Lieutenant William James Fisher, Civil War Soldier

Kind Friend Fisher:

It is with much pleasure that I sit to answer your kind and welcome letter of the 19th which I received last evening. I was very glad to hear from a father of so kind a man as Lieutenant Fisher was.

You wished to know if I ever heard the Lt. make any remarks on the field. I did not, except at the battle at Chancellorsville, when laying at the back of our breast works that we built to defend our bodies from the balls [bullets]. There were several volleys fired. The Lt. was standing, looking in the direction from which they, the fire, were coming. There was several shots that came close to Lieut. Boyce and Lt. Fisher and Lieut. Boyce told fisher to look out. His answer was short, “I would as soon be dead as alive.” That is the only remark that I ever noticed.

Lieutenant Boyce is dead. He died of the wound he received at Gettysburg.

Lieutenant Lauman has been sent back to the Army of the Potomac.

Lieutenant Hamilton is in the recruiting service.

You asked me what state I was from. I was born in Ashland County, Ohio and raised there until I was 14 years of age. Then my parents moved to Iowa. They are all there except my dear mother which died in 1849.

I am not married. I am as yet single.

My father lives in Benton County, Iowa. My brother at the age of 18 and myself, that is, are in the army fighting for our country. My brother is in Rosecrans’s Army of the Cumberland.

I have three brothers at home and two sisters. My oldest brother and my two sisters are married. My father’s name is George Buchan and lives in Bruce Township, Benton County, Iowa.

The Regiment has moved to Fort Lafayette. I think we will remain here for the purpose of recruiting the regiment.

Well kind Sir, I will have to close. This leaves me in good health. Hoping those few lines may find you and your family enjoying the great blessing with the will of God.

No more at present but remains your well wished friend

J. H. Buchan, Co. D, 10th U. S. Infantry, Fort Lafayette, N.Y.H.

PS: The Regiment is all in one company, which is Company D. I shall always be happy to hear from Mr. Fisher

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