of the Pentagon. After the construction of the Arlington Line two miles to the west, Fort Runyon fell into disuse. Easy to read in Fine condition. $350